Fighter Flashback: The Early Evolution of Miguel Cotto
Published on: 25th September, 2009
Fighter Flashback: The Early Evolution of Miguel Cotto | Related News
It can be argued that since his birth on October 29, 1980, Miguel Angel Cotto was destined for some kind of greatness. Growing up in Caugus, Puerto Rico, boxing was instilled in young Miguel as his father, uncle, brother, and cousin all boxed before him. In the same Barioa Gym where champions Orlando “Cholo” Fernandez and Jose “Cury” Carrazo were made, so too did Cotto begin his quest as a youth.
With his father and Uncle Evangelista watching over him, young Miguel would start what would eventually be one of the most decorated amateur careers in Puerto Rican history. His boxing skills and apparent ring savvy at such a young age were said to be striking and he began getting noticed internationally in 1997. He would go on to represent his country in the both the Lightweight and Jr. lightweight divisions at various international events including the 1998 Junior World Championships, the 1999 Pan American Games, and the 2000 Summer Olympics. After being eliminated earlier than expected in Sydney, Cotto would embark on his professional career.
On February 23rd, 2001 Cotto would stop Jason Doucet in the first round at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. From that point forward Cotto would be guided by his promotional company, Top Rank, accordingly. Cotto would end up fighting again in Texas as well as Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and four times in Puerto Rico as he compiled a 9-0 record with 7 knockouts. The first name fighter on his resume was former Ugandan world title challenger Justin Juuko, whom he met on the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales rematch.
Juuko was known best for his spirited efforts against Floyd Mayweather and Diego Corrales but he was no match for the rising prospect from Caugus. In the fight Cotto’s precision punching and advantage in physical strength were alarmingly apparent as he dropped Juuko in rounds 3 and 4 before staggering him a round later to force a referee’s stoppage. After the bout Cotto commented on the learning lessons he took from the contest.
“I fought a very experienced fighter,” Cotto said with respect. “I knew that. More than I had fought before. But we looked good and we did what we were supposed to do. The plan was to be a counter puncher, to capitalize on his mistakes, and that’s what we did.”
Ten fights into his career, Cotto was just beginning to get a taste of what it took to become a serious force in the sport of boxing. While no-names and journeymen filled up his resume until this point, he was getting ready to get his feet wet by swimming with gatekeepers, former world title challengers, and former champions.
After dispatching of Carlos Ramirez in three rounds Cotto would lock horns with former title challenger John ‘The Beast’ Brown at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in September 2002. The Cotto-Brown preliminary took place underneath the heated battle between Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas and many thought Brown’s hardened mentality and previous experience against such fighters as Shane Mosley, Diego Corrales, Robbie Peden, and Steve Forbes would present a stiff task for Cotto. That wasn’t the be the case, however, as Cotto easily controlled the contest against the faded veteran, sweeping all judges’ scorecards as he claimed a ten round unanimous decision win.
Cotto would return back home to Puerto Rico in November of 2002 as he met up with well traveled Ubaldo Hernandez. Up to that point Hernandez was known best for dropping young prospect Juan Diaz on his way to a split decision loss and stopping Ebo Elder in the first round a few months later in late 2001. While Hernandez made Diaz cry tears in his post fight interview and seriously sidetracked Elder’s career, he could do little to deter the fortitude of Cotto, who beat him with a sustained and patient attack throughout the night. A seventh round stoppage at 1:31 of the round was thrown Cotto’s way.
Next up for Cotto would be an appearance on the Juan Manuel Marquez-Manuel Medina undercard in February of 2003 against former champion Cesar Bazan. Bazan was known best for his give and take battles against Denver, Colorado’s Stevie ‘Lil’ But Bad’ Johnston but a 6th round TKO loss to formidable Jose Luis Cast
