By Gerardo Granados: Miguel Cotto is a three division champion and has engaged against fifteen champions during his long boxing career, he is trully skilled but his size is not the ideal for the middleweight division.

The former World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight, WBA World – WBO welterweight & current WBA World light middleweight champion has engaged against big names but not the top contenders in his last two fights; is he cashing out? Is it time for “Junito” to take on a top light middleweight on his next bout?

Miguel Angel Cotto, age 31, height 5´7”, reach 67”, more than 10 years as pro fighter, record W37(30)-L2(2), title fight record of W17(14)-L2(2). Undoubtedly he has enough merits to be considered as a serious candidate to the boxing hall of fame, but has he taken the easy road in his last three bouts or is it that his promoter wont allow him to take on anyone who has a real chance to defeat him?

At the light welter division he was a dominant fighter, he became the WBO champion and defeated Cesar Bazan WBC lightweight / W3-L2*, Carlos Maussa WBA World light welter / W1-L1*, Lovemore N´dou IBF – IBO welter / W3-L2-D1*, Randall Bailey WBO light welter / W3-L4*, DeMarcus Corley WBO light welter / W3-L3*, Ricardo Torrres WBO light welter / W3-L2*, Paul Malignaggi IBF light welter / W3-L3*.

At welter he looked even more dominant, he was fast and powerful and won the WBO – WBA World welterweight belt; defeated Carlos Quintana WBO – WBA welter / W1-L3*, Zab Judah IBF – WBO light welter, WBC – WBA Super World – IBF welter / W11(9)-L7*, Shane Mosley IBF light, WBC – WBA Super World welter, WBA Super World – WBC light middle / W15(12)-L6*, Joshua Clottey IBF welter/ W1-L3*; Cotto was a force in the division untill he lost to Antonio Margarito WBO – IFB – WBA World welter / W10-L5-NC1*, then he pick the vacant WBO welter title defeating Michael Jennings and finally lost to Manny Pacquiao WBC World light middle, WBO welter, IBO light welter, WBC light, WBC super feather, IBF – WBO super bantam and WBC fly / W15(9)-L2-D2*.

Moved up to the light middleweight and defeated Yuri Foreman WBA World Light middle / W1-L1*, Ricardo Mayorga WBC – WBA Super World light middle / W3-L4-NC1*, and Antonio Margarito WBO – IBF – WBA World welter / W10(8)-L5-NC1*.

The feather fisted Foreman fought on one leg, was brave but he was not the top light middleweight champion at the time; Mayorga was simply too old and was practically retired when he faced Cotto, Ricardo had not faced a top fighter since 2008 when he lost to Shane Mosley by KO12. Margarito was suspended, then took a vicious beating, and after a long inactivity (a year) he was allowed to take a shot a the WBA World light middleweight title; Cotto defeated him but it is evident that Antonio is no longer in his prime.

What has happend to Cotto? Is it his fault or is it his promoter fault? Is he cashing out? Pro boxing is a business but maybe Cotto need to take on a dangerous lion on his next bout to prove he is still one of the best in his weight division.

Miguel Angel has the boxing skills to engage and defeat any of the top light middleweight fighters, he is a talented boxer but he is not taking on dangerous contenders and that is a shame because boxing fans deserve to see him at his best against the best opposition available. Let´s say Saul Alvarez, James Kirkland, Carlos Molina, Vanes Martirosyan or Erislandy Lara. Is it time for Cotto to show how good he really is?