Cotto still fighting out of Trinidad’s shadow

Felix Trinidad Jr. has always had charisma. He has the kind of flamboyant personality that would take hold of any boxing fan, not just those adoring fans from Trinidad’s beloved Puerto Rico.

Before every fight, Trinidad climbs through the ropes with a special enthusiasm, and then mugs for the camera. He shakes his gloved right hand and, with passion and that smirk, says, “Viva Puerto Rico.” When he wins, he leaves no doubt about the love he has for his people.

Suffice to say, Trinidad is one of the most revered Puerto Rican fighters ever. And no matter what Miguel Cotto has done in the ring so far, or what he might do a week from Saturday when he defends his welterweight title against “Sugar” Shane Mosley in New York City, Oscar De La Hoya believes that it will never be enough to put him in the same breath as Trinidad when it comes to the hearts of the faithful in Puerto Rico.

De La Hoya is of the mind that, even today – during the twilight of his career – Trinidad is still the man in Puerto Rico. And he is nowhere near the pound-for-pound fighter Cotto is at this time.

“Trinidad is still the most popular Puerto Rican fighter here on the island,” De La Hoya said Tuesday from Puerto Rico, where he lives with his wife, Millie, and their son. “Obviously, Cotto, with what he’s accomplished, he’s made a name for himself here on the island. But Trinidad continues to be the most loved Puerto Rican fighter on the island.”

It’s all about Trinidad’s charm and his ability to connect with the fans in a more intimate way, De La Hoya said.

“I think a lot has to do with personality,” De La Hoya said. “Trinidad was an outgoing, very in with the people – with the pueblo – type of fighter. He was always smiling and signing the autographs. And nothing bothered him. He was a very likeable guy. I think that’s been the difference.”

Mosley echoed the sentiments of De La Hoya, his friend and promoter. “I think it’s pretty close,” Mosley said of the popularity comparison. “Trinidad had a tremendous kind of personality where the Puerto Rican fans really loved the way he grabbed them. His personality, it’s, ‘Viva Puerto Rico.’ He was very outspoken and Puerto Ricans just loved him. Cotto is a little bit more quiet and not as open as Trinidad.”

To say Cotto is quiet is putting it mildly. And that is not a knock on the guy. He seems to treat people with respect and humility, and there can never be anything wrong with that. But here he is, a fighter who will probably go down as one of the best ever from Puerto Rico, and he has one of those uninspiring personalities. It’s akin to the complaint tennis fans have about today’s men’s game – there are few, if any, intriguing characters on the circuit. Great players? Yes. But that’s where it ends.

And let’s face it – panache sells.

So, what should Cotto do? What he’s been doing. Take care of business in the ring. If nothing else, that will at least keep Cotto in the running for top spot in the popularity poll. He might not ever catch Trinidad, but at least he’ll keep what he’s got.

“I think the Puerto Rican fans definitely respect his heart and respect that when he goes in there, he gives his 100 percent all, and he’s a warrior,” Mosley said. “And they’ll be behind him.”

Yet, Mosley suggested that he expects to have plenty of fans when he takes on Cotto at Madison Square Garden, where Puerto Rican fans figure to fill a large portion of the 19,000 or so seats. There is, of course, a large Puerto Rican population in New York City. When he was asked Tuesday if he thought the passionate Puerto Rican fans were going to make for the wildest environment in which he has ever boxed, Mosley said that whatever happens in Nov. 10, it won’t be as volatile as what took place when he was a 17-year-old amateur competing against a Puerto Rican in a tournament in Puerto Rico.

“When they announced my name, from the United States, the boos, you could feel boos,” Mosley said. “It was tremendous. But that never bothers me. It’s only me and the other opponent. But I don’t think the fans are going to be as wild as you would think. I have a lot more New York fans than people think. Being that I’m always in New York, a lot of New Yorkers see me, they love me. Even the Puerto Ricans that are in New York or in Puerto Rico, they tend to love me. So I think that it’s going to be more Cotto; there will be a lot of fans for me, though.”

That begs the question: Would Mosley be able to say what he just said if it were Trinidad he were fighting 10 days from now? Don’t think so.

From the standpoint of what Cotto and the 34-year-old Trinidad – who will fight Roy Jones Jr. on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden – have accomplished in the ring, Cotto is gaining ground on Trinidad, who during his heyday came off as invincible until lost to Bernard Hopkins in September 2001. Trinidad (42-2, 35 KOs) was 40-0 with 33 knockouts and had won titles in three weight classes before he was stopped by Hopkins in the 12th round.

Cotto, who turned 27 on Monday, is 30-0 with 25 knockouts and has won championships in two weight classes. He has not reached the No. 1 spot in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings like Trinidad did, but Cotto is definitely a top 10 fighter, maybe even top 5.

No. 1 on the island, however, appears to be Trinidad. Perhaps, always will be.