By James Slater: Both Miguel Cotto and his verbal tormentor for the past few weeks, Ricardo Mayorga, promised a relatively quick KO win last night in Las Vegas – instead the two went to war in an entertaining fight that almost went the full 12-rounds. Older man Mayorga’s awkward, sometimes wild style gave the defending WBA 154-pound champ problems and at times the trash-talking Nicaraguan got home with some punches. Cotto was ahead on points going into the last round, however, and then he closed the show as a desperate “El Matador” tried to go for the KO.
Somewhat an odd ending when it came at just under a minute of the 12th, Mayorga was sent down by a left hook to the head but chose not to carry on due to what he later claimed was a busted left thumb. The challenger was not KO’d, or TKO’d by Cotto’s shots – he was in effect stopped due to his decision to refuse to fight through the pain. Mayorga himself was unhappy with the way the fight ended, as were the fans.
“I hate the way this fight ended,” Mayorga said. “I tried hard. I did my best. I tried to finish the final round but the pain in my hand was too much.”
Cotto appeared happy enough with the win.
“The fight was great, but the finish was amazing,” the champ said.
Mayorga suggests the injury to his thumb came about as the two exchanged blows in the final seconds of action. Whatever the case, the 37-year-old who has given us so many exciting fights in the past, announced his retirement afterwards.
“I have to go find a job,” he said. “It’s time to retire.”
Cotto, on the other hand, is expected to fight Mexico’s Antonio Margarito next, possibly in July in Las Vegas. The Puerto Rican star silenced the trash-talking Mayorga and he did say that after doing so he would then like to “remove the thorn in his side” – referring to the controversial stoppage loss to “Tony.”
Bob Arum has spoken plenty about making this potentially massive “revenge” fight, and Cotto is of the belief that Margarito only defeated him in 2008 because he fought with loaded gloves that night. The fans want to know if that was the case.
Cotto showed he has plenty left last night, beating up and outclassing a dangerous, strong and determined fighter. New trainer Emanuel Steward (two fights two wins with Cotto now) predicted a Cotto win inside four-rounds last night, but the 30-year-old is a more patient, more mature boxer/puncher these days.
If Mayorga couldn’t get to Cotto, there’s no way Margarito will. If the rematch does happen, look for Cotto to outbox and ultimately outclass Margarito too.
In other action on the card:
Miguel Vazquezm UD 12 Leonardo Zappavigna
IBF lightweight title
Pawel Wolak RTD 6 Yuri Foreman
Juan Gonzalez TKO 1 Jeremy McLaurin
Matt Korobov TKO 1 Michael Walker
Eric Molina TKO 6 Joseph Rabotte
Jesus M. Rojas UD 6 Isaac Hidalgo
Tommy Zbikowski KO 1 Richard Bryant