Puerto Rican welterweight Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO’s) held onto his world title with a split decision over Ghana’s Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO’s) Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Official scores were 116-111 and 115-112 for Cotto; whole the other judge scored the fight for Clottey 114-113. 8countnews.com saw the fight for Cotto 116 – 111.
Cotto began the fight in style, knocking down the usually granite chinned Clottey with just seconds remaining in the first round. Clottey did not appear hurt and came back on strong in the second frame.
In the third, a cut emerged over the left eye of Cotto due to an apparent accidental head butt. The cut would prove to be an issue for Cotto the remainder of the bout.
In the fifth, Clottey slipped to the canvas after being pushed by Cotto. He appeared to hurt his knee and took several moments to recover before the fight resumed.
The immobility of Clottey due to hurting his knee gave Cotto an advantage and he had a big sixth round, cornering Clottey and unleashing a barrage of punches to win the round big.
However, Clottey gained steam in the seventh and eighth rounds taking advantage of blood from the cut on Cotto’s eye limiting his vision and landing right hands with regularity on the Puerto Rican hero.
The ninth and tenth rounds were close with Cotto regaining his composure after a near disastrous previous two rounds. Cotto finished the fight more active in the eleventh and twelfth rounds.
This marks the most significant victory for Cotto since suffering his only career defeat to Antonio Margarito last summer. He has been discussed by promoter Bob Arum as a possible opponent for current pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao.
> BOXING SCHEDULE > ROY JONES JR. TORNADO FUNDRAISER > FIGHT LIFE MAGAZINE 
