NEW YORK– Austin Trout remained the WBA Super Welterweight championship with a twelve round unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden
Trout got it going early as he rocked Cotto with a hard left hand in the first frame. The two continued to box at Trout’s preferred distance for much of the first three rounds. The action started to heat up in round four as there was more in fighting which started to suit the challenger. Cotto had a good round six as he landed a flush right hand and a nice flurry at the bell.
The second half of the fight had more intensity. with both guys loading up with power shots. Trout favored the left hand with both hooks and uppercuts. Trout had a big round ten as he moved and continued to pop Cotto with lefts to start the round and three nice rights in the closing moments. Trout had a big round eleven as he continued to bust up the face of Cotto, by at this time was swelled and the left eye was beginning to close. the final round saw some furious exchanges down the stretch
Trout won by scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 117-111 (15rounds.com had it 116-112 for Trout) and is now 26-0. Cotto is 38-4
“Miguel Cotto is a great champion,” said Trout. “He’s a great fighter and it was an honor to be in the same ring as him. It’s even more of an honor to be the man to beat him. To have my hand raised against a kingpin like Miguel Cotto is a dream come true.
“Those shots that Cotto hit me with were strong and I knew he’d be strong, but it reconfirmed that take those shots. It was definitely the hardest fight of my career and when you fight someone as big as Miguel Cotto, it motivated me.
“Give me Canelo – it’s time to unify this division” Trout said. “There are a lot of good fighters out there and I want to be the best.”
When asked by Gray what he thought went wrong in the fight and if he agreed with the scorecards, Cotto simply replied, “Ask the public.”
“I’m satisfied with the job I did tonight,” Cotto said. “I’ll go back to Puerto Rico and think. He came at me with both hands and it was a great fight. He fought until the end. I’m really thankful for all of my fans who were here to supported me tonight. There’s nothing like fighting at Madison Square Garden.”
“It was easier than I thought,” Velez said. “I thought it would be a little more difficult. I was connecting so easily. This is a very exciting moment for me. I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”
Jayson Velez remained perfect with a third round destruction of Salvador Sanchez II in a scheduled ten round Featherweight bout. Velez began his aasault in round two when he landed a big right hand just before the bell that sent Sanchez to the canvas. Seconds into round three, another booming right that was followed by a left sent Sanchez down for a second time. Velez landed a couple more hard rights that buckled Sanchez and referee Harvey Dock stopped the bout at thirty-eight seconds of round three
Velez, 125.8 lbs of Juncos, PR is now 20-0 with fifteen knockouts. Sanchez II is now 30-5-3.
Daniel Jacobs made it two in a row since his return from cancer as he took out Chris Fitzpatrick at the end of round five in a scheduled ten round Middleweight bout.
Jacobs was in control from the opening bell. In round three, Jacobs landed a big right and left that drove Fitzpatrick to the ropes. Jacobs began to open up. A clash of heads opened up a cut on the forehead of Fitzpatrick. In round four a couple more hard shots to the head shots put Fitzpatrick in more distress. In round five, Jacobs unloaded a barrage of punches that chased Fitzpatrick all over the ring. Jacobs battered Fitzpatrick until the bell rang to signal the end of the round. Fitzpatrick wisely called it a night on his stool
Jacobs, 161.2 lbs of Brooklyn is now 24-1 with twenty-one knockouts. Fitzpatrick, 163.3 lbs of Cleveland, OH is now 15-3.
“I felt pretty good today. I wanted to take my time. I heard a few boos, but I hope the crowd appreciates it. I’m satisfied. I let my hands go. I’m just glad that I got five rounds to get the rust out. I’m back as a contender. We don’t want to jump the gun, but I think I’m back.
Jorge Melendez scored a fourth round stoppage over James Winchester in a scheduled eight round Super Welterweight bout.
Melendez battered Winchester in round one and dropped the twenty-two fight veteran for the first time in round two and again in round three. Melendez opened up the fourth by waling away on Winchester and the bout was stopped at fifty-four seconds
Melendez, 155 lbs of Manati, PR is now 25-2-1 with twenty-four knockouts. Winchester, 155 lbs of Greensboro, NC is now 15-7
Jorge Diaz scored a first round knockdown en route to a six round unanimous decision over Victor Salazar in a Featherweight bout.
Diaz battered Salazar at different parts of the fight and cruised home to a 60-53 victory on all cards.
Diaz, 122.4 lbs of New Brunswick, NJ is now 17-1. Salazar, 126 lbs of Houston, TX is now 3-5-1.
In an entertaining battle of undefeated Jr. Middleweights, Eddie Gomez took a six round unanimous decision over Luis Hernandez.
Both guts landed good shots but Gomez was more active and won despite being deducted a point in round five for a low blow
Gomez, 150 lbs of Bronx, NY won by scores of 58-55, 59-54 and 59-54 and is now 12-0. Hernandez., 152 lbs of Rio Piedras, PR is now 9-1.
John Thompson scored a six round unanimous decision over Eli Augustama in a Middleweight bout.
Thompson boxed well for the first four rounds but got caught with some power punches over the last two rounds but Thompson built up enough of an advantage early to hold on for the victory.
Thompson, 156.4 lbs of Newark, NJ won by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 59-55 and is now 9-0. Augustama, 158 lbs of Port Au Prince, Haiti is now 6-6.
