By Jake Donovan

Miguel Cotto is far from the first boxer in history to go back on a self-made promise of when he will call it quits. Though having already broken his own word once, the boxing superstar from Puerto Rico believes the finish line is well within sight – but not before tending to present business at hand.

Up next is the titanic showdown with Saul Alvarez, which takes place November 21 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. He insists that the HBO Pay-Per-View headlining clash is all that is on his mind, as well as it should be as their World middleweight championship bout (being contested at a maximum catchweight of 155 lbs.) is viewed as a 50/50 fight, with Alvarez favored in several sportsbooks.

A win will only enhance the already incredible career enjoyed by Puerto Rico’s most successful boxer in history. A champion in four separate weight classes – the only fighter ever from Puerto Rico to do so – and having compiled a Hall-of-Fame resume through 15 years in the pro ranks.

So then the next question, naturally, would be – what’s next?

“Boxing, it’s the only thing I know to do in life,” Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) noted during a recent media conference call when asked how much longer he plans to go. “I’m doing it for the benefit of the community and my family.

“I said once that I said once that I would retire before I was 30 and I’m 35 now.”

Then again, if he stayed true to his word, a retirement at age 30 would’ve meant never having the chance to avenge his first career loss to Antonio Margarito – which he managed to do in Dec. ‘11 at age 31.

It also would’ve meant not fighting for – and winning – the World middleweight championship, which came in his tour-de-force performance versus Sergio Martinez last June. He would’ve been retired four years prior, thus never making history for his tiny yet boxing-rich island.

Nor would he have been afforded the opportunity to hook up with Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach, with the two joining forces prior to his Oct. ’13 comeback fight versus Delvin Rodriguez. The move came after back-to-back losses to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout, along with a lengthy ring hiatus before returning full throttle.

The time spent between the loss to Trout and the win over Rodriguez was the closest he’s ever come to retirement, though returning with a vengeance. His bout with Alvarez will mark the fourth with Roach, feeling as good as he’s ever been at any point in his career.

Of course, all good things must come to an end.

“I’m going to be in boxing no longer than a year from now,” Cotto insists.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox