Miguel Cotto: Can he be denied?

Boxing Examiner | Vivek Wallace

The career of Miguel Cotto has been a very storied one in such a short period of time.

For years, he was viewed as a heavily protected fighter, sheltered by the arms of a promoter who knew exactly how to map out his future, despite the rumblings of fans who felt he was little more than a manufactured Puerto Rican hype, anxious to grab what was left of the islands rich history in the sport.

In the 140lb jr. welterweight ranks, many saw Cotto struggle at times, partly due to a chin that the public perceived as more porcelin than powerful.

Silently, while they all sat back and formulated thoughts that now amount to very little, the Puerto Rican banger has somehow figured it all out.

Gone are the days of questioned stamina, present are the days of world class endurance. Gone are the remnants of questionable opposition, present is a resume that proves precisely why he now stands on the stage he now stands.

At 147lbs, bar none, there is no more legitimate fighter anywhere in the sport.

In his last 11 fights, Cotto has only fought 3 men who some would view as minimal test, (Branco, Urkal, and Jennings). That laundry list of dominant foes dominated includes the likes of powerful Colombian Ricardo Torres, speedy Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, and Shane Mosley.

He has developed what was once average boxing skills into what can now be viewed as a very thorough ability, as evidenced by his destruction of slick boxers like Malignaggi and Carlos Quintana, a man who owns the dubious distinction of being the only fighter to date to defeat the awkward Paul Williams.

As we take a trip down memory lane and bring things back full circle in the career of Miguel Cotto, we ask, does the lessons learned in years of the past help him at all against the man he'll be confronted with on November 14th?

Pacquiao has demonstrated more ability and fire than nearly all of those men, but what he hasn't demonstrated is the ability to accomplish such feats against a man that not only carries more power, but is also younger, and truly in his prime.

This defining moment in the career of Cotto may serve as a breeding ground to remove all the pain from the past; but it won't come easy.

Manny Pacquiao is determined to prove yet again why he is the sports pound-for-pound king. But Miguel Cotto is a man on a mission that won't be denied. Considering that someone has to lose, the operative question today is will he (be denied)? Or better yet, can he?

We'll find out in less than two weeks.

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