You would think after Miguel Cotto’s phenomenal performance in a losing effort last month to Antonio Margarito that fans would be celebrating the Puerto Rican star and looking forward to his next fight. But in a sport where fighters are regularly dismissed after their first loss, that’s not always the case.



While the majority of fight fans have no bad words to say about Cotto taking two knees after sustaining brutal punishment from Margarito, there has a been a small but vocal majority that’s has labeled Cotto a “quitter” who can dish out the brutality but can’t take it.



Even some fans in his native Puerto Rico are upset, arguing that previous island fighters like Felix Trinidad and Wilfredo Gomez would never have submitted like that, especially at the feet of a Mexican, their fierce boxing rivals.



Tired of the accusations, Cotto conducted an interview on the andra pa’l cará show and clarified his position. Here is the translation (courtesy of maxboxing.com member beastineden) regarding the criticisms of him “quitting.”



Host: Ok, in your case as a boxer and champion I imagine that decision was very hard to make because you're thinking “I'm the champion with no losses,” was it you that made the decision or your corner?

Cotto: I was the one that made it, my family was there, my children were present and I was thinking more about them rather than the beating I was getting.


Host: Did you get to see them?


Cotto: Yes I did, a few times.

Host: Really?


Cotto: Yes, there were right next to my corner.

Host: Does it affect ...

Cotto: Well, in this case it did a little but they've always known what my job is and what the risks are.

Host: They are used to it?

Cotto: They're not used to seeing dad in the situation that they saw me a week ago but they know the risks of my job.

Host: You gotta be brave to get up there?

Cotto: Very much, gotta be brave to get up there but it's part of the job, had a bad day but I know many good ones are still ahead.

Host: Miguel being honest, and you always tell it like it is, is it harder to get on the ring or making the decision of putting the knees down?

Cotto: I think in my case it was harder to put a knee down, like you said I didn’t have a loss in my record and to lose this way it was difficult for me, but I want health and I want to see my children grow up and that's what matters.

Host: Now that you tell me that it was you that made the decision not your corner, which is very important, did it ever cross your mind all the reactions that would come after your decision? Did you think about that?

Cotto: No it was all for the benefit of me and my family, I could care less about the comments people make.

Host: For example I heard a comment like ... 'he didn't train hard enough to get on the ring'

Cotto: I always train hard before getting on the ring, Margarito was better than me that night.

Host: For this one you even said you trained more than any other fight.

Cotto: Yes, that's how I felt.

Host: Also comments that you were drinking and partying in Las Vegas

Cotto: I party and have fun but on my time off, I’m very responsible with my job, there's two things I'm very responsible with, my job and my family and I don't play around with them


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