COTTO REMAINS CHAMP AND UNDEFEATED
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Nov 2007
Miguel Angel Cotto won by unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley, successfully defending his WBA welterweight title. The age factor played a significant role on the victory by the Puerto Rican who was the crowd favorite at the Madison Square Garden.
Cotto declared he sensed that he had the fight in the bag as early as the ninth round. So he decided just to be careful enough not to be caught by a lucky punch from Mosley, outpointing him in the process. He maintained an immaculate record of 31-0-0 with 25 KO wins.
As for his next opponent, he proclaimed he is available for all the big names in boxing, especially the winner of the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton encounter. Mosley respected Cotto after the bout, citing him as a great warrior. Sugar admitted he is not getting any younger.
Glenn Feldman and Wynn Kintz scored the bout, 115-113, while Peter Trematerra saw it 116-113 all for Cotto. The punch stats also told it as follows: Cotto landed 248 of 675 total punches thrown, while Mosley connected 248 of 774 total punches. Cotto had 98 jabs, while Mosley connected 71 jabs. Mosley though has the advantage in total power punches of 177 compared to Cotto?s 150.
True to its billing, the action was ?fast and furious? in all 12 rounds, with both fighters showing aggressiveness all the way. Mosley was using his effective left uppercut, while Cotto connected with some excellent rights and jabs and landed a few strong hooks to the head to build the advantage.
Cotto was cut by an unintentional head butt in the final minute of the bout. Blood flowed down in his face from a two-inch cut. But this did not cause nuisance for the champion as the fight went on to a close.
Miguel is also a former WBO light welterweight champion and as an amateur he represented Puerto Rico at different international events including the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 1998 Junior World Championships where he finished second.
Cotto was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico in a family where boxing is a way of life, including his father Miguel Cotto Sr., his brother Jose Miguel Cotto, his second cousin Abner Cotto and his uncle and boxing trainer Evangelista Cotto.
In the undercard, Joel Casamayor won a split decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz for the WBC lightweight title, while Antonio Margarito outclassed Golden Johnson in a first-round technical knockout for the vacant WBO intercontinental welterweight crown.
Top photo: Miguel Cotto, of Puerto Rico, punches Shane Mosley during the 11th round of a WBA World Welterweight Title boxing match Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Cotto won the fight by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Weights from Philadelphia
Sat, 06 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
Sat, 06 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025