Floyd Mayweather Jr. topples Miguel Cotto via unanimous decision

Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN Sports) – Despite looming jail time, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. stayed focused and withstood the tough test from Miguel Cotto, rising to the occasion late to secure a 12-round unanimous decision and the WBA super welterweight title Saturday night.

It polished the unbeaten record (43-0) of Mayweather, who was bloodied as he won by scores of 117-111 on two scorecards and 118-110 from a third judge.

Mayweather, who took more punishment from Cotto than in perhaps any previous bout in his career, once again relied on his speed and accuracy as he battled an opponent who wouldn’t go away easily, and take a piece of the 154-pound title.

Mayweather last got up the ring on Sept. 17, when he fought Victor Ortiz. He went on to score a fourth-round knockout versus Ortiz.

Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs), who was making the third defense of his belt, brought the best from the undefeated American in the bruising clash. The Puerto Rican star roughed up Mayweather, whom many consider the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Though he landed fewer punches, Cotto was able to connect harder shots. A stiff Cotto jab caused a lot of bleeding from Mayweather’s nose and mouth.

Cotto, 31, who made it clear from the start that he was not going to be just another victim for Mayweather to walk over, traded punches with the American superstar in the early rounds.

With blistering pace and accuracy, Mayweather was able to consistently connect against his bigger and stronger opponent in the first six rounds, while opting to fight from the ropes and corners.

Cotto, a warrior and a three-division champion in his own right, went toe to toe with Mayweather inan eighth round that drew rousing cheers from crowd at MGM Grand Garden Arena. He started to fare better in rounds seven through nine as he fended off Mayweather’s assault.

In the 12th, Mayweather caught Cotto with a nasty left uppercut that seemed to hurt Cotto.

Mayweather, 35, who after the fight called out Manny Pacquiao for a bout, is set to go to jail next month for a sentence stemming from a domestic abuse case involving his former girlfriend and their children.

Mayweather will be serving the sentence when the Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao clashes with Timothy Bradley on June 9 also at MGM Grand.

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