Miguel Cotto suffered a defeat in one of the most entertaining fights of all time.
In his sparkling career, the warrior proved his heart beyond doubt, delivering a plethora of exciting wars for the fans.
Mayweather said Cotto was his toughest opponent, and many a seasoned competitor struggled to cope with his unrelenting pressure.
And in one fight, he met a fellow titan of the sport, with the pair gelling to create something special.
WOW: Miguel Cotto names win over boxing legend as his greatest ever performance
Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito was the best fight Kenny Bayless ever refereed
On July 26, 2008, Miguel Cotto put his WBA welterweight world title on the line against Antonio Margarito in an all-action encounter, inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The Puerto Rican started well, landing snappy shots, but quickly found himself in a hint of trouble when his rival detonated a big right hand upstairs.
Mixing up his tactics, Cotto started targeting the body, and moved effectively, until another big punch hurt him in the fifth.
As the rounds rolled by, the pair continued to trade heavy shots, with Cotto slowly falling apart.
In the 11th, he hit the canvas.
The star bravely beat the count, but quickly found himself on the floor again, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.
As per ESPN, in the aftermath of the bout, referee Kenny Bayless, said: “Margarito was just a strong and determined fighter tonight.
“It’s the best fight I’ve ever done. They started out throwing power punches and they never stopped. They were throwing bombs and they never stopped.”
Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo later had their licenses suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for tampering with the boxer’s hand wraps before his loss to Shane Mosley.
Cotto later rematched the Mexican, stopping him at the end of the ninth round.
How much did Miguel Cotto make to fight Floyd Mayweather?
Cotto’s victory over Margarito earned him an opportunity to face Floyd Mayweather.
And while he didn’t win, the fan favorite produced a tremendous effort, pushing the American to his limits.
Unsurprisingly, he was well compensated for his showdown with ‘Money’.
Following the contest, it was revealed how much Cotto was paid to fight Mayweather.