Cotto holds off Mosley to keep WBA belt

Miguel Cotto retained his WBA welterweight belt.

New York, NY - Miguel Cotto downed Shane Mosley in a unanimous decision, remaining unbeaten and holding on to his WBA welterweight belt in a bout at Madison Square Garden.

Cotto (31-0) took the clear edge through the early rounds over the four-time world champion, and held off Mosley’s late-round surge to keep his belt in the 116-113, 115-113, 115-113 decision. Despite the loss, Mosley (44-5) held up well against the energetic fighter nine years his junior.

The 27-year-old Cotto, fighting in front of a crowd largely backing him, came out firing in the opening rounds. The Puerto Rican used his jab to keep Mosley at bay early, and landed a few strong hooks to the head to carve out the edge.

Mosley landed some powerful hooks in the third round, though, keeping himself in line for a possible win and when Cotto appeared to hit a wall in the ninth round, the 36-year-old from La Verne, California took advantage.

Mosley, who has never been knocked out, pinned Cotto against the ropes with a combination of hooks, and took that momentum into the 10th round, rapping Cotto with a strong hook to the head to start the round.

Cotto came storming back, though, landing a series of punches towards the end of the round. Cotto, apparently aware he had the decision locked up, fought the last two rounds, especially the 12th, tentatively.

Neither fighter risked much in the final round. Mosley slipped while winding up for a punch, and fell in the corner of the ring, but quickly pulled himself up. Both fighters raised their gloves in victory when the final bell sounded, but only Cotto was correct in his celebration.

In the undercard on Saturday, Joel Casamayor won a split-decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz for the WBC lightweight title, and Antonio Margarito downed Golden Johnson in a first-round technical knockout for the vacant WBO inter- continental welterweight crown.

Popularity: 44% [?]