Cotto Stops Mayorga in 12th Round to Retain WBA Title

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto retained his World Boxing Association super welterweight crown by stopping Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua 53 seconds to 12 Thurs

Cotto has imposed that the precipitation of the fight in the opening seconds of the last round in an exchange with a beautiful left hook, unbelievable Mayorga, who knelt and took the left hand in pain.

"This corner was the only one to decide the fight," Cotto said after Saturday's game. "The match was wide, but the finish was fantastic."

Mayorga has increased and continued for a few seconds, but Cotto landed a tingling in the chest and Mayorga challenger seconds later stopped the fight, said he could not continue because of his injured hand.

"Left hand, one of these combinations, I heard he hit the back of my hand and started to damage the" Mayorga said. "I started trying to make a fist and I could not. Then I said I could not continue."

Cotto improved to 36-2 with his 29th strike in the distance in his first fight after a layoff of nine months, including surgery on his right shoulder.

Former world welterweight champion Mayorga fell to 29-8 with one drawn only three months after the dismissal of 26 months, then said he would retire.

"I'll get a job," said Mayorga. "It is time to retire.

Mayorga taunted Cotto in the weeks before the fight, but said after the fight, "I never wanted any of this. It's all promotion. It's entertainment." Cotto, meanwhile, never let the verbal jousting disturb his concentration.

"He has not left my bed." Cotto said. "I just keep my job and just be myself."

Awesome trade began in the first few seconds, with the warning shots the referee Robert Byrd Mayorga behind the head and low blows in the first round.

Mayorga had a couple of lefts to the head of evil, and then shook his head to indicate he does not hurt, a routine that played throughout the fight.

Second round, Mayorga landed a solid uppercut and a pair of right hands cut off his head, but said Cotto left solid, using the moments when the challenger has tried to slow the pace fast.

Mayorga backed into a corner in the middle of the third inning, taunting Cotto to come to him. The Master pressed the attack but would not be tricked into dropping his composure and patience to the fight against the wily veteran.

Cotto, the progression right shoulder surgery, showed no signs of trouble to throw a strong right hand punches and blows.

Mayorga, who turned 38 on Thursday, had promised to knock out Cotto in the fourth round, but failed, even though he landed five consecutive shots, a gust of wind at the finish.

Cotto, 30, was the best of several exchanges in the fifth round, scoring with solid left hooks and uppercuts.

"He hits very hard (but) it does not scare me," Mayorga said Cotto.

Mayorga caught Cotto early in round seven with a left to the body and solid rights to the head and later in the round with an uppercut and several hard rights.

"Time to strong fighter," Cotto said Mayorga. "He has time to strong hands. He can not win. He can beat anyone."

Cotto took an elbow to attack all the time, but Mayorga effectively counter punch right in the ninth and tenth tuiskuttaa day.

Mayorga taunting Cotto resumed mid-11 round, but the champion kept his focus and kept challenger at bay, creating dramatic end.

If Mayorga made his decision to retire, has lost five of their last nine fights career. He also fell in 2008, Shane Mosley, Oscar de la Hoya in 2006, Felix Trinidad in 2004 and Cory Spinks in 2003.

Cotto is now hoping that the chance to avenge 2009 loss Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Mexico in 2008 defeated by Antonio margaritas, whose victory was marred by a one-year ban after traces of the glove was found after the battle , beat Cotto.

Other potential competitors are the future of Mexico Saul Alvarez undefeated champion of the World Boxing Council super welterweight.