Miguel Cotto is a legend of the boxing world and his career is being commemorated as he enters boxing's Hall of Fame. In a career that spanned over 16 years, Cotto became a four weight world champion as he went from super lightweight to middleweight capturing world title glory in those divisions and the ones in between.
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Cotto had a stellar amateur career, as he left the amateur ranks with a record of 32-11, with his final bout being a first round contest in the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Cotto turned over in 2001, and wasted no time on his debut, as he got a first round knockout victory over Jason Doucet.
2 years on from his debut, Cotto had worked up a record of 13-0. Cotto's 14th fight was where he picked up his first title, as he defeated Cesar Bazan with an 11th round knockout to pick up the vacant WBC international super lightweight title. Two fights later, Cotto knocked Rocky Martinez out in two rounds to enter the WBO rankings, as he picked up the WBO NABO title.
Cotto gatecrashed the WBA rankings two fights later, as he stopped Carlos Maussa in eight ronds to pick up the WBA Fedalatin title. Cotto faced Lovemore Ndou in an IBF final eliminator two fights, a fight he won, but it was the first time he went the full 12 rounds. The next fight after Ndou was Cotto's crowning night, as he dropped Kelson Pinto in the second and fifth round, before stopping Pinto in the sixth to win the WBO super lightweight title.
After seven successful defences of his title, Cotto was given a shot at the vacant WBA welterweight title. Cotto became a two weight world champion in his 28th fight after defeating Carlos Quintana in five rounds. Four successful defences, including impressive victories over Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, Cotto would come up against Anonio Margarito. Cotto was stopped in the 11th round, as he wwas dealt the first loss of his career. Controversy was sparked after the fight, as Cotto claimed Margarito was using illegal and loaded gloves, and provided valid evidence to add substance to his claim.
Cotto bounced back straight into a world title fight as he faced Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO welterweight title. Cotto would stop Jennings in the fifth to become world champion again. After a successful defence over Joshua Clottet in a close fight, Cotto would face the pound for pound superstar Manny Pacquiao. Cotto was dropped in rounds three and four, before being stopped in the 12th and final round to be handed the second defeat of his career.
Cotto moved up in weight following the Pacquiao defeat, and yet again bounced straight into a world title fight. Cotto faced Yuri Foreman for the WBA super welterweight title. Cotto proved he had carried his power up through the divisions, as he stopped Foreman in nine rounds. Two fights later, Cotto got his revenge over bitter rival Margarito. After a heated build up, Cotto would force Margarito to retire from the bout in the ninth round following damage sustained to Margarito's right eye. This would probably go down as one of the sweetest revenge moments in boxing history.
However, Cotto would lose his title next time out, as he came up short against the great Floyd Mayweather. Cotto would return in a world title fight, but was also dealt a defeat as he was beaten by Austin Trout. Cotto got back to winning ways by knocking Delvin Rodriguez out in three rounds, before moving up in weight for a fourth time to face Sergio Martinez for the WBC middleweight title. Cotto would drop Martinez in the first round, before picking up the victory in round 10.
Two fights later, Cotto would be subject of a defeat as he would lose by unanimous decision against pound for pound star Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Cotto would return just under two years later, and once again was fighting for a world title, as he had reverted back to super welterweight to face Yoshihiro Kamegai for the vacant WBO title. Cotto would be world champion again as he got the unanimous decision over Kamegai to lift the WBO title.
Cotto confirmed that his next fight would be his last, as he faced Sadam Ali. An emotional night in Madison Square Garden saw Cotto make his final journey to the ring. The fight would not have a fairytale ending for Cotto as he was defeated by Ali, as he bowed out from the sport of boxing.
Cotto had a phenomanal career and is rightly being inducted into the illustrious Hall of Fame, Cotto ended his career with a record of 41-6, including five world titles over four weights. The man is a true legend of the boxing game.