Miguel Cotto was never lineal welterweight champion, I'm pretty sure of that. He was never considered to be the man of the division that was and still is Floyd.

Before Floyd officially announced his 1st retirement in June of '08 he was still considered the man at the division. And Cotto lost to Margarito in July of '08. If anything that fight was for the lineal Champsionship and Margarito won. If anything Cotto was just a title holder at 147 and not recognized champ.