Throughout a 16-year career, Miguel Angel Cotto managed to conquer four weight divisions, but when he decided to hang up his gloves - at the age of 37 - there was no turning back.
Now, five years after that last fight (which he lost to Saddam Ali), the Puerto Rican Hall of Famer looks back with pleasure and satisfaction on everything he experienced inaisw the ring, but the desire to put on the gloves again was extinguished the moment he stepped out of the ring at Madison Square Garden on that night in 2017.
"I'm more calm, without the pressure of training or weight training or dieting, I'm more calm and focused on family. I really enjoy those quiet moments, those that maybe I didn't have when I was active," Cotto told DAZN during a recent visit to Mexico.
"I don't miss anything about boxing... boxing is for times. I've been yelled at, I've been cheered on, now they've stopped yelling at me and it's time to yell at those who come behind me," said the former fighter who now spends his time with his family and establishing his own boxing promotion.
While he's not someone who watches the sport weekend after weekend, Cotto started his boxing promotion business a little over a decade ago.
"The fact that I'm a promoter is my father's idea," he said, remembering Miguel Cotto Sr., who passed away in 2010.
"I want to give continuity to my father's desire to give boxing a little of what boxing gave to his son, to me. That's why we are working hard to provide the best opportunities for these kids".
Cotto also revealed that he had held talks with Juan Manuel Marquez regarding a possible exhibition, but then a potential deal fell through at the last minute.
"I'm open to any possibility. It's an exhibition, we'll do our best without hurting each other, we're going to try not to get overheated."