COTTO IS BACK ON TRACK
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Feb 2009
It was his first fight after his first loss to Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Angel Cotto won the WBO welterweight title on February 21, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The victory was a fifth round technical knockout victory over Michael Jennings.
Usually a slow starter, Cotto patiently studied the fighting style of Jennings for three rounds. In the fourth round he began serious battle, unleashing a steady barrage of head and body punches before a predominantly Puerto Rican crowd of 11,120 who cheered for him.
Cotto sent Jennings down twice to the canvas in the fourth round. In the fifth canto, Cotto cornered the Englishman against the ropes knocked him down for the third time. Even if Jennings was able to beat the count, the referee decided to stop the fight at 2:36 of the fifth round. Cotto was crowned the new WBO welterweight champion.
On July 26, 2008, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, Cotto suffered his first professional loss to Margarito. It was Margarito who had the offensive advantage especially in the seventh round when he hit Cotto with two uppercuts, causing the Puerto Rican?s nose to bleed.
A potent combination in the eleventh round sent Cotto falling to his knee. When he got up, Margarito showered Cotto with a series of punches and the Puerto Rican champ was floored for the second time. Cotto?s corner threw in the towel as a sign of admitting defeat.
Two judges had Margarito ahead by a score of 96?94 at the time when the fight was stopped, while the third judge scored the fight even. HBO analyst Harold Lederman also scored the fight even for the two fighters.
Margarito?s boxing license was revoked earlier this month for one year by the California State Athletic Commission for the illegal wraps discovered on the former welterweight champion's hands before he was defeated by Sugar Shane Mosley last January 24, 2009.
Cotto said he accomplished his goal and that he was over the Margarito defeat. The loss to Margarito was now suspect following the controversial illegal wrap. "The loss made me stronger and more focused and a better boxer," Cotto said.
"The fight was with Michael and not with Margarito," he said. "I put aside all the things with Margarito and thought about my fight with Jennings."
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Cotto?s next scheduled fight will most likely be held on June 13, the usual spot on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York. His possible opponents include Mosley, whom Cotto has already beaten once.
Arum said other possibilities include Kermit Cintron, Joshua Clottey and Andre Berto.
Cotto wanted to face the winner of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight on May 2, 2009. Surely, the Cotto win made the welterweight division more exciting.
Top photo: Two-time world champion Miguel Cotto (L), Caguas, Puerto Rico stops Michael Jennings of England in the fifth round to win the vacant WBO Welterweight belt, Saturday at Madison Square Garden. -- Chris Farina - Top Rank.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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