It was one of those intriguing fights that could have gone either way for Cotto who has become a hot commodity in a sport that desperately needs someone of his charisma and market value. The welterweight division, which provides the minimal excitement for boxing fans, has Cotto, Shane Mosley the WBA champion, and possibly the best pound-for-pound fighter in the business with Manny Pacquiao of the Phillipines. 
 
But much of the speculation after the Clottey fight was how Cotto made adjustments with his new trainer, Joe Santiago. Cotto prevailed again at the Garden, his favorite venue, attributed also to his vast popularity of Puerto Rican fans that once again purchased tickets and came to the Garden to provide that extra support.
 
“Thank you for coming and now it is time to take a vacation,” said Cotto addressing the media and fans an hour or so after throwing his last punches at Clottey. It was the fight that Cotto expected. Clottey, a native of Ghana, now residing in the Bronx, was one of those fighters in the division that deserved a title opportunity against Cotto and proved to be one of the top three welterweights in the world.  
 
Cotto was not kidding when it comes to taking some time off from training and the ring.  He sustained a nasty cut in the fifth round, a deep gash over the left eyelid attributed to Clottey clashing heads with him. Cotto had the fight of his life and survived the later rounds.
 
“I’m never going to use any excuse in any of my fights,” commented Cotto (34-1, 27KO’S) of Caguas Puerto Rico regarding his gusty performance and fight of his life against Clottey. He still fails to surpass the popularity of Felix Trinidad, the former four-time champion from San Juan Puerto Rico who lost his last fight at Garden last January by decision to Roy Jones Jr. 
 
And over the years, when Cotto quickly became the new boxing icon from Puerto Rico, there have always been comparisons made about him and Trinidad. “We are not the same fighters,” says Cotto. “I admire him and always will. We are two different people,” he says.
 
Trinidad rarely is seen these days, and there is talk about a comeback fight as he trains on and off in Puerto Rico.  That doesn’t concern Cotto, although those close to the fighter claim he is always concerned about his popularity and disappointed when he can’t finish off an opponent in front of his rabid fans.
 
“I love the people here,” said Cotto about greeting the vastly popular Puerto Rican community in New York City.  The fighter has become their ambassador in and out of the ring. A week before his fight with Clottey, Cotto made numerous stops in the Bronx. He held an open public workout on the street at an annual Puerto Rican festival and signed autographs at an AT&T store for 350 or so fans that waited patiently for him outside before he arrived.  
 
But popularity doesn’t seem to concern Cotto, as he has always been more concerned about being at the top of the boxing world. Eight years ago after a successful amateur career, where he also represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympic Games, Cotto set an agenda.
 
“To always be the best at what I do and provide for my family,” he said. He was focused about his latest challenge with Clottey, but the will to continue, and why he throws punches for a living, is to assure that his family of two sons and a wife have financial stability.
 
The fight with Clottey was televised on HBO Sports and not on pay-per-view. Cotto wants his fans to see him without paying the $50.00 going rate for boxing PPV bouts, although he rivals former champion Oscar De La Hoya as a fighter that draws a mega PPV audience.
 
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank also continues to sit in the driver’s seat with Cotto. He has Clottey, also Pacquiao who could be the next opponent for Cotto. A Cotto-Pacquiao fight could come this November which may rival a boxing pay-per-view record. “Cotto has returned home,” says Arum with a gleaming smile regarding his fighter and relationship with the Garden and New York. 
 
Cotto returned home to Puerto Rico with two thirds of the welterweight championship and a possible return bout with Mosley can also be on the horizon. But the money is with Pacquiao, and as Cotto says, “I leave everything to the company.” Arum and Top Rank plot the next step for their champion and if Cotto and Pacquiao can agree on a catch weight, possibly at 147, then a mega fight in November for boxing fans will come. 
 
Cotto could have a return bout with Antonio Margarito, another Arum fighter who is currently serving a year suspension for using tainted hand wraps under his gloves, noticed prior to Margarito losing the WBA welterweight title to Shane Mosley last year. The speculation is that the same wraps were used when Margarito defeated Cotto by TKO last July in Las Vegas, the only loss on record for Cotto.
 
“I am at peace with myself.” says Cotto when asked about the Margarito fight that also led to speculation that he was unhappy that Arum defended Margarito for his actions.  “He was wrong, there is nothing I can do about it,” says Cotto about Margaritio, however, he has made it known when the suspension is lifted a return fight could be the vindication he needs.


“If we put everything together I will make a deal,” says Cotto. “I can’t talk about something I don’t know. I respect him though,” speaking about Margarito. “I am not looking ahead, I never do.  I never say no to anyone. I am here for the new fighters and the real fighters. The welterweight division is real and good for boxing.”
                                                                       
Cotto has never lost a fight at the Garden since his debut there in 2005, and has sold more tickets than any other fighter at the Mecca of Boxing this millennium. His fight with Clottey last week, which drew over 17,000 fans failed to sell out perhaps attributed to the economy.
 
“It’s the place to fight and every fighter wants to be here,” he says about the Garden and New York City. He listens and answers questions carefully and no longer needs the assistance of Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez to translate.  For the past two years, Cotto has been talking to non Latino media in English and no longer needs Jimenez to translate
 
Like his boxing, Cotto realized he had to be the best with communication especially when dealing with the boxing media.  The process of learning a new language is now evident and in the past few years his ability to understand and speak English appears to be as quick as the punches he throws in a ring.
 
“If you want to learn something well you work at it,” he says. “I went to the Pan American School of Languages in Puerto Rico and it helped a lot.  Now I am teaching my family how to speak English and I am forgetting my Spanish,” he says which gets a laugh from the media that continues to marvel at his skills.

And certainly Cotto, a two-time champion in three divisions has learned what the boxing game is all about.  He may have not surpassed the popularity that Trinidad had, especially in Puerto Rico. But an eventual fight and win over Pacquiao could certainly do it.