New York- Miguel Cotto was a championship fighter that never sought recognition or awards during his illustrious career as the first four- division champion from Puerto Rico. Last week, it was four years to the date when Cotto lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Sadam Ali at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Then, the WBO Super Welterweight title went to Ali. Cotto said after the loss, that would be his last fight. He accomplished his goals and established history. He said it was time to move on and allow the young and potential stars to follow in his footsteps. Four years later the dream of those young fighters is quickly climbing to stardom.
Tuesday, the recognition and highest honor for a fighter was achieved. Cotto was elected by writers as one of the new inductees to the International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2022.
June 9-12, up in Canastota, NY, Cotto will become the 13th Latino fighter to be enshrined in the Boxing Hall of Fame and will share the stage with eight others including former champion Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney, both who were involved in a 1994 mega super middleweight title bout in Las Vegas.
It will be a distinguished lore of boxing champions that will join Cotto up in Canastota. The Hall of Fame inductees of 2020 and 2021 will be combined as the ceremonies the past two years were canceled due to the pandemic and that list also includes former champions Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bernard Hopkins. Andre Ward, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Wladimir Klitschko.
Cotto, who represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympics, for a majority of his career was under the Top Rank promotional banner and still holds the all-time gate receipt record for a fighter at Madison Square Garden.
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Cotto won world titles at super lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight, and middleweight. He had career defining fights with Mayweather, a rising star in Canelo Alvarez, and with eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao.
Cotto said about his induction, “I’m so proud of what we have done in the sport. Above all, I was the head of my family and what made me proud as a father was to provide for my family and thanks to boxing I did it the best way possible. It is amazing, but you have to be humble and carry yourself in the best way possible and work hard every day to reach your goals in life. I look forward to being in Canastota next June.”
Congratulations Miguel Cotto from all here at Latinosports.com
Rich Mancuso: Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
