Trout ends Cotto's dominance at MSG

NEW YORK -- WBA junior middleweight titleholder Austin Trout out-boxed Miguel Cotto to retain his belt, and also ended Cotto's winning streak at Madison Square Garden at 7-0 with a unanimous-decision victory before a stunned crowd of 13,096 fans.

Judge Adalaide Byrd scored it for Trout, 119-109, while Steve Weisfeld and Sam Poturaj both had it 117-111. RingTV.com had it for Trout, 116-112.

Trout (26-0, 14 knockouts) outlanded Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs), 192-to-154 in power punches, and 238-to-183 in overall punches. Trout also landed more jabs, 46-29.

"First couple of rounds, I went back to the corner, and my coach gave me the instruction to use my speed and to stop trying to get into a slugging match," said Trout, referring to his trainer, Louie Burke.

"I am a really teachable fighter. I then got into a better rhythm. I was anxious coming into a fight with a guy like Miguel Cotto. I knew that he would be strong, but it re-confirmed that I could take his shots."

A resident of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Cotto's dominance at The Garden included decisioning Paulie Malignaggi, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey, knockouts of Zab Judah and Antonio Margarito.

Cotto was coming off a unanimous-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May that had ended his run of three straight stoppage wins and which dethroned Cotto as WBA 154-pound beltholder.

"It was a dream come true," said Trout. "I've been waiting for this moment my whole career."

Cotto was dignified in his response to the loss

"I was satisfied with the job that I did tonight. I'll go back to Puerto Rico and think. He's a southpaw, so it was a difficult fight, but I felt that I did my job. He came at me with both hands," said Cotto.

"But it was a great fight. We fought until the end. I'm really thankful for all of my fans that were here to support me tonight. There's not place like fighting at MSG."

After the fight, Trout called out WBC beltholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, whom Cotto was hoping to fight.

"Canelo, Te quiero (I want you)," said Trout. "Canelo, it's time to unify this division."

MIGUEL COTTO'S FIGHTS IN NEW YORK:

Waklimi Young, UD 4, Hammerstein Ballroom, April 28, 2001

Muhammad Abdulaev, TKO 9, Madison Square Garden, June 11, 2005

Paulie Malignaggi, UD 12, Madison Square Garden, June 10, 2006

Zab Judah, TKO 11, Madison Square Garden, June 9, 2007

Shane Mosley, UD 12, Madison Square Garden, Nov. 10, 2007

Michael Jennings, TKO 5, Madison Square Garden, February 21, 2009

Joshua Clottey, SD 12, Madison Square Garden, June 13, 2009

Yuri Foreman, TKO 9, Yankee Stadium, June 5, 2010

Antonio Margarito, TKO 10, Madison Square Garden, Dec. 3, 2011

Austin Trout UD 12 Miguel Cotto, Madison Square Garden, Dec. 1, 2012

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Photo by Rich Kane, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com