There was always a certain buzz about Miguel Cotto. Growing up in Caguas, Puerto Rico, boxing was instilled in him at a young age and his family was also involved in the sport from his late father Miguel Sr. to his uncle Evangelista and brother Jose. Bairoa Gym was Cotto?s home away from home and a place for him to hone his skills as a budding student of the game.
As an amateur Cotto would win several international competitions and eventually represented his Country in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Celebration wasn?t in the plans however as Cotto would end up losing to eventual Gold medalist Muhammad Abdullaev on points by a 17-7 score. After getting a rare taste of defeat Cotto would keep his head high and eye a professional journey in the sport.
On February 23rd, 2001 a 20-year old Cotto would make his pro debut with a 1st round stoppage over Jason Doucet in Austin, Texas. Over the next few fights Cotto would frequent such destinations as New York, Puerto Rico, and Los Angeles, California as he built upon his record while fighting alongside such fighters as Jesus Chavez, Antonio Margarito, Ivan Calderon and others.
While Cotto?s career was already promising there would soon be another essential figure to come into his life in the form of veteran corner man Miguel Diaz. Born and raised in Argentina, Diaz served as Top Rank?s chief trainer and in his days he has assisted such fighters as Floyd Mayweather Jr., the late Diego Corrales, Erik Morales, Jose Luis Castillo, and countless others. Speaking from Barry?s Boxing in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this week the mild mannered Diaz spoke reflectively of his early memories of Miguel.
?It was a long time ago,? Diaz says of first meeting the Boricua fighter. ?It was at the beginning of his career. Top Rank had signed him and we went to do a couple of shows in Puerto Rico. The first years I was already talking to them and his family, his uncle Evangelista, who was his trainer. After five or six fights I started working with them and eventually I became his cut man after his eighth or ninth fight.?
Diaz is no stranger to work with tremendous talent and was able to instantly recognize the potential in Cotto. The two men?s working relationship seemed to gel and the affable corner man began playing an instrumental role in Miguel?s pre-fight routines. Looking back on those early years Diaz was able to recognize a fighter with much prestige and ability.
?He was a young man with a lot of background,? Diaz said. ?He was an Olympian in Australia. Like I said I spent some quality time with them in Puerto Rico. I used to bring over sparring partners and I would stay there for a month, month and a half previous to the fight. Of course with the approval of his uncle Evangelista I was responsible for all of that until the fight with [Michael] Jennings. That was in San Juan.?
The tenth fight of Cotto?s career was significant as he fought former champion Justin Juuko at the MGM Grand on the pay per view undercard of the rematch between biter rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. Cotto was impressive in stopping the former title challenger from Uganda in five rounds and showcased his strength and power punching. It was Cotto?s second fight in Las Vegas and he would soon start frequenting the city on a regular basis.
This marked the beginning of an impressive run for Cotto as he soon went from a prospect to a contender while establishing himself as a force to reckon with at 140 pounds. Miguel would find himself in the ring with a slew of seasoned veterans and former champions, disposing of them all impressively, and began creeping closer towards a title shot. Serving as somewhat of the man behind the curtain, Diaz elaborates on that specific time and Cotto?s progression.
?You could see that he was a special fighter,? he continued. ?He had great ability, good chin and good punching power. Not a one knockout puncher with one punch alone but in combination, especially with a left hook to the body. He would just demolish his opponents. Matter of fact a lot of fighters that he fought were no good after they fought him. Abdullaev is one of them. [Kelson] Pinto is another one, the same thing with [Gianculo] Branco. Even the kid from the Dominican Republic, Victoriana Sosa, pretty good fighter who went the distance with Floyd Mayweather. They were no longer good fighters afterwards.?
When asked how he was treated by Cotto during this time Diaz claimed to have an excellent relationship with the budding star and vividly recalls going to Argentina for a week and having a blast along with Miguel?s team. Diaz noted that Cotto never changed his attitude as his star rose and that he was always kind and accommodating.
Cotto would end up winning the WBO Jr. Welterweight title in September 2004 with a sixth round stoppage over Kelson Pinto and was officially a champion. Cotto was quickly becoming one of the sport?s biggest names and continued his run of success against a solid list of opponents including DeMarcus Corley, Ricardo Torres, and Paulie Malignaggi.
While showing weaknesses against Corley and Torres in bouts he was buzzed and hurt, nobody could deny how effective Cotto was attacking his opponents to the body and he seemed to have an iron will. Diaz noted that from the minute Cotto signed with Top Rank that everybody knew he was going to be a star and those words rang true but despite the team?s success there would be serious change right around the corner?
Stay tuned for part 2 where Diaz discusses Cotto?s move to 147 pounds, his grueling losses to Antonio Margartio and Manny Pacquiao, as well as his bout on Saturday night against Yuri Foreman?
For images of Miguel Cotto please click on the collages below?
