Miguel Cotto has shared the ring with some big punchers – but one stands out above the rest.
During an illustrious 14-year stint in the paid ranks, the Puerto Rican puncher picked up world titles in four different weight classes and established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of his generation.
In order to achieve that lofty status he had to lock horns with a who’s who of boxing greats.
From flawless technician Floyd Mayweather to heavy-handed pressure fighters Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao, Cotto took on all challengers.
‘Junito’ started out as an aggressive front-foot fighter, later evolving into a more refined boxer-puncher as he moved up in weight.
But he could always rely on his hard right hand and his iron chin.
Cotto was only finished twice during his 47-fight (41-6) career.
The first time came via a compassionate corner stoppage against Antonio Margarito in 2008 and, in the other, against Pacquiao a year later he was TKOd on his feet.
Given that these are the only men to have managed to get Cotto out of there, the expectation is that he would choose either Pacquiao or Margarito as the hardest hitter he has faced.
However, Cotto reserves that distinction for another opponent.
“This guy Randall Bailey, in my first title defence back in 2004,” he told Ring Magazine.
“He caught me with a good right hand but I handled it well and I did my job.”
Cotto decked Randall Bailey twice en route to a sixth-round stoppage win on cuts but felt the full force of his right hand early.
Bailey, aptly nicknamed ‘The Knockout King’, finished 37 of his 46 wins (46-9) inside the distance and knocked out his first 21 opponents before falling to defeat for the first time against Ener Julio in 2000.
In the process of compiling his impressive stoppage streak, he picked up the WBO light welterweight crown, which he subsequently dropped to Julio.
Bailey fought for the title again in 2003, losing to DeMarcus Corely over the distance, before getting another shot at the same title when Cotto picked it up a year later.
In 2012, at the age of 37, Bailey became a two-weight world champion by flattening Mike Jones with a huge right uppercut for the vacant IBF welterweight strap.
He lost the title in his first defence against Devon Alexander and hung up his gloves in 2016 – one year before Cotto also called it quits.
