WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto survived a nasty cut above his left eye in the third round to win a bloody battle with challenger Joshua Clottey via split-decision. The cut was from an accidental head-butt. At the break, the ring doctor checked the cut but allowed the fight to continue. In a gutsy stand, Cotto survived the 4th round even if he can’t see properly because of the blood trickling in his eyes. I admire him for that.

In the 5th round, one of the most bizarre incidents I have seen in boxing happened. Cotto tackled Clottey during a clinch and sent him to the ground. Clottey just lay there for a few seconds and I thought he broke his knees as he was having difficulty standing. But the referee encouraged him to continue and even helped him on his feet. Clottey was given a few minutes to recover and despite his hurt knee, he managed to continue. I admire him for that.

The remaining rounds were a battle of wits and determination as they slugged it out to-to-toe. Man, they sure both look too large for Manny Pacquiao with all those big arms and biceps exploding.

Miguel Cotto won via a split-decision bouyed by his knockdown over Clottey in the first round. He got 116-111 and 115-112 on two judges. The third judge scored it 114-113 for Clottey. My bout prediction was not even close.

OTHER FIGHT NOTES:

Manny Pacquiao watched the bout with wife Jinky. By winning it, Miguel Cotto earns a crack to face the Pacman in a multimillion-dollar bout at weight surely lower than the 147 lbs. Cotto is currently in.

Our very own Rodel Mayol just managed a draw with WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon in one of the undercards. The bout was stopped in the 6th round due to a cut suffered by Calderon in the 4th round due to accidental headbutt. It was then decided in the scorecards: 58-56 for Calderon, 58-56 for Mayol and 57-57 for the draw. It was already Mayol’s third failed world title bid.

Please read my related posts:

1. Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Highlights After 12 rounds of non-stop barrage of punches from Pacquiao that made Cotto’s face a bloody mess, referee Kenny Bayless...
2. Miguel Cotto vs Joshua Clottey Bout Prediction The welterweight bout between Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey is a must-see event. Even pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is set...
3. Miguel Cotto Stops Yuri Foreman via 9th Round TKO Last November 14, 2009, Miguel Cotto earned the dubious distinction of giving Manny Pacquiao his record-breaking seventh title in as...
4. Pacquiao-Cotto Fight (or Cotto-Pacquiao Depending on Whose Side Are You) is On! After weeks of negotiation and a 15-minute phone conversation with Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao finally agreed on the megablockbuster Pacquiao-Cotto...
5. Slugfest at the Stadium | Miguel Cotto vs Yuri Foreman In the first boxing event to be held at a Yankee Stadium since Muhammad Ali beat Ken Norton in 1976,...

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Tags: joshua clottey, manny pacquiao, miguel cotto