Saturday, June 7, 2014

Miguel Cotto Wins Against Sergio Martinez

Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win world championships in four weight divisions, stopping Sergio Martinez in their WBC world middleweight title fight Saturday night.

Sergio Martinez, Miguel Cotto easily make weight for title fight Yahoo Sports
Cotto seeks Puerto Rico first in title bout vs Martinez Reuters
Can Sergio Martinez's body hold up against an improved Miguel Cotto? Yahoo Sports
Cotto-Martinez gamesmanship shows fighters will still do anything for an edge Yahoo Sports
Bad blood in Martinez-Cotto matchup The Associated Press
Martinez didn't get off the stool when the bell rang for the 10th round.

Cotto improved to 39-4 and is 8-1 at Madison Square Garden. Martinez fell to 51-3-2.

In the week leading up to the fight, Cotto's trainer, Freddie Roach, said his pupil would be able to use his footwork to control the fight, and still possessed power even though he moved up in weight class.

Cotto proved Roach right from the opening bell, knocking down Martinez twice in the first round with a flurry of body shots. As the fight progressed, Cotto pressured Martinez around the ring, and attacked when openings were presented.

Martinez forced Cotto to fight in the middle of the ring instead of on the ropes or in the corners. But Cotto was able to land a variety of jabs and hooks. By the end of the eighth round, Martinez had swelling around his right eye.