The intense pain that is felt losing a close family member is what united once again Miguel Cotto and his estranged uncle and former trainer Evangelista Cotto earlier this week as they said good bye to their father and brother respectively, Miguel Cotto Sr.
Don Miguel passed away last Sunday as he drove down a highway in Caguas, Puerto Rico, from a heart attack. Although he and his brother lived in the same piece of land, they had not spoken to each other since last April when Evangelista experienced an altercation with former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Uncle and nephew even came to blows and that is when Don Miguel among others had to intervene. Soon thereafter, Miguel Cotto fired his uncle as his trainer.
Earlier this week, all that was forgotten as witnesses at the funeral of Cotto Sr. stated to Puerto Rican newspaper Nuevo Dia.
As the remains of Don Miguel were viewed in his home, Evangelista watched the proceedings from the balcony a mere steps away as the Puerto Rican National Guard gave Cotto Sr. a twenty-one gun salute. Once the ceremony was over, the assembled friends and family made their way inside the home of Cotto Sr. to give their last goodbye. It was at this point that Miguel Cotto made his way to his uncle’s house and put an arm around his former trainer’s shoulder and led him back to his fallen brother’s house so that Evangelista could say goodbye.
The remains of Cotto Sr. were then removed to Porta Coeli Cremation of Bayamon where they were cremated.
Although Bob Arum of Top Rank was not able to assist the ceremony, other members of Cotto’s promotional outfit were present.