Miguel Cotto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miguel Cotto
Cotto in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez
Nickname(s)	Junito
Rated at	Light welterweight Welterweight Light middleweight Middleweight
Height	5 ft 8 in
Reach	67 in
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Born	(1980-10-29) October 29, 1980 (age 44) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	47
Wins	41
Wins by KO	33
Losses	6
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Puerto Rico Central American and Caribbean Games Silver 1998 Maracaibo Lightweight Junior World Championships Silver 1998 Buenos Aires Lightweight Junior Pan American Championships Silver 1998 Toluca Lightweight Pan American Championships Gold 1997 Medellin Lightweight Central American and Caribbean Championships Bronze 1997 Tijuana Lightweight

Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez (born in 1980) is a famous former professional boxer from Puerto Rico. He competed from 2001 to 2017. Miguel Cotto made history as the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four different weight classes. These classes ranged from light welterweight to middleweight.

In 2007 and 2009, he was ranked among the top seven boxers in the world by The Ring magazine. Cotto started his career as a powerful pressure fighter. This means he would constantly move forward and attack. As he gained experience and moved to heavier weight classes, he became a more skilled boxer-puncher. This style combines strong punches with smart defensive moves.

As an amateur boxer, Cotto represented Puerto Rico in many international events. He won a silver medal at the 1998 Junior World Championships. He started his professional career in 2001. In 2004, he won his first major title, the WBO light welterweight title. He defended this title six times before moving up in weight.

In 2006, Cotto won the WBA welterweight title. He defended it four times. His first professional loss came in 2008 against Antonio Margarito. The next year, Cotto won another welterweight title, the WBO belt. He lost it to Manny Pacquiao later that year.

In 2010, Cotto moved up to light middleweight and won the WBA title. He successfully defended it against Margarito in a 2011 rematch. In 2012, he lost his WBA title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a highly anticipated fight. Later that year, he lost to Austin Trout. Two years later, Cotto won the unified WBC, Ring, and lineal middleweight titles. This made him the first Puerto Rican to win titles in four weight classes. He defended these titles once before losing to Canelo Álvarez in 2015. After a break, Cotto returned in 2017 to win the WBO light middleweight title. He lost this title in his final fight to Sadam Ali.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Miguel Cotto was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His parents were from Puerto Rico. When he was very young, his family moved to Caguas, Puerto Rico. Boxing runs in his family. His father, Miguel Cotto Sr., his brother José Miguel Cotto, and his cousin Abner Cotto were all involved in boxing. His uncle, Evangelista Cotto, was also his trainer for a long time.

Cotto started boxing as a child to help him lose weight. He never thought it would become his career. He trained at the Bairoa Gym in Caguas. There, he became a top amateur boxer.

As a young boxer, Cotto competed in several international tournaments:

• In 1998, he won a silver medal in the Lightweight division at the Junior World Championships in Buenos Aires. He won three fights by points before losing in the final.
• In 1999, he competed in the Pan American Games in Canada. He lost his only fight there.
• He also participated in the 1999 Boxing World Championships in Houston, Texas, where he lost his only match.
• In his last amateur tournament, Cotto represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He lost to Mahamadkadir Abdullayev from Uzbekistan.

After this loss, Cotto decided to become a professional boxer. He finished his amateur career with a record of 125 wins and 23 losses.

Professional Boxing Journey

Starting His Professional Career

Cotto began his professional career in 2001. Early on, he won against experienced boxers like John Brown. He won that fight by a clear decision, even knocking Brown down once.

In 2001, Cotto had a car accident that could have ended his boxing career. He broke his arm and needed to go to the hospital. Luckily, he recovered and continued his journey.

On September 13, 2003, Cotto defeated Demetrio Ceballos by knockout in Las Vegas. Cotto showed an aggressive style, leading the referee to stop the fight in the seventh round. This win helped him become ranked number one in his division by the World Boxing Association.

In 2004, Cotto had another impressive win, knocking out Victoriano Sosa in the fourth round. He also defeated Lovemore N'dou by a unanimous decision in Las Vegas. Cotto showed his skill by landing many combinations.

Becoming a Light Welterweight Champion

Winning His First World Title

On September 11, 2004, Cotto fought Kelson Pinto for the vacant World Boxing Organization junior welterweight title. This was their third fight, and Pinto had won their two previous amateur matches. The fight was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cotto used a more defensive style than usual. He knocked Pinto down three times and won the title by knockout in the sixth round.

Defending the Title

On December 11, 2004, Cotto successfully defended his title against former world champion Randall Bailey. Cotto's speed and accuracy were key. Bailey received cuts around his eyes, and the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round. Soon after, Cotto was named Puerto Rico's fighter of the year for 2004.

Cotto's second title defense was on February 26, 2005, against Demarcus Corley. Cotto was very aggressive in this fight. He knocked Corley down three times before the referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.

On June 11, 2005, Cotto faced Muhammad Abdullaev from Uzbekistan. Abdullaev was the last person to beat Cotto as an amateur. This time, they met as professionals in New York City's Madison Square Garden. Cotto started strong, hitting Abdullaev's head and body. In the ninth round, Abdullaev's eye was badly swollen. The doctor stopped the fight, and Cotto kept his title.

Cotto's third defense was on September 24, 2005, against Ricardo Torres of Colombia. This was a tough fight with both boxers getting knocked down. Cotto eventually won by knockout in the seventh round with a powerful left hook.

On March 4, 2006, Cotto defended his title again by knocking out Gianluca Branco. Branco had to stop in the eighth round due to a shoulder injury. Cotto controlled the fight with his jabs.

Cotto vs. Malignaggi

Cotto's next big fight was against the undefeated Paul Malignaggi on June 10, 2006. Cotto opened a cut over Malignaggi's eye early in the fight. Malignaggi said this affected his vision. Cotto won the fight by a unanimous decision. Malignaggi suffered a fractured bone in his face during the fight.

Moving to Welterweight

Cotto vs. Oktay Urkal, 2007

Cotto gave up his light welterweight title in late 2006. He decided to move up to the welterweight division. His goal was to challenge Carlos Quintana for the WBA championship. The fight happened on December 2, 2006. Cotto defeated Quintana by technical knockout in the fifth round. Quintana stopped fighting before the sixth round, making Cotto the new WBA Welterweight Champion.

Defending His Welterweight Title

Cotto successfully defended his welterweight title on March 3, 2007, against Oktay Urkal. Urkal's corner stopped the fight in the eleventh round.

On June 9, 2007, Cotto defended his WBA Welterweight Title against Zab Judah in New York City. Cotto was dominant and won by technical knockout in the eleventh round.

Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley fought on November 10, 2007. Cotto won this fight by a unanimous decision. Cotto's performance was seen as a step towards greatness. On April 12, 2008, Cotto successfully defended his championship against Alfonso Gómez. Cotto knocked Gómez down three times. The fight was stopped after the fifth round because Gómez could not continue. Cotto was named the World Boxing Association's "Boxer of the Year."

Cotto vs. Margarito I

On July 26, 2008, Cotto suffered his first professional loss to Antonio Margarito. Cotto started strong, landing many punches. However, Margarito kept pressuring Cotto, pushing him against the ropes. Cotto was hurt in the seventh round. Margarito continued to attack, and Cotto's corner stopped the fight in the eleventh round. Later, there was suspicion about Margarito's hand-wraps in a different fight. This made some people question the fairness of his fight with Cotto.

Winning Another Welterweight Title

Cotto returned to boxing on February 21, 2009, against Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO welterweight title. Cotto showed his power, knocking Jennings down twice in the fourth round and again in the fifth. The referee stopped the fight, giving Cotto a technical knockout win and his second welterweight championship.

After this fight, Cotto changed trainers. He named Joe Santiago as his new trainer.

Cotto vs. Clottey

On June 13, 2009, Cotto defended his title against Ghanaian boxer Joshua Clottey. Cotto knocked Clottey down in the first round. In the third round, an accidental head clash caused a bad cut over Cotto's left eye. The fight was very close. Cotto won by a split decision, meaning the judges had different opinions, but two of them scored it for Cotto.

Cotto vs. Pacquiao

After the Clottey fight, talks began for a match against Manny Pacquiao. Both boxers were promoted by Bob Arum, who was interested in this fight. Cotto agreed to fight at a slightly lower weight than usual to accommodate Pacquiao.

On November 14, 2009, the fight took place in Las Vegas. Pacquiao defeated Cotto by TKO in the 12th round. This meant Cotto lost his WBO welterweight title. With this win, Pacquiao became the first boxer to win world titles in seven different weight classes. This fight was very popular, generating a lot of money from pay-per-view sales.

Moving to Light Middleweight

Cotto vs. Foreman

After the Pacquiao fight, Cotto moved to the light middleweight division. On June 5, 2010, he fought against undefeated WBA light Middleweight Champion Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Cotto knocked Foreman down in the ninth round and won the WBA light middleweight title. This was his fourth world title in three different weight divisions.

Cotto vs. Mayorga

On March 12, 2011, Cotto defended his WBA light middleweight title against former world champion Ricardo Mayorga. Cotto won by TKO in the 12th round. He landed a left hook that dropped Mayorga, ending the fight. Cotto said his plan was to avoid Mayorga's tricks and save his big punches for the end.

Cotto vs. Margarito II

On December 3, 2011, Cotto had a rematch against Antonio Margarito at Madison Square Garden. Margarito's eye had been badly damaged in a previous fight, and there were concerns about him getting a license to box. However, he was eventually allowed to fight. Cotto got his revenge, stopping Margarito in the 10th round. The fight was stopped because Margarito's right eye was swollen shut. Cotto was ahead on all judges' scorecards when the fight ended.

Cotto vs. Mayweather Jr.

On May 5, 2012, Cotto faced undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. for his WBA 'Super' light middleweight title. This was one of the most anticipated fights in boxing. Cotto started aggressively, but Mayweather used his counter-punching skills to control the fight. Cotto managed to land some good punches, causing Mayweather's nose to bleed. Mayweather won by a unanimous decision. After the fight, Mayweather told Cotto, "You are a hell of a champion — the toughest guy I fought."

Cotto vs. Trout and Rodríguez

On December 1, 2012, Cotto fought Austin Trout for the WBA light middleweight title. Trout used his quick combinations and footwork to win the fight by a wide unanimous decision.

On October 5, 2013, Cotto fought Delvin Rodríguez. For this fight, Cotto started working with famous trainer Freddie Roach. Cotto showed an aggressive style, landing powerful body shots. He knocked Rodríguez down in the third round, and the referee stopped the fight, giving Cotto a TKO victory.

Becoming a Middleweight Champion

Cotto vs. Martinez

In February 2014, it was announced that Cotto would challenge middleweight champion Sergio Martinez for his titles. This was Cotto's first fight in the middleweight division. Martinez had been inactive and had knee surgeries. Cotto knocked Martinez down three times in the first round. Martinez retired on his stool before the tenth round, making Cotto the winner. With this win, Cotto became the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four different weight classes.

Cotto vs. Geale

In March 2015, Cotto signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports. On June 6, 2015, Cotto defended his middleweight titles against former champion Daniel Geale. Geale had to agree to a specific weight limit for the fight. Cotto knocked Geale down twice in the fourth round. Geale then told the referee he could not continue, and Cotto kept his titles.

Cotto vs. Alvarez

Cotto lost to Saul "Canelo" Álvarez on November 21, 2015, by unanimous decision. The fight was very close, with both boxers being careful. Cotto used his jab, while Álvarez landed powerful punches. The official judges' scores were controversial, as many boxing experts thought the fight was much closer. Cotto left immediately after hearing the scores and later said he felt he had won.

Before the fight, the WBC (World Boxing Council) took away Cotto's Middleweight World Champion title. This was because Cotto did not agree to their rules and fees. Álvarez still had the chance to win the championship.

Return to Light Middleweight and Retirement

Cotto planned to return to the ring in 2017. He was scheduled to fight James Kirkland, but the fight was canceled due to Kirkland's injury.

On May 31, 2017, Cotto signed a deal with Golden Boy Promotions. This deal included promoting Cotto's fights and helping develop new boxers in Puerto Rico.

Cotto vs. Kamegai

On August 26, 2017, Cotto fought Yoshihiro Kamegai for the vacant WBO light middleweight championship. Cotto won the fight by unanimous decision after 12 rounds, becoming a 6-time world champion. Cotto said he was happy with his performance and knew Kamegai was a tough fighter. He also confirmed he would retire by the end of 2017.

Cotto vs. Ali

On December 2, 2017, Cotto had his final career fight against Sadam Ali at Madison Square Garden. In a surprising upset, Cotto lost his final bout by a 12-round unanimous decision. Ali also claimed the WBO light middleweight title. Cotto later said he had torn his left bicep during the fight. Despite the injury, Cotto said, "I don't want to make excuses. Sadam won the fight. It is my last fight. I am good, and I want to be happy in my home with my family."

Retirement

Cotto kept his promise and retired after his loss to Sadam Ali. He told his fans, "Thank you for supporting me at every opportunity. I'm so glad to call Madison Square Garden my home." After a 17-year professional career, Miguel Cotto officially retired with 41 wins (33 by knockout) and 6 losses.

Personal Life

Miguel Cotto is married to Melissa Guzmán. They have three children: Luis, Alondra, and Miguel Cotto III. He also has another daughter from a previous relationship.

Cotto owns a boxing promotion company called "Promociones Miguel Cotto." This company organizes boxing events in Puerto Rico. He also started "El Ángel," a non-profit organization. This group promotes physical activity and helps fight childhood obesity.

Fashion designer Marc Eckō chose Cotto to promote his brand, Eckō Unltd. He admired Cotto's "fearless" attitude. As part of this partnership, Eckō Unltd. made boxing gear for Cotto and clothing for the public. Miguel Cotto's uncle, David Cotto, was also a boxer. His career ended early due to an injury.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Images for kids

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  Cotto vs. Oktay Urkal, 2007

International Boxing Hall of Fame

Puerto Ricans in the International Boxing Hall of Fame

     = Indicates the person is no longer alive

See also