WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto win the biggest fight of his career on Saturday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, retaining his title with a close unanimous decision over three weight world champion Shane Mosley.

Cotto showed Mosley early on that it would take more than an edge in quickness to dissuade the determined Puerto Rican icon. The WBA champion absorbed Mosley's best body shots and still came forward.

Mosley perhaps didn't expect a determined jab from Cotto, primarily known as a left hook pressure artist, and it was that new aspect of Cotto's game that seemed to give the challenger the most trouble in the fight.

The champion had closed distance on Mosley by the middle rounds but "Sugar" Shane forced Cotto to walk through a gauntlet of uppercuts in order to land his own offense.

The second half of the contest saw the momentum shift many times as both men went at each other with all they had but Mosley stepped it up in the last round to finish strongly.

By time the smoke finally cleared, Cotto was declared the winner via scores of 116-113 and 115-113 (twice), improving to 31-0 (25).

Mosley falls to 44-5 (37) but is still very much in the running as one of the world's best at 147 lb.

Also on the bill, WBC Lightweight Champ Joel Casamayor, 35-3-1 (21), was lucky to walk away with a split decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 25-3 (14), 114-113 (twice) and 113-114.

Ex-WBO Welter Champ Antonio Margarito, 35-5 (25), made short work of NABF titlist Golden Johnson, 25-8-3 (18), by first round stoppage.

20 year old southpaw light welter Victor Ortiz, 20-1-1 (15), knocked out former WBA titlist Carlos Maussa, 20-5 (18), also in the first round.

Featherweight prospect Billy Dib, 17-0 (9), decisioned veteran Rogers Mtagwa, 24-12-2 (17), over eight rounds 80-72 and 79-73 (twice).

Click to read more boxing articles by Richard Eberline

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