José Miguel Cotto
Encyclopedia
José Miguel Cotto Vázquez (born June 22, 1977 in Caguas, Humacao) is a Puerto Rican
professional boxer
. He is the brother of the four-time World Champion boxer Miguel Angel Cotto
. Cotto, who has boxed for most of his career under the shadow of his brother, trains at Bairoa Gym
in Caguas.
in Mar del Plata
, Argentina
, and won a silver medal. A year later he represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics
, where he was defeated in the first round.
Youth World super bantamweight
title in August 20th 2000, a split decision win against a capable young Fernando Velardez (who would later fight Mexican legend Erik Morales
for Morales' WBC
Featherweight
title).
On July 25, 2003, Cotto was supposed to fight in Phoenix, Arizona
. However, his opponent had trouble getting a license to fight, as he had been knocked out recently and was serving a 45 day suspension from another state. The Arizona boxing commission was not able to find Cotto an opponent in time and the fight got cancelled.
On September 5, at his native Caguas, Cotto finally returned to action, with a first round knockout win over Johnny Walker. On December 19, he fought Anthony Martinez in Aibonito
, winning by an eighth round knockout.
Cotto moved to Phoenix early in 2004. On April 14 of that year he stopped Mexican
Luis Lizarraga at two minutes and thirty seven seconds of the first round to win the regional, IBC
Intercontinental
super featherweight
title. He has also won the vacant WBO intercontinental
super featherweight
title during his fight with Genaro Trazancos.
On August 6, he beat former WBA
Bantamweight
champion Al Kotey by a ten round unanimous decision in San Juan
. On August 20, 2005, Cotto would have boxed Manuel Medina
, with a world title shot at stake. But he was not able to make the fight's weight limit and the fight was cancelled.
On January 29, 2005, Cotto knocked out Armando Cordoba in the first round to win the vacant WBO NABO lightweight
title.
On January 20, 2006, Cotto knocked Ubaldo Hernandez out in seven rounds at Mayfield, California. On April 8, he received his first world title try, losing a twelve round decision to Juan Díaz
as part of a Pay Per View undercard, for the WBA
world Lightweight
title in an exciting fight where both contestants threw nearly a hundred punches per round.
In May 2007, he and Prawat Singwangcha (30-3-1, 18 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw in a bout for the vacant WBA
lightweight
title.
Cotto then proceeded to fight Saul Alvarez
at welterweight. Cotto got off to a good start and almost knocked out Alvarez, in round 2 Cotto went down after missing a hook. The referee stopped the fight in round 9 after Cotto was trapped in the corner and was taking many flush right hands by Alvarez.
On April 9, 2011 he lost a 10 round unanimous decision to former IBF
Light Welterweight
champion Paulie Malignaggi, managing to buckle Maligaggi a couple of times.
|align="center" colspan=8|32 Wins (24 knockouts), 2 loss(s), 1 Draw, 0 No Contest http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=16680&cat=boxer
|-
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|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponnent
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
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|Loss||32-3||align=left|
Paul Malignaggi
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Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional boxer
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
. He is the brother of the four-time World Champion boxer Miguel Angel Cotto
Miguel Cotto
Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and the reigning WBA light middleweight champion. He is the younger brother of contender Jose Miguel Cotto and cousin of Abner Cotto...
. Cotto, who has boxed for most of his career under the shadow of his brother, trains at Bairoa Gym
Bairoa Gym
Bairoa Gym is a boxing gym located in the Bairoa barrio area of Caguas, Puerto Rico.El gimnasio Bairoa, as it is known in Spanish, is a famous boxing gym in Puerto Rico because of the list of world champions and top contenders who have trained there. World champions who have used this facility...
in Caguas.
Amateur career
In 1995, he participated at the Pan American GamesBoxing at the 1995 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1995 Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 11 to March 27. It served as a qualification tournament for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia...
in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and won a silver medal. A year later he represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, where he was defeated in the first round.
Pro career
He won the WBCWorld Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Youth World super bantamweight
Super Bantamweight
Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....
title in August 20th 2000, a split decision win against a capable young Fernando Velardez (who would later fight Mexican legend Erik Morales
Erik Morales
Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. He is the first Mexican born boxer in history to win a world title in four weight classes and is the current WBC Light Welterweight Champion...
for Morales' WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
title).
On July 25, 2003, Cotto was supposed to fight in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. However, his opponent had trouble getting a license to fight, as he had been knocked out recently and was serving a 45 day suspension from another state. The Arizona boxing commission was not able to find Cotto an opponent in time and the fight got cancelled.
On September 5, at his native Caguas, Cotto finally returned to action, with a first round knockout win over Johnny Walker. On December 19, he fought Anthony Martinez in Aibonito
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Aibonito is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo...
, winning by an eighth round knockout.
Cotto moved to Phoenix early in 2004. On April 14 of that year he stopped Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Luis Lizarraga at two minutes and thirty seven seconds of the first round to win the regional, IBC
International Boxing Council
The International Boxing Council is a boxing organization. The IBC titles are often the beginning for professional boxers who progress to high prestigious titles....
Intercontinental
Intercontinental
Intercontinental may refer to:* anything spanning several continents* Intercontinental ballistic missile* the InterContinental hotel chain* InterContinental Hotels Group* Intercontinental Cup * Intercontinental Championship...
super featherweight
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
title. He has also won the vacant WBO intercontinental
Intercontinental
Intercontinental may refer to:* anything spanning several continents* Intercontinental ballistic missile* the InterContinental hotel chain* InterContinental Hotels Group* Intercontinental Cup * Intercontinental Championship...
super featherweight
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
title during his fight with Genaro Trazancos.
On August 6, he beat former WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
champion Al Kotey by a ten round unanimous decision in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. On August 20, 2005, Cotto would have boxed Manuel Medina
Manuel Medina (boxer)
Juan Manuel Rubio Medina is a boxer, who is better known as Manuel Medina. He is a five-time world featherweight champion...
, with a world title shot at stake. But he was not able to make the fight's weight limit and the fight was cancelled.
On January 29, 2005, Cotto knocked out Armando Cordoba in the first round to win the vacant WBO NABO lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
title.
On January 20, 2006, Cotto knocked Ubaldo Hernandez out in seven rounds at Mayfield, California. On April 8, he received his first world title try, losing a twelve round decision to Juan Díaz
Juan Díaz (American boxer)
Juan Díaz, born September 17, 1983 in Houston, Texas, is a retired Mexican-American boxer in the lightweight division. His record is 35-4...
as part of a Pay Per View undercard, for the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
world Lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
title in an exciting fight where both contestants threw nearly a hundred punches per round.
In May 2007, he and Prawat Singwangcha (30-3-1, 18 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw in a bout for the vacant WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
title.
Cotto then proceeded to fight Saul Alvarez
Saul Alvarez
Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán is an undefeated Mexican boxer in the Light Middleweight division. He is the current WBC Light Middleweight champion...
at welterweight. Cotto got off to a good start and almost knocked out Alvarez, in round 2 Cotto went down after missing a hook. The referee stopped the fight in round 9 after Cotto was trapped in the corner and was taking many flush right hands by Alvarez.
On April 9, 2011 he lost a 10 round unanimous decision to former IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
Light Welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
champion Paulie Malignaggi, managing to buckle Maligaggi a couple of times.
Professional boxing record (Incomplete)
|-|align="center" colspan=8|32 Wins (24 knockouts), 2 loss(s), 1 Draw, 0 No Contest http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=16680&cat=boxer
|-
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponnent
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-align=center
|Loss||32-3||align=left|
Paul MalignaggiPaul Malignaggi
Paul "Paulie" Malignaggi is an Italian-American professional boxer. He is the former IBF junior welterweight champion, and former WBO NABO light welterweight champion.-Light Welterweight:...
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