César Lebrón, Editor of Nocaut.com, conducted this exclusive interview with Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican hopeful who is scheduled to return to live action this coming January 11th, 2002.

Miguel Cotto shares his views about boxing, his expectations with César and in one of many collaborations we have done over time, Nocaut.com is sharing the particulars with Bragging Rights Corner's readers.

This is how Cotto answered Lebrón's questions...

QUESTION: How did you start in boxing?

MC: I started boxing as a means to losing weight; I was eleven years old and weighed 140 pounds. I started liking it and that's how I got to where I am today.

QUESTION: How much time do you dedicate to your training?

MC: An hour and a half to two hours in the morning, and between two and three in the afternoons; a total of five and a half hours a day.

QUESTION: What are your goals in boxing?

MC: First, I want to come out victorious with this injury, and then I hope to fulfill everybody's aspiration for me, which is for me to be a great champion, to become famous in the sport and to bring honor to Puerto Rico.

QUESTION: How is your right arm doing? How does it feel?

MC: The surgery was successful. The doctors in Los Angeles told me so, and my arm has felt good. It has only been four months since the surgery and I am sparring; doing everything I need to do to train correctly and I feel real good about returning to the ring January 11th.

QUESTION: Are you pretty positive that everything is going to be alright?

MC: Yes, like I said, I have been sparring already and my arm hasn't bothered me.

QUESTION: Do you intend on moving up in weight?

MC: Yes, it's not easy for me to make 135 pounds, but the sport requires sacrifice and here is where you win your fights, in the gym.

QUESTION: Which has been your toughest fight, as an amateur or a pro?

MC: It was in the finals of the Central American Games, with Cuban Mario Kindelán who is a very tough fighter; to me he is the best amateur fighter in the world right now.

QUESTION: What are your best and worst qualities in the ring?

MC: My best quality is that I love boxing, I love to train, I love to be in the gym. The negative, well my uncle (trainer) knows what it is, and at every opportunity he corrects me and we continue to work on fixing it.

QUESTION: What has boxing done for you?

MC: A lot, it has taught me to have discipline, and it has made me a great human being.

QUESTION: Which Puerto Rican fighter(s) do you admire?

MC: Félix Trinidad, although he lost he is a hell of a fighter and a champion and to me the best boxer of all times in Puerto Rico. Then, Wilfredo Gomez, a tremendous boxer-puncher whom I admire a lot.

QUESTION: What do you think about before you walk out to the ring?

MC: Well, I think about putting on a heck of a fight, I think about looking good, and about the basics, which is to win round after round. I never look for the KO, if it comes, it comes.

QUESTION: What do you feel before you get in the ring?

MC: Adrenalin flowing, tension...but as soon as I get in the ring and I get hit or throw my first punch it all goes away.

QUESTION: What do you think about "Panchito" Bojado?

MC: I think that he is one hell of a fighter, a buddy, a great friend. We know each other well, we have fought each other three times in the amateurs and we traveled to a lot of amateur tournaments in different countries.

QUESTION: Who won those three fights?

MC: The first one was here in Puerto Rico, in the "Cheo" Aponte Gym, it ended 15-7. The second one ended 5-0 and the last one I lost 6-7 in Mexico. I won two and lost one.

QUESTION: When do you see yourself fighting for a world title?

MC: Prior to my injury I envisioned it in two and a half years, maybe three. Now, I am not sure about the reaction to my injury and I can't make assurances as to how long it will be before I fight for a world title. I will assure you, however, that if my arm is fine, in another year or two we will be fighting for a world title.

QUESTION: Is your January 11th fight definitely on?

MC: Yes, it is. The doctors already okayed it. I just need to continue the therapy and exercises so that my arm will continue to improve each and every day.

QUESTION: How were those four months that you spent in Las Vegas?

MC: I missed Puerto Rico a lot, I couldn't wait to get back here, in my own backyard with my family, my things. But I had a good time, the promoters were good to us; we had a daily routine, the races, then English lessons, the gym and then home.

I want to urge all boxing fans, particularly Nocaut.com and Bragging Right Corner's fans to tune in on January 11th. It's going to be my comeback and I assure you that it will be a great boxing card.

For more on Cotto