Cotto credits his family for his boxing Hall of Fame induction
By The Star Staff
Four-time world boxing champion Miguel Cotto, who was inducted on Sunday into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, credited his family for all the success he had in the ring.
“You have been my inspiration and the people who have made me work for my dreams and for your dreams,” said the cagüeño, according to press reports. “Mom, I love you with my life. To my children, thank you for doing what you do and loving us and loving us so much. Thank you all.”
Cotto thus became the 11th Puerto Rican boxer to enter the shrine to the “sweet science.”
That list is made up of Sixto Escobar, Pedro Montañez, José “Chegüí” Torres, Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gómez, Wilfredo Benítez, Herbert Lewis “Cocoa Kid” Hardwick Arroyo, Edwin “Chapo” Rosario, Félix “Tito” Trinidad and Héctor “Macho” Camacho.
Cotto began his message in English by thanking those present for their support during his career and that of all the exalted ones, but he dedicated his induction to his family, whom he addressed in Spanish.
Cotto was a world champion at 140, 147, 154 and 160 pounds. He is the only Puerto Rican to win championships in four different weight classes.
Along with Cotto, the class of 2022 also includes former champions Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney, and former boxers Regina Halmich and Holly Holm.
In other categories, Bill Caplan, Ron Borges and Bob Yallen were selected.
The awards ceremony was the first since 2019 with the intervening years put off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Class of 2020 included multi-division champions Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Márquez and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, as well as Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker. The Class of 2021 included undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, Ann Wolfe and Laila Ali.