Farewell Miguel Cotto
Updated: Aug 6, 2019
This past Saturday saw the end of era as Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto said his final goodbye to the squared circle as he lost a close points decision against Sadam Ali in his 47th professional outing.
Cotto picked up his first of many world titles way back in 2004 against Kelson Pinto and from there it was no stopping the man from Puerto Rico as his went on to pick up titles in the Welterweight, Super Welterweight and Middleweight divisions and squared of with the best fighters the generation had to offer with battles against Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and Canelo Alvarez, but the two fights he will be most remembered by was the bouts with rival Antonio Margarito.
On the 26th July 2008 Miguel Cotto was flying high having been a WBO super lightweight and at the time current WBA welterweight champion making the 5th defense of the title against tough Mexican Antonio Margarito.
What unfolded in the fight was not what we expected as Margarito seemingly beat Cotto into submission and the fight was called off in round eight. Following the defeat Cotto went away to recoup himself after what was a brutal affair, but it was only months later when controversy unfolded as Margarito's camp were found to be using illegal hand wraps prior to the Shane Mosley fight coincidentally Margarito lost to Mosley via a 9th round TKO.
It was destined that Cotto and Margarito were meant to meet again and it happened on the 12th March 2011 back at Madison Square Garden in New York. This time there was to be no repeat for Margarito as Cotto put on one of the performances of his career eventually beating Margarito in the 10th due to Margarito's right being swollen shut and the ringside Dr stopping the bout. That will certainly go down of one of the best cases of revenge we will see in a boxing ring.
Miguel Cotto gave Puerto Rico some of the greatest nights in its sporting history and will certainly go down as a legend and future hall of famer, he retires with a record of 41-6 (33KOs)
If you have a spare ten minutes give his highlights video a watch and recap on some of his best performances