Miguel Cotto’s Greatness
June 18th, 2009
By Eric Torres: I have been a fan of boxing for as long as I can remember, but not once can I remember seeing a boxer who has so vividly showed more humanistic and superman-like qualities in the ring than Miguel Cotto. It is like watching a movie when he is in the ring.
Let’s go back to Cotto’s last four fights and the opponents he has faced: Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Michael Jennings and Joshua Clottey. Excluding Jennings, Cotto has fought some of top welterweights boxing has to offer and his opponents have been a cut above the rest in size and skill level (I know Paul Williams and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are out there But I am talking about Cotto’s last four opponents).
I have always believed that When you put the best of the best together it can go both ways, it can be an exciting barn burner or a complete dud. In Cotto’s cases they have been barn burners and have all had underlining plot lines along the way.
Cotto may have looked like a pretty ordinary fighter and quite possibly beatable in some of these fights to people who do not have a trained eye for this sport or let’s face it are fare weathered fans. To the true fans of the sport they see much more in those fight.
They see the beauty, intrigue, viciousness and the will to survive. These are traits that make up a fighter, it makes up their legacy & how you remember them long after their shine has faded away. I believe that Cotto’s legacy after he is done with the sport will be one that a lot of boxers and critics someday will come to respect if they do not do so already.
Cotto will be remembered as a true warrior and a throwback fighter in this sport. He will be remembered as someone who has been willing to fight the best his divisions has had to offer and one that has never backed down from a fight unlike the so-called king of boxing Mayweather Jr.
The wonderful thing is he is not done yet. Cotto may have looked human, beatable or even some may say not on the same level as his latest opponents, but when you get the best fighters fighting each other the road to victory may not come as easily as the path that some may chose in which there is no challenge. Cotto has obviously taken the road that very few like to take and therefore doing so has cemented his place and stature as one of the best.
In closing in order to be the best you have to beat the best. Cotto has demonstrated this time and time again. He has faced all comers and not once has backed down. He may have looked human at best in some of his fights, but what makes a champion is the heart and will to survive at all cost.
He has done that respectfully, admirably and that is what makes true boxing fans excited to know that boxing is still here and going nowhere. It also brings in new fans to a sport that has taken a hit in some years. Cotto is a rare diamond in the welterweight division and one that should be enjoyed before his time has come.
Tags: 22 Responses to “Miguel Cotto’s Greatness”
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As I said before, Mayweather is a clown who like the glamour and the show biz. In the other hand you have Cotto a man who fight for the respect of his fans and a reasonable place in boxing. With or without flaws, ups and downs he is looking for his path trough boxing.
For me that’s greatness.
He is the clown of the welterweight division.
Great fighters are great because they challenge them selves to the limit. Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Emile Griffith, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Duran, Wilfredo Benitez and most recent Tito Trinidad.
As Little Stevie Wonder says: “Cotto hasn’t quite reached ‘legend’ status yet but he’s heading in the right direction.”
The question is: Where is Maywhather and where is he at this moment?
Great article! From a REAL BOXING FAN i thank you.
Cotto hasn’t quite reached ‘legend’ status yet but he’s heading in the right direction. As you said he’s throwback fighter, a warrior and is a real fans favourite.
But.. if he keeps leaning forward with his gloves over his ears, he’s gonna take another beating of the Ricky Hatton proportions! I hope that doesn’t happen.
By the way, for a while I have thought this site was a parody of a real boxing site but this article is ok.
yeah, I kinda agree. If there wasn’t a lot of, or any, money in the sport of boxing you wouldn’t see Mayweather fighting. I think that applies to a lot of boxers.
Miguel Cotto’s a true warrior and would be fighting even if it was just his hobby, he’s not afraid to put his welfare on the line for boxing, just a true throwback to the great boxers.
And he is fighting in one of the greatest welterweights division in boxing history, full of great boxers and real warriors.
p.s. and Mayweather playing hide and ….
wtf… what are you people talking about… cotto is garbage… pacman is going to murder him… its nto even going to be close and mayweather should fight cotto to finally end all this nonsense… cotto is boring and i refuse to pay to watch him fight… the only way i will watch him is if its for free on hbo… other than that ill keep my money
cotto will k.o. pacquiao before by 9 rounds or even sooner a lot of people would be surprice. marquez beat pacquiao twice and cotto is stronger and a better boxer than marquez. cotto by k.o.
Nice Nice!! Love the article and the writer point of view!
Great Job Eric
cotto is a true champ he fights he gives his fans there moneys worth unlike mayweather who dances around the ring in all fights can’t wait to watch him against pac man now thats a fight to watch ” cotto vs pac man”
finally someone actually sees how great of a fighter miguel cotto is!!
Absolutely!!!! He is restoring the face of boxing!!!
Michael UD against Mayweather….. Please! He might get a lucky knockout. I’m sure Manny Pacquiao’s luck would finally run out if he faces Cotto unless he lands a haymaker like the one he hit Hatton with!
good artical cotto is the best welter in the sport right now
Michael-I think you are getting carried away, Cotto will not beat Mayweather.
cotto will be back to his best next fight cotto vs pacquiao on nov 12-17th cotto will have a war with pacquiao and stop pacquiao late on in the fight i think 8-11 rounds cotto will be 35-1-(28) and fight the winner of marquez vs mayweather and u all now it will be mayweather vs cotto in 2010 JAN – FEB BOTH OF THEM will get $ 20-25 million each thats what cotto wants and mayweather wants so yeah in 2010 cotto will beat mayweather by ud 1.(116-112 cotto) 2.(117-114 cotto) 3.116-113 cotto thats that ok
Thank you!
Good article Eric. These has been a lot of controvery regarding the decison in the Clottey-Cotto fight. You made an excellent point. There are many out there that do not know how to interpret what their eyes are witnessing during a boxing match. If and when Pac Man faces Cotto many out there will be in for a shock.
I totally agree.
I just wish you could tell Manuela Perez that!
Cotto will be remembered as a warrior who faced the best.
Mayweather will be remembered as someone who ducked – Williams,Cotto and Mosley! the best guys in his division!
How can you claim to be one of the greatest if you have not even faced the best guys in your division!?>
Agreed – Cotto’s one of my favorite boxers, but there are guys out there who are more technically gifted, FMJ, but I agree that he doesn’t run from facing the best competition, his above average boxing skills, above average power, the vulnerability that he shows, the fights that he puts on, it’s great. Against DeMarcus Corley, he almost got KTFO, but he showed he could weather the storm. It’s hard not to like this guy, he’s just pure class.
i agree with this guy, cotto is a legend in the making. if Mayweather Jr ever gets the bulls to fight him, then he will show everyone how good he really is, Cotto is the only fighter out there right now that just wants to fight the best, the other just want the money