By Jake Donovan

It would have been easy enough to just pack it in, and forever accept a fate as an opponent. His last name would mean a better paying gig than most in his position, which is that of perennial bridesmaid who is expected to be kept warm for the next young stud in search of a name opponent.

But Jose Miguel Cotto isn’t yet ready to throw in the towel.

Life is never easy when you’re the less accomplished of a sibling act, much less when that other half is your younger brother. Jose Miguel was a member of the Puerto Rico Olympic boxing squad four years before baby brother Miguel saw him and raised him. He’s also been a pro for more than four years longer than him, though with far, far less to show for it.

Miguel Cotto has won major belts in three separate weight classes, and even served for a brief spell as the best active welterweight on the planet.

Jose Miguel Cotto has only received one title shot to date, settling for a majority draw in a May 2007 lightweight fight that many felt should’ve went to his opponent, Prawet Singwancha.

His most high profile performance to date resulted in the lone stoppage loss of his career, as he was halted by rising junior middleweight Saul Alvarez in nine rounds earlier this year. The bout served as the televised co-feature to the highest grossing pay-per-view event of 2010, which was headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr’s 12-round shellacking of Shane Mosley.

On such occasions, it’s usually only the winner who is remembered for his work that evening. But because of his brave showing against a much bigger and younger opponent, Cotto drew high praise.

Promoters and network executives have made the past mistake of taking such fighters, and continuing to match them in over their head until there is nothing left to offer the public.

Golden Boy Promotions obviously has a different plan in mind, as Cotto headlines tonight’s edition of Solo Boxeo Tecate. He will take on late replacement Christopher Henry in a bout that will air live from the Coliseo Cosme Beitia Salamo in Catano, Puerto Rico (Friday, Telefutura, 11:30PM ET).

Cotto (31-2-1, 23KO) was originally slated to face fellow former title challenger Oscar Leon, but the Colombian southpaw banger was forced to withdraw at the eleventh hour after failing to properly secure a visa.

In came Henry, a journeyman for sure but also one who hits hard enough for Cotto to not take lightly what is viewed as his latest lease on life as a boxer.

Expectations were never any greater than modest for the elder Cotto, who has 3 ½ years on his brother but was still always forced to live his shadow. Hell, he even fights under his brother’s promotional banner and to this day, few have the 33-year old pegged for a championship run.

But that doesn’t stop him or anyone else on his team from believing that something better – or at least different – is in store once 2011 rolls around.

The first step towards realizing that goal comes tonight, as every fight from here on out is a must-win situation. The opportunity marks his first televised headliner since his failed vacant title bid with Sangwacha more than three years ago.

A win against Henry, followed by two or three more in 2011 could eventually land him a mandatory shot against the winner of the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Tim Bradley and Devon Alexander early next year.

It may seem like a long way off for the moment, but certainly a lot further along than anyone would have believed to have been the case after May 1. The image of Cotto needing to be rescued by the referee as Alvarez began to tee off left many wondering if he was forever relegated to journeyman status, if not electing to bow out of the sport altogether.

With as many junior welterweights as Golden Boy has to offer, Cotto could’ve easily landed on the B-side in a fight with either Zab Judah or Lucas Matthysse, who instead face one another on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey.

He could’ve been kept on ice until Victor Ortiz was ready to face him, or even as the comeback opponent of choice for the loser of next month’s alphabet belt showdown between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.

Instead, he gladly accepts assignment on the Telefutura circuit, hoping to return to the win column and once again breathe life into a career that for far too long was always left to suffocate.
 
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.