Miguel Cotto is fast becoming a phenomena within the wider boxing public, adored by thousands of Boricua’s (Puerto Ricans) across the planet as the natural successor to the mighty Tito Trinidad and has been established their number 1 boxing icon in a similar vein as Ricky Hatton is to the British public or the legend-killer Manny Pacquiao is to the Philippines.



Miguel was born in October 1980 and stands at 5’8, first began fighting at the age of 9 years old. He is married to Melissa and has 3 children. He started boxing at the Barioa boxing gym under the tutelage of his uncle who helped him develop in a fine amateur, even representing his country Puerto Rico at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

It was at these Olympics that Miguel was sadly eliminated during the first round, but the Amateur’s games loss was the professional game’s gain as Miguel decided that his relentless hard-hitting style was certainly more suited to the professional game.

His career caught fire from an early stage , knocking out Jason Doucet in round 1 in Texas in 2001 and during his first 10 fights scored 8 KO’s and only 2 went the 4-round distance where by he won unanimous decisions both times.

During only his 6th professional fight he starred in a 2 round destruction of Arturo Rodriguez on a star studded bill at the Staples centre featuring Mayorga, Eric Morales and Roy Jones Junior – this was just the start of an exciting career – but as quickly as it began, it nearly ended just as quickly when once dark 5am morning, Miguel crashed his car badly and was hospitalized with a severely broken arm.

Luckily for him, the doctors did a fine job that day and Miguel, after a few months recuperating finally resumed training the gym. This career scare re-focused Miguel’s mind as to the importance of boxing in his life.




On the 22nd of June 2002 he starred on the undercard of the Barrera V Morales, knocking out Ugandan Justin Juuko in only round 5 of a scheduled 10 rounder. Miguel Cotto had now begun his ascendancy into his own stratosphere, featuring in a big televised fight with none other than Joe Cortez refereeing the bout.

2003 seen Miguel (nicknamed Junito) continue his successful journey by stopping former title challenger Demetrio Ceballos by KO inround 7 in las vegas on the Shane Mosely – De La Hoya undercard, establishing himself as the No1 contender in the WBA rankings.

Victoriano Sosa was battered by way of 4th round KO in 2004 – promptly followed by yet another car accident, this time being driven by his wife Melissa ! fortunately Miguel and the family were relatively unscathed and the next day he flew out to New York with his long term pal Ivan Calderon to partake in some promotional activities. 2004 continued with a unanimous decision over the tough as teak Lovemore N’dou.

The year continued with 2 more KO’s – Kelson Pinto (a man who beat Cotto as an amatuer) was dispatched in only 6 rounds with Miguel collecting his WBO world title. Pinto, who was a tough unbeaten prospect was taken care of in style by way of Cotto’s supreme power shots. December 2004 seen another KO –that of Randall Bailey who was stopped by the doctor after having both eyes cut open by Cotto’s artillery. This was on the Klitschko-Williams undercard in Las Vegas.

2004 was a perfect boxing year for Miguel, ending it with the accolode of ‘Puerto Rico Fighter of the Year’. Miguel was now of age as a true headlining warrior, his combination of steely determination, patience and punching power had instilled him as not only a Boricua favourite – but an international star.

February 2005 seen a red hot confrontation with the slick DeMarcus Corley, a former world champion. This bout was very exciting – the powerful Cotto against the slick experienced Corley. For the first time Miguel was rocked by a shot to the temple by DeMarcus, which staggered the champion momentarily – only for Miguel to roar back and stop the former champion inside the distance.

Controversy surrounded the stoppage, with people complaining that Corley wasn’t out for the count and was still in the fight – but this was just sour grapes and the referee had probably done Corley a favour in hindsight – especially compared to the physical carnage Cotto’s brutal power has caused to his recent opponents.



June 2005 seen the much awaited, highly anticipated bout between Miguel and Mohamed Abdulhaev (photo). Mohamed was the last name in the pro game that had beaten Cotto as an amatuer. Concerns were raised as to whether Mohamed was too slick for Cotto – did he have the blue print to beat Miguel? Afterall he had sent Miguel packing in the very first round of the Olympics.

Gold medalist Mohamed was taken care of in style, with Miguel opting for different tactics and patience – ending with Mohamed having an eye closed and the fight stopped in Cotto’s favour. Another test completed.

September 2005 seen the very first toe to toe ‘all out war’ for Miguel. Ricardo Torres was a last minute replacement for the injured Gianluca Branco.

Torres, who came with an undefeated record and huge KO ratio of 28 fights / 27 KO’s was labeled a ‘padded fighter’ – a guy whom had scored victorys over B class opposition… how wrong they were!

Cotto started the first round in fierce fashion, scoring a knockdown of the big punching Columbian 25 year old. But Torres roared back had his power was evident as he gave Miguel all sorts of problems. Round 2 began with Miguel dictating the pace, only for Torres to break through with a blistering punch which sent Cotto reeling to the ropes. Torres launched an all out assault and the Cotto fans in the audience were clinging to there seats as Miguel was sent crashing to the floor after taking a brutal barrage from Ricardo. The fist that put him down was half punch / half push but the referee began counting and Miguel stood up and re-grouped himself.

The assault by Torres had tired him and a few little dramas later, was put on the canvas himself – before ultimately being outclassed and outgunned by the champion in the 7th round.

Reviewers examined Cotto’s performance and some negativity was given over Cotto being floored – but the fact he got back up and continued to stand toe to toe with Torres showed tremedous heart and his vulnerblity. That night won him even more fans as the excitement reached new levels in his fights – even Torres earned himself countless new fans and respect from even the most staunch Cotto fans.

March 2006 seen Miguel take on the original opponent – Branco – and gave a stylish performance against the heavy underdog. Branco pulled out through injury in the 8th round and it was later disclosed he had a dislocated shoulder – another stoppage on Miguel’s record.


June 2006 seen Miguel face the unbeaten, feather-punching but slick Paulie Malignaggi. When the fight was announced many people where unsuprised that Miguel had taken an ‘easy’ fight for the date at Madison Square Garden on Puerto Rico day. But as the fight drew clearer and his opponent became more known, concerns began the surface as to whether Miguel could live with Paulie’s supreme speed. Could Miguel catch him clean and end the night early? Or could Paulie ‘steal’ the fight with his jab and footwork?

Controversy surrounded the weigh-in – as the usual 5pm deadline before fight-time was put back to 1pm. Paulie’s camp argued that because Miguel gained so much weight and power between the scales and the ring, that this would be an unfair advantage to the champion.

Concerns from the Cotto fans also surrounded the publicly known struggle, that Cotto had in boiling down his powerful body to make the 140lb limit.

The weigh-in controversy continued to bubble and eventually the weigh in happened at around 3pm on the day prior to fight time. The main surprise was that Miguel actually weighed ¼ pound less than Paulie come scale time ! And was seen as a tactical decision to lose some bulk in a trade off for some extra speed.

Fight night presented a tremendous atmoshpere and the Puerto Rican fans made it known to Paulie as he entered the ring that he was the lamb and their boy Cotto was the butcher. The fight itself began with a little needle between the fighters and started fast with Paulie put the jab on Cotto – and arguably won round 1. All was going smoothly for the confident Malignaggi – but it was confidence that would be his undoing. Paulie was moving nicely and looking slick, but kept keeping his hands low, especially the right. Miguel (who is actually left-handed but fights orthadox) unleashed a ripping left hook and dropped Paulie to the deck.

Paulie, although cut, began to adjust his style after the shock knockdown and it continued to serve him well. Although he was mostly the busiest fighter, it was Cotto who was picking his heavier punches and catching the eye. Although the fight went the distance it was obvious that Cotto was the clear winner, albeit close.

Paulie, after all the talk leading up to the fight, put his chin where his mouth was and although he lost, he wasn’t really a ‘loser’ and his heart and desire won him many new admirers. Although afterwards Paulie’s swollen cheek was confirmed as being broken by the powerful hook that Cotto repeatedly landed during the course of the fight and subsequently required surgery to remedy – even more testament to Cotto’s heavy hands.

What now for Miguel? Well the rumour mill is mentioning his inevitable move up to welterweight (147lb) will come in December with potentially the WBA belt up for grabs (should Hatton choose to vacate it). For me personally I would want the next fight to be against the Hitman himself – as I feel stylistically this fight could be explosive. Mayweather sure has the world at his feet, but I feel that Cotto V Hatton is a much more mouth watering prospect and I do very much hope that Bob Arum can make this fight happen during 2007. Perhaps if the two fighters reside in different divisions next year, then certainly a catch-weight fight at say, 144 could certainly be an option Puerto Rico and Manchester would love to see.