THE PASSING OF AN ERA

By Toto Mortillero

Just this last Sunday, Puerto Rico's boxing pride and future Boxing Hall of Famer, Miguel Angel Cotto, retired from the sport that he loved most after losing his World Boxing Organization (WBO), Junior Middleweight diadem to the youthful American Saddam Ali, via a unanimous decision.

The Puerto Ricans would forever remember Miguel Cotto as a fat, young lad who tried to lace the gloves just to shed weight only to find himself becoming a great fighter under the guidance and tutelage of his trainer-uncle Evangelista Cotto.

Under the almost two decades of prizefighting, Miguel Angel Cotto had surpassed the boxing records of the great Boricua/Puerto Rican boxers who were inducted to the Boxing Hall of Fame like former three division world champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad, Jr., former three-division world boxing champion Wilfredo Vasquez Sr., and former three division boxing world champion Wilfredo Benitez.

His record of six world titles in four boxing divisions is the grandest in the Puerto Rican Boxing history and his heart as a pugilist is considered as one of the best because of his never say die attitude atop the squared ring.

His unforgettable world title fights with Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweathet Jr., Antonio Margarito, Saul Alvarez and Sergio Martinez would be etched forever in the boxing books and never be forgotten by hardcore boxing followers.

His recent loss to Saddam Ali was somehow a message for him that after years of fighting in the name of his family, country and.personal honor, all he has to do now is to stop fighting and.enjoy the fruits of his labor. He may have conquered many good fighters but he cannot outlast father time, hence it is high time for him to hang his gloves since it is now clear as a crystal pool that indeed his era has already passed.