By Andreas Hale and Anthony Springer at ringside
Photo by Chris Cozzone
Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr (43-0, 26 KOs) dethroned WBA super welterweight world champion Miguel Cotto (37-3, 30 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A good competitive fight. Floyd had the edge in most rounds over the first six rounds, but Cotto had his moments. Cotto was determined to take the fight to Mayweather and bloodied his nose early on. Big round eight for Cotto who went all out for the KO as he launched the most violent attack Floyd has faced in his career to date. It was Cotto’s last hurrah, however, as after that Mayweather took control, staggering Cotto in the final stanza. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 118-110.
WBC super welterweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) pounded out a twelve round unanimous decision over former multi-division world champion Sugar Shane Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KOs). Canelo was cut over the left eye by a head clash in round three, but the fight was never in doubt. Alvarez was generally too strong for Mosley as he battered the game 40-year-old for the full twelve rounds. Scores were 119-109, 118-110, 119-109.
Undefeated welterweight rising star Jessie Vargas (19-0, 9 KOs) outscored former world champion Steve Forbes (35-11, 11 KOs) in a ten round snoozer. Scores were 100-90, 97-93, 99-91.
Former world champion Carlos Quintana (29-3, 23 KOs) scored a beautiful sixth round KO over world rated super welterweight contender DeAndre Latimore (23-4, 17 KOs). A left hand laid out Latimore at 2:19. “This was a good night for Puerto Rico,” said Quintana after the fight.
Omar Figueroa (16-0, 13 KOs) short work of Robbie Cannon (12-7-2, 6 KOs), dispensing of the Missouri fighter in the second round of their lightweight tilt. Cannon was outgunned from the outset and acquainted himself with the canvas in the opening round courtesy of a body-head combo. It would get no better in the second frame. Figueroa tattoed Cannon’s face with a left hook. Cannon took the eight count but the referee waved off the bout. Time of stoppage was 2:08.
In a battle of unbeaten welterweights, Keith Thurman (17-0, 16 KOs) proved that his pedigree was far superior to that of Brandon Koskins (16-1-1) as Thurman pummeled his way to a 3rd round stoppage. Thurman landed numerous power shots throughout and a vicious third round barrage in the opening moments of the third round forced the stoppage at the 25 second mark.
Unbeaten welterweight Antonio Orozco (14-0, 10 KOs) stopped Dillet Frederick (8-6-3, 5 KOs) at 1:45 of the third round in the opening bout of the night. Orozco battered Frederick from close range and finished him off with a final flurry before referee Kenny Bayless halted the bout.
In six round featherweight action, Braulio Santos (6-0, 5 KOs) had little trouble getting past Juan Sandoval (5-9) and earned a unanimous decision victory. Santos was far more busy and sharper than his Californian foe and the judges saw it in his favor with 59-55 scores.
