Cotto stops Clottey for WBA Welterweight Title, Margarito retains WBO Welterweight Title

All Photo: German Villasenor.

By Neil Grossman.

December, Sunday, 2nd- At Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday night, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto dominated fellow Islander Carlos Quintana, dropping him twice in round five, and leaving him on the stool after the round as the ring doctor made the decision to recommend stopping the fight, as Quintana clearly was a beaten fighter. Referee Steve Smoger called a stop to the fight.Cotto's record goes to 28-0(23ko's) and Quintana's recorded his first loss dropping to 23-1(18 ko,s).

In Round one was a feeling out round and possibly could be given to Quintana as he boxed well trying to move around but was caught in the corner a few times by Cotto. He was able to fight back and stay out of trouble.

Round two had Cotto coming out with strong jabs to the head of Quintana. His lead right scored at will as Cotto slowly adjusted and eventually turned southpaw .Cotto continually came foward putting on pressure.

Pressure continued through round three causing Quintana to land a low blow. Round four had Quintana staying away from Cotto by moving laterally away from Cotto's power.Quintana also dealt another low blow.

Round five had Cotto coming foward again,a hard exchange ensued in the corner with Cotto going to the body. The fighters then moved to a different corner where a left by Cotto to the body, another to the head and then a left to the body put Quintana down for an eight count. Quintna got up and then was put back down again with a left. When the bell rang it looked like the end ,and it turned out that it was.

Margarito defends title once more.

In the co feature,Antonio Margarito (34-4)(24 ko's) retained his WBO Welterweight title getting a unanimous deicsion over a hard to hit Joshua Clottey (30-2)(20ko's). It was his seventh successful title defense.

Clottey used a Floyd Patterson style peek a boo defense, holding his gloves high over his face and blocking with his gloves, arms and elbows, to give Margaito trouble for the first few rounds. After throwing a large volume of punches at Clottey's arms and gloves, Clottey eventually tired and gave into the constant pressure of Margarito.

Clottey claimed to have injured his hand in round four and Margarito injured his hand in round five and was sent right to the hospital after the fight ended, not being able to attend the press conference, which did have Clottey there. After the early rounds Clottey was all defense, throwing a few good shots which did not seem to bother the always coming foward Margarito.

The scores were 118-109 and 116-112, 116-112 , all for Antonio Margarito.

In a Junior Middleweight 10 rounder, local favorite Yuri Foreman(21-0)(8 ko's) remained undefeated wining a Unanimous decision over Donny McCrary(20-5-2)(12 ko's).

Another local rising star Chuck Mussachio(8-0)(4 ko's) scored a TKO over Tony Pope (15-13)(11ko's) in a light heavyweight fight.

At welterweight Alex Perez(7-0 )(5ko's)won a Unanimous decision 39-37, 39-37,40-36 over Troy Wilson(6-5-1)(3ko's).

At middleweight Wayne Johnson(14-1)(8ko's) won a unanimous decision 60-54 on all three cards over Delray Raines(8-1)(5 ko's). It was Raines first loss.

At the press conference Cotto was asked if he wanted to unify the titltes and he defered to the promoters.He said his style was to hurt with every punch and he expects to beat everyone at 147.

Arum said that Margarito has a committment to fight Williams as the mandatory but also said that Cotto vs. Margarito would be a great fight.

Clottey had good words for Margarito and said he was a real good fighter.
Quintana was too upset with his performance to attend the after fight press conference.