In the first part of my interview with Miguel Diaz the wise Argentinean told me that from the minute Top Rank signed Miguel Cotto that he knew the Puerto Rican would be a star. Cotto would go on to make those proclamations true with a fine run of success at 140 pounds that included six defenses of his WBO Jr. Welterweight belt against a wide range of opposition.
In June of 2006 Cotto would lock horns with brash Brooklynite Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden. Despite a spirited effort from his brash foe, Cotto would overcome by fighting a bruising and calculated fight that saw Malignaggi left with a broken orbital bone afterwards. Cotto won a unanimous decision by scores of 116-111 twice and 115-112 but there were whispers that he was having trouble making 140 pounds and a move up in weight seemed imminent. Looking back on how everything played out Diaz revealed that he had a huge role in the move up north.
?I was one of the people responsible for him to move up,? Diaz elaborated. ?He was really making a lot of sacrifices to make 140 pounds. He was not a big welterweight but sometimes in boxing three or four pounds makes a difference. I remember one time I came to Mr. Arum and I told him that it was time to move to 147. He wanted one or two more fights at 140 but I told him that if we did that we were going to squeeze the lemon so bad that the lemon wouldn?t have any juice no more. I was completely right when I said that.?
Diaz recalls returning to Puerto Rico to visit with Cotto and his uncle Evangelista about new endeavors in the Welterweight class. He said both men were extremely happy with the news and Cotto would make his debut at 147 pounds by facing cagey southpaw Carlos Quintana at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in December of 2006. Cotto was absolutely destructive on this night and overwhelmed Quintana with his physical style and potent attack to the body and head as he captured the vacant WBA championship by way of 5th round stoppage.
Cotto?s introduction in the division was a rousing success and he appeared to carry his trademark strength, power, and offensive arsenal with him flawlessly. Three months later Cotto would route rugged Oktay Urkal over eleven one-sided rounds at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto and began eyeing bigger bounty.
2007 would end up being a remarkable year for Cotto as he found himself in two high profile affairs against Zab Judah in July and Shane Mosley in November. Cotto would overcome different adversity against each man and emerge victorious, further adding to his luster. Both fights took place at the famed Madison Square Garden in a sea or rabid Puerto Rican fans and Diaz recounts just how meaningful the moments were.
?It was the consummation of being a star,? Diaz said. ?As a Puerto Rican with all the backing of the Puerto Rican people he felt like he was in the Mecca of boxing. Las Vegas is a great place to fight because of all the casinos but as far as boxing history and prestige, nobody can take it away from Madison Square Garden.?
In July of 2008 Cotto would find himself in a dangerous position by signing on to face the crippling attack of Antonio Margarito. The Tijuana fighter was coming off of a bitter loss to Paul Williams one year prior and was in search of redemption. The Cotto-Margarito showdown was a risky scenario for both men and Diaz recognized as much.
?I know that it was a tough fight for him,? he continued. ?Margarito was in his prime at that particular time. That was the risk that you take knowing it was a tough fight but when you are a great champion, and he was a great champion, you have to take the great challenges. That was the challenge.?
The fight was high-pitched from beginning to end and it was Cotto who started fast while building up an early lead. Miguel?s movement and combination punching was effective over the first half of the fight but Margarito was slowly breaking him down and took control later. The constant pressure was too much for Cotto to handle and the accumulation of punishment left him on his knees and unable to continue as he suffered a devastating 11th round stoppage. When asked if he could see the fight slipping away, Diaz conceded the truth.
?Exactly,? Diaz said sentimentally. ?By the seventh or eighth round when Miguel started moving backwards and Margartio started connecting those uppercuts and going to the body. Miguel was allowing him to hit him along the ropes and we were screaming for him to get out of the ropes. He didn?t realize that Margarito was dishing up the same medicine that he had done to all of the fighters in his career. The body shots. The fighters don?t really feel the body shots in the beginning but by the time the fight started going on we realized that his legs weren?t there. ?
When asked how much that loss took out of Cotto Diaz simply nodded his head and said ?A lot?. Margarito was later caught with elements of plaster of paris in his gloves before his next fight against Shane Mosley and was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for a year. His credibility was instantly shot and the validity of his prior fights were put into question but when asked whether he felt Margarito was guilty of any wrongdoing against Cotto Diaz shook his head and noted that there was no real proof.
Cotto would take some time away from the sport and return to Madison Square Garden in February of 2009 against Lancashire?s Michael Jennings. Cotto seemed to be working his way back into form and dispatched the overmatched Jennings in five rounds. Cotto had gotten back on track but unexpectedly for Diaz this would be the last time that the two would ever work together.
Prior to Cotto?s June clash with Accra?s Joshua Clottey it was Top Rank president Todd duBoef who came to Diaz with some disappointing news. Diaz was advised that he would no longer be needed in Cotto?s corner and wasn?t able to offer any specific reasons as to why. To this very day Diaz still seems baffled at how everything transpired but insists he has no ill will towards Miguel or his team.
?I was in shock,? Diaz admitted. ?Of course it hurt me. But boxing is full of surprises. A lot of people come and go on the teams. Some influence from people who get in the head of people who have to make the decision. I am the type of guy that I am always figure this; have a good time when you can and if something stops just think about the good times when you can and don?t keep it inside. Otherwise you create negativity in your life. This is a profession and when you are in a profession you have to take what comes with your living.?
Positive thinking from Diaz but and who would have imagined that just months later he would find himself standing opposite Cotto as the Boricua faced off with Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in November of last year? Diaz had been brought in by Freddie Roach prior to Pacquiao?s fight with Oscar De La Hoya and has been working as the Filipino icon?s cut man on fight night ever since.
Diaz insists that there wasn?t a feeling of revenge as he readied himself for Pacquiao?s clash with Cotto but was still adamant as to his feelings on the contest. Diaz noted that he appeared on the Argentinean network Space prior to the fight and said that he didn?t see how Cotto would be able to beat Pacquiao at that particular time. Diaz? words rang true as Manny would survive some rough early rounds before dropping Miguel in the 3rd and 4th and taking control of the fight while finishing Cotto off in the 12th.
It was a crushing blow to Cotto and yet another fight in which he absorbed a serious amount of punishment. The Caguas fighter now has several question marks surrounding him as he heads into his bout this Saturday with newly crowned WBA Jr. Middleweight champion Yuri Foreman. Moving up in weight and equipped with a new trainer in Emmanuel Steward, Cotto is obviously coming with his best but Diaz doesn?t see any certainty with the contest.
?It is a tough fight for both kids,? Diaz said. ?Yuri will prove if he is the real McCoy and if Miguel beats him with a new trainer, Emmanuel Steward, he will prove something. This is his fight to show whether or not he can stay in the business. If he loses to Yuri Foreman he doesn?t have much to prove. On the other hand if Yuri Foreman beats Cotto, a real fighter, his stock will go real high.?
Win or lose this weekend it is safe to say we have seen Miguel Cotto in his absolute purest form inside of the ring. From dominating high class opposition with his array of skills to tasting bitter and bloody defeat he has constantly put himself in a position for the world to see. On Saturday night we will all see Miguel Cotto again and whatever happens it says here that we won?t come away disappointed.
