COTTO STOPS MARTINEZ TO MAKE HISTORY AT THE GARDEN
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Jun 2014
New York -- This city, and this venue has always been owned by Miguel Cotto. He was launched to stardom here, excelled as a superstar and tonight in front of his adoring fans - he made history.
Cotto, 33, of Caguas Puerto Rico, stopped reigning World Boxing Council Middleweight Champion, Sergio Martinez, 39, of Quilmes, Argentina in 9 full rounds of complete domination to become the first boxer from his country to win four titles in four different weight classes.
Cotto emerged from the opening bell with a mission and boy did he deliver.
He dropped Martinez three times in the 1st round and dominated, no completely destroyed the former champ in the next eight rounds.
Martinez who wore a brace in his left knee was obviously not his old self - perhaps he has not fully recovered from the injuries to the said knee. He was out of balance, awkward and a hitting target all night against Cotto - and the Puerto Rican superstar punished his head and body with his signature left hooks.
Cotto's punishment showed in Martinez's face, he was bloodied, swollen and his right eye was closing from all of Cotto's left hooks.
And then Cotto scored another knockdown in the 9th, when Martinez's knee hit the canvas after suffering a hit.
That was all that Martinez's trainer can handle, Pablo Sarmiento stopped the fight after the 9th and The Garden erupted in cheers.
Compubox shows the proof of Cotto's impressive work tonight. He landed more than half of his punches, 54 percent (212 of 395) against Martinez's 31 percent (100 of 322).
Cotto landed the same percentage of his power shots (158 of 293) against 38 percent (60 of 157) by Martinez.
Cotto also landed more than half of his jabs.
And the most telling proof that Cotto is the far better fighter tonight - all three judges had him winning a shutout going to the 10th against the former champion.
"Miguel Cotto became Miguel Cotto here." stated the newly crowned Middleweight champion - and his fans agreed - no everyone agreed.
For no one can dispute that, not after this historic night - for him, his fans and the country of Puerto Rico.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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