You're making it seem like Cotto nodded to Evangelista to come in and stop the fight, when that's not the case. Evangelista was already on the ring apron before they even made eye contact. Regardless, once Evangelista stepped foot on the apron the fight was over, since it's illlegal for a fighters team to be on the apron during a fight. If Cotto wanted to quit, he would have let the referee count him out. His team didn't think it would be wise to continue. Miguel agreed. You call it quitting. I call it conceding. Whatever.
I don't think he quit...but he was looking for some breathing room! The only way to do that was to take a knee. I think he was planning to get back up and take the rest of his beating but I can't really recall...did his corner throw in the towel or did the ref just halt the fight?
I'm not especially keen on the notion that Cotto quit because he stood up alot tougher than some people may have expected in a situation like that. If you truly know Cotto, than he exceeded grit expectations. However, he did in fact submit, and seemed most relieved when Evangelista was taking the mouthpiece out and wiping him down.
Or when their opponent beats the **** out of them and they have nothing left. [/edit] As I've said in other threads, yes technically he did quit. But he is in no way a "quitter", as some posters mean it.
The notion that Cotto had nothing left is highly subjective. Lacy took a worse beating from Calzaghe, his corner wanted to stop it, and he went 12 rounds. In another fight, he fought 8 rounds with a torn rotator cuff. The point is, I believe Miguel could've continued but didn't want to. He was more than relieved when that fight was stopped.
I picked Cotto to win and was pulling for him 100% but Cotto quit end of discusion I'm not knocking him or calling him a quitter but he did in fact quit. All of those who are trying to rationalize his actions are ridiculous.