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By Antonio Santiago - March 21, 2006
In today's boxing scene Puerto Rico has its own well kept boxing secret. He is named Miguel Cotto. You heard right, Miguel Cotto. Only that this Miguel Cotto is one that you probably never heard about, and his first name is actually Jose. He is a member of a prodigious boxing family that named each of their boys in a way that they all almost share the same first names. One of his brothers, Jose Juan Cotto, had eight professional bouts, winning seven. The other one, of course, is Miguel Cotto, WBO Junior Welterweight Champion and a man many consider to be on a crash course with the other World Champion in the division, Ricky Hatton.
Jose Miguel Cotto had a highly decorated amateur career, representing Puerto Rico at the 1995 Pan American Games held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He debuted as a professional in 1996, and so far is undefeated in 27 fights, with 19 wins by knockout. Sometimes, he defeats opponents as easily as one would eat a Big Mac at McDonald's.
So how come I haven't heard about this guy before, you may ask yourself. After all, Cotto is a junior lightweight who has held three regional belts and beaten decent opposition, such as former WBO Bantamweight Champion Alfred Kotey, Freddie Cruz and Darryl Pinckney.
With 27 bouts already under his belt, it would be logical for him to be better known by now, but he isn't. This could be in part because of his management team. Either they are taking his career slowly so that he can develop into a great champion, or they could just be concentrating on his brother Miguel and putting him aside instead. After all, bad management is not something that is unheard of in boxing. Former WBO Middleweight Champion Doug Dewitt, once declared an exclusive interview with our Publisher "Bad" Brad Berkwitt, that after he beat Robbie Sims for the WBO belt, a possible fight with Roberto Duran and a rematch with Thomas Hearns were nixed by his managers. Victor Callejas, WBA Junior Featherweight Champion between 1984 and 1986, had to ultimately vacate the title after a one year layoff, allegedly because his management did not work hard at getting him good contracts to defend the title. And Alberto Mercado, a once promising junior featherweight from Cotto's Bairoa Gym in Caguas, Puerto Rico, lost a chance to fight for the title with Callejas in another famous case of alleged poor management.
But it could be that Jose Miguel has hard luck too. Take in consideration what happened in 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Cotto was scheduled to fight there twice. The state commission then found out that the rival assigned for his first bout was suspended after losing by knockout recently, and his first fight was cancelled. Cotto wound up making only one fight in Phoenix. More recently, in 2005, Cotto was scheduled to meet former five time world Featherweight titleholder Manuel Medina in a WBO championship eliminator. This would have undoubtedly given Cotto more exposure than he has ever received before, not to mention a better payday than on any of his previous fights, and a title fight. He could not fight Medina because he did not make weight. Granted, he should have been prepared and fought Medina, but most boxers under the Heavyweight division have problems with their weight at least once or twice during their careers.
Cotto remains the number one challenger for the WBO Junior Lightweight crown, held by Argentina's Jorge Barrios. A fight with Barrios would be very interesting. Barrios has proven that he can make anybody's head turn into an egg with his punching power. And Cotto has never been visibly hurt, but he remains untested against a puncher with the caliber and wild style Barrios possesses. Should Barrios and Cotto meet, their fight could have a Hollywood ending. His other options at junior lightweight are an aged Erik Morales and boxing's current version of it's closest fighter to Superman: Manny Pacquiao. Morales may be aged, but he is still dangerous. As for Pacquiao, that fight may someday have the green light, but, at least for now, Pacquiao would probably just show Cotto how green he is when compared to the Pac Man.
If he goes up to the Lightweight division, he may have a slighter chance of winning a world title. Alas, Diego Corrales has the WBC belt, and a perfect fight partner and gatekeeper in Jose Luis Castillo, who comes off one of 2005's knockouts of the years when he hit Corrales with a cannonball…err, punch, during their non title rematch.
Cotto needs more fights against opponents like Juan Lazcano, Mozonke Fana or other opponents of less hierarchy before he can fight the Pacquiao's, Morales', Castillo's, Corrales', Marco Antonio Barrera's and Jesus Chavez's of this world. He still needs to be featured on HBO or Showtime co-main eventer and gain experience against boxers who have been close to becoming World Champions.
But be aware, because, when well written, well kept secrets like him can end up causing a huge impact.
In today's boxing scene Puerto Rico has its own well kept boxing secret. He is named Miguel Cotto. You heard right, Miguel Cotto. Only that this Miguel Cotto is one that you probably never heard about, and his first name is actually Jose. He is a member of a prodigious boxing family that named each of their boys in a way that they all almost share the same first names. One of his brothers, Jose Juan Cotto, had eight professional bouts, winning seven. The other one, of course, is Miguel Cotto, WBO Junior Welterweight Champion and a man many consider to be on a crash course with the other World Champion in the division, Ricky Hatton.
Jose Miguel Cotto had a highly decorated amateur career, representing Puerto Rico at the 1995 Pan American Games held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He debuted as a professional in 1996, and so far is undefeated in 27 fights, with 19 wins by knockout. Sometimes, he defeats opponents as easily as one would eat a Big Mac at McDonald's.
So how come I haven't heard about this guy before, you may ask yourself. After all, Cotto is a junior lightweight who has held three regional belts and beaten decent opposition, such as former WBO Bantamweight Champion Alfred Kotey, Freddie Cruz and Darryl Pinckney.
With 27 bouts already under his belt, it would be logical for him to be better known by now, but he isn't. This could be in part because of his management team. Either they are taking his career slowly so that he can develop into a great champion, or they could just be concentrating on his brother Miguel and putting him aside instead. After all, bad management is not something that is unheard of in boxing. Former WBO Middleweight Champion Doug Dewitt, once declared an exclusive interview with our Publisher "Bad" Brad Berkwitt, that after he beat Robbie Sims for the WBO belt, a possible fight with Roberto Duran and a rematch with Thomas Hearns were nixed by his managers. Victor Callejas, WBA Junior Featherweight Champion between 1984 and 1986, had to ultimately vacate the title after a one year layoff, allegedly because his management did not work hard at getting him good contracts to defend the title. And Alberto Mercado, a once promising junior featherweight from Cotto's Bairoa Gym in Caguas, Puerto Rico, lost a chance to fight for the title with Callejas in another famous case of alleged poor management.
But it could be that Jose Miguel has hard luck too. Take in consideration what happened in 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Cotto was scheduled to fight there twice. The state commission then found out that the rival assigned for his first bout was suspended after losing by knockout recently, and his first fight was cancelled. Cotto wound up making only one fight in Phoenix. More recently, in 2005, Cotto was scheduled to meet former five time world Featherweight titleholder Manuel Medina in a WBO championship eliminator. This would have undoubtedly given Cotto more exposure than he has ever received before, not to mention a better payday than on any of his previous fights, and a title fight. He could not fight Medina because he did not make weight. Granted, he should have been prepared and fought Medina, but most boxers under the Heavyweight division have problems with their weight at least once or twice during their careers.
Cotto remains the number one challenger for the WBO Junior Lightweight crown, held by Argentina's Jorge Barrios. A fight with Barrios would be very interesting. Barrios has proven that he can make anybody's head turn into an egg with his punching power. And Cotto has never been visibly hurt, but he remains untested against a puncher with the caliber and wild style Barrios possesses. Should Barrios and Cotto meet, their fight could have a Hollywood ending. His other options at junior lightweight are an aged Erik Morales and boxing's current version of it's closest fighter to Superman: Manny Pacquiao. Morales may be aged, but he is still dangerous. As for Pacquiao, that fight may someday have the green light, but, at least for now, Pacquiao would probably just show Cotto how green he is when compared to the Pac Man.
If he goes up to the Lightweight division, he may have a slighter chance of winning a world title. Alas, Diego Corrales has the WBC belt, and a perfect fight partner and gatekeeper in Jose Luis Castillo, who comes off one of 2005's knockouts of the years when he hit Corrales with a cannonball…err, punch, during their non title rematch.
Cotto needs more fights against opponents like Juan Lazcano, Mozonke Fana or other opponents of less hierarchy before he can fight the Pacquiao's, Morales', Castillo's, Corrales', Marco Antonio Barrera's and Jesus Chavez's of this world. He still needs to be featured on HBO or Showtime co-main eventer and gain experience against boxers who have been close to becoming World Champions.
But be aware, because, when well written, well kept secrets like him can end up causing a huge impact.
Gran Campeon
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