In photos: Cotto wins decision over Mosley

By Stone Martindale Nov 11, 2007, 22:38 GMT

Miguel Cotto (C), of Puerto Rico, celebrates his unanimous decision victory over \'Sugar\' Shane Mosley, of the US, in their WBA welterweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, on 10 November 2007. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Last night we live blogged the fight on HBO PPV: "Sugar' Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, live from Madison Square Garden in New York.    CLICK-HERE

Homeboy Cotto had the New York crowd behind him.

Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) acknowledged his massive fan base and gave them a lesson on power boxing as he secured a unanimous decision over "Sugar" Shane Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) and retained his WBA Welterweight title in front of a raucous crowd of 17,135 at Madison Square Garden. The judges scored the bout 115-113, 115-113, 116-113.

It was just the breakthrough fight Cotto was looking for. In June, Cotto scored an 11th-round TKO over Zab Judah. Saturday night's win over Mosley could land him a fight with the winner of the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton bout on December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Assuming there isn't a rematch of what went on Saturday night.

Cotto peppered Mosley with power shots throughout the fight. Mosley, the quicker of the two, played the punch, counter-punch game. But that didn't work, Cotto just got stronger as the rounds progressed.

"I felt pretty comfortable after the sixth and seventh rounds," Cotto said.

The first four rounds appeared to be split as both fighters were feeling each other out. The fifth round proved to be the breaking point as Cotto began to lay on the "sledgehammer shots" called by Jim Lampley of HBO.

Cotto's power and his ability to cut off the ring made it difficult for Mosley to rely on his superior speed. "I worked on everything," Cotto said. "I worked on the speed and the power and the movement and the defense. I showed everything, everything Miguel had in this fight."

Mosley stood his ground, but Cotto's power clearly wore him down. Cotto appeared to capture the seventh and eighth rounds by repeatedly attacking Mosley's body. But Mosley made a comeback and finished the ninth with vigor and renewed energy.

"Maybe I tried to fight a little more than I should. I could've boxed more," Mosley said on HBO. "I noticed when I boxed more I was getting a little bit of the better of him."

Rounds 10 through 12 featured two tired fighters. But Cotto still managed to keep Mosley at bay with his jab and shots to the body.

Mosley was a class act afterwards. "Miguel Cotto's definitely a tough warrior. He's a great champion," Mosley said. "I came up short, but I felt it was a good fight. I take my hat off to Miguel Cotto."

Photos in Gallery to the right-click and enjoy!