Australian boxer Daniel Geale is used to travelling half a world away from home, entering enemy territory and being at the mercy of his opponent's promoters, handlers and US TV networks.

"I'm not expecting any favours this weekend either," Geale told AAP on Tuesday.

The Tasmanian-born, Sydney-based Geale will be the written-off underdog when he steps into the ring in New York's Barclay's Center on Saturday to challenge WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto.

For Geale, it's a case of deja vu.

Almost a year ago another middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin, hosted Geale on the other side of the East River in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Geale suffered a third-round knockout loss, but the lopsided circumstances were extraordinary.

Before the fight Golovkin's team accused him of illegally taping his hands, in the opening round the timekeeper got distracted and added an extra minute and in that crucial fourth minute Geale was cut by an accidental head-butt.

Also in that disastrous opening round a ringside camera man had a strap dangling on the canvas, Geale got tangled up and tripped heavily.

Puerto Rican Cotto, as the champion, also holds the advantage this weekend.

The most vital was the decision to have the fight at a catch-weight of 157-pounds, less than the 160-pounds Geale struggled to get under for the Golovkin bout.

"It's always tough, but every time I try to make weight it's tough," Geale said.

"We'll just come down a little bit extra this time."

The crowd will also be one-sided, with the fight purposely scheduled to take place on the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade down Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.

The parade, with New York's large expat population, attracts two million spectators.

Geale laughed when asked if he was concerned defeating one of Puerto Rico's favourite sons might destroy the party.

He has no intention of marching at the front of the parade with the WBC title belt.

"I don't know about that," Geale laughed.

"They might be throwing rocks at me."