Boxing News Boxing News
 © Curtis McCormick |
In defense of his WBO Light Welter title, Miguel Cotto engaged in a wall to wall action fight with Ricardo Torres as the main co-feature to the Klitschko – Peter bout in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and Saddoboxing was there to provide this round by round report complete with photos. |
From the start of the first round, Miguel Cotto is stalking opponent Ricardo Torres, a previously unbeaten slugger from Colombia. Cotto has been in big fights for some time now but this is the first for Torres and the man from Magangue looks a little bit awed by the occasion. The Puerto Rican star is ripping off sparkling combinations and soon he canvasses Torres with a right – left combination. The arena is going crazy and Cotto moves in for the kill but Torres hurts the champion with a stunning left hook. Cotto grabs hold and avoids further punishment until his head clears but Torres has been clearly encouraged by his success.
Cotto 10-8
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The second begins with Cotto getting hurt again and Torres is going full out to try and get the champion out of there. Cotto looks ready to go but amazingly has the presence of mind to get on his bike and gain precious time for his head to clear. As Torres closes in, Cotto lands a steaming uppercut but the Colombian won’t be denied as he pounds the Puerto Rican hero around the ring. Torres cranks in big right hands and scores with a massive uppercut on the ropes that puts Cotto in a bad way as the challenger keeps raining in punishment. Cotto tries to throw back but is on unsteady legs and catches a right hand coupled with a shove from Torres that sends the WBO Champion to the canvas. Torres has scored a knockdown but Cotto beats the count. The two fighters exchange shots in the center of the ring and it looks like Cotto’s head is starting to clear. He serves notice that his wits are back about him by slamming home a big left hook to Torres ribcage. The two exchange hard shots in the center of the ring before Cotto stuns Torres with a brisk one – two. It doesn’t stop the Colombian from advancing and catching Cotto with a smart right before round ends with both men connecting in an exchange.
Torres 10-8
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Between rounds there’s a lot of excitement in the Cotto corner but both fighters are looking cautious as the third begins. Cotto advances slowly and clearly hurts Torres to the body with s booming right. Torres tries to back Cotto off as they swap shots in the middle of the ring before the crowd favorite lands his lethal left hook to the opponent’s beltline. After a brief skirmish, Cotto is cautioned by the referee for a low blow and Torres takes about a minute to recover. Theaudience boos him. When the action resumes, Torres is on his toes before Cotto gets him on the ropes. The challenger spins away before he can absorb any punishment
but soon after Coot lands another low blow and again the referee issues a caution. Torres only takes a brief break this time and is soon on the ropes, being tortured to the body by Cotto. They move to the corner where the champion continues to detonate crippling blows to the body of Torres. The rib roasting continues with Torres on the ropes and then Cotto uncorks a big right to the head of his adversary. Somehow the Colombian takes it but then at the bell slips and falls to the canvas. No knockdown.
Cotto 10-9
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The concern between rounds is now in Torres’ corner as the unbeaten fighter looks like a different man since absorbing the low blows. The fourth round starts with Torres looking unsure as Cotto stalks him, ripping off combinations to the head. Getting closer, Cotto finds success with short punches on the inside and then lands alternating body shots to both sides of Torres’ ribs. The crowd is really getting behind their man now. Cotto is teeing off on his opponent and Torres isn’t offering much in return. When he does answer back, Torres misses a wild right hand and Cotto takes advantage with a hard right to the body followed up by a snapping right hand to the head before Cotto helps Torres down with a shove. Torres gets an eight count but gets up in time. The two fighters trade shots before Cotto gets Torres on the ropes with a great body combination before the flagging foe fights his way off. The round ends with more Cotto body shots.
Cotto 10-9
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The fifth begins with Cotto marauding across the canvas and doing what he wants. He rips a sweet left to the body and Torres gets on his toes again. Cotto has him on the ropes again but Torres covers up well and looks to be getting his bearings back for the first time since the third round. Cotto scores with a combination but Torres claws his way back into contention with a hard shot and a furious exchange ensues that Cotto emerges from clearly hurt. Torres goes crazy trying to finish his heavily favored rival and it looks like that might occur when he nails Cotto with a flush right hand but amazingly the Puerto Rican stays upright. Torres keeps the parade going and even though he’s very hurt, Cotto begins to sling leather back. Torres finds a home for a weighty left hook but Cotto has enough strength left to throw his opponent in to a corner. A ferocious slugfest occurs on the ropes before Cotto gets on his toes but is soon pinned again and nailed by Torres. The little known challenger looks to be winded from his offensive outpouring and slackens the pace. The two trade blows before Cotto bangs Torres with a healthy jab and the bell rings with Torres trying to press the action.
Torres 10-9
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The sixth round begins with Cotto looking more together than in the fifth frame but that doesn’t stop Torres from pegging him with a stinging jab. Suddenly Cotto belts his fellow combatant with a meaningful combination and Torres is hurt. They both miss winging shots and Torres still looks gassed. The Colombian leathers Cotto with a big right but the punch has nothing on it and the champion punishes Torres with his famous left to the body. Cotto improves upon that with a steaming left, right, left sequence but Torres manages to move off. Cotto keeps at it and wings in a hard left but just misses a fight ending straight right hand. A determined Cotto reels off three straight shots to the head and suddenly Torres looks lost again. He misses a swing and Cotto closes in to launch a short left hook that catches Torres and prepares him for a full blooded right bang on the chin that sends the challenger to the canvas. Amazingly, Torres beats the count by getting up at the count of five but luckily for him the bell to end the round rings.
Cotto 10-8
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The roller coaster ride continues on in the seventh as a menacing Cotto stalks Torres before cracking him with a sterling left. Torres comes alive and bangs Cotto with a shattering combination that has the defending champion hurt yet again. Cotto shows his huge heart by stepping up and lashing out with a blistering left hook that hurts Torres once again but the man from Cauguas, Puerto Rico is in no shape to press the advantage. An entertaining session follows with both men scoring before Cotto absolutely catches Torres with his money punch; a pulverizing left to the body that staggers the South American tourist. The end seems to be near as Cotto isn’t in a mood to let Torres off the hook and gets the banged up
Colombian in a corner. A five punch combination to the head and body capped off by a pristine left hook to the chin puts Torres on the canvas one more time. Miraculously, he gets up at the count of ten on unsteady pins and the referee waves off the fight.
Miguel Cotto prevails in a fight of the year contest to go to 25-0 (21) while Ricardo Torres puts his name on the map in defeat and suffers his first loss,
Contact Curtis McCormick at thomaspointrd@aol.com
