Miguel Cotto unleashed a literal beating tonight, stopping Sergio Martinez in Round 10 via TKO.
It was, perhaps, the best performance of Cotto’s career as the challenger scored 4 knockdowns with 3 coming in the very first stanza. (Pic courtesy of HBO) Martinez, showing true grit, survived the round but Cotto continued right where from he left off in Round 2, jolting the champion with a left hook that was as potent as it was accurate.
Aside from Rounds from 5-7, which Martinez made relatively competitive, Cotto thoroughly dominated.
Miguel was credited with a knockdown the ninth as Martinez’s glove touched the canvas following yet after stagger compliments of a Cotto powershot. Even without the knockdown, Cotto was cruising to a 10-8 verdict in that stanza.
After the ninth, Martinez’s trainer stopped the bout despite his fighter’s plea to fight another round.
Official time was :06 of round ten.
All three judges had it 90-77 for Cotto after Round 9.
With the win, Cotto improves to 39-4, 32 KOs and becomes the first Puerto Rican boxer to win a world title in four divisions.
Of greater significance, Cotto won more than the WBC title; He is now the real and legitimate lineal middleweight champion. With the victory, the Puerto Rican follows in the footsteps of Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzon, Nino Benvenuti, Emile Griffith, Jake LaMotta, Stanley Ketchel and the rest of the middleweight kings who were recognized as “champions” and not merely belt-holders.
Who will the winner face next?
Will it be Floyd Mayweather or Gennady Golovkin?
