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By William Holmes
The biggest fight of the year is here as Floyd Mayweather Jr. has decided to move up a weight class to challenge Miguel Cotto for his Junior Middleweight title. All the celebrities are in attendance, as HBO panned to show shots of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, the cast of True Blood, and others.
Photo: Tom Hogan/ Hogan Photos
As customary, the national anthems of both boxers were sung, the Puerto Rican national anthem and the national anthem of the United States. Mayweather could be seen getting ready to walk out with his entourage behind him, including “50” Cent, Justin Bieber, and even WWE Superstar Triple H. A large majority of the crowd can be heard booing Mayweather as he came in the ring.
Miguel Cotto came out to the ring next, with considerably less celebrity support. Cotto’s entourage is led by the son of Miguel Cotto. As Cotto walked out, the crowd can be heard cheering him on.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (42-0) vs. Miguel Cotto (37-2) ; WBC Diamond Junior Middleweight Championship
Round 1:
Mayweather and Cotto come to the center of the ring and Cotto backs Mayweather up with a double jab and a wild hook. Mayweather slips a jab from Cotto, and Cotto blocks a hook from Mayweather. Mayweather lands an early jab. Mayweather landed another jab on Cotto. Mayweather landed a jab to the body of Cotto. Mayweather landed another jab upstairs on Cotto. Cotto landed a jab of his own, and Mayweather landed a short right uppercut. They tied up near the center of the ring and exchange body blows. Cotto came forward but Mayweather tied up with Cotto right away. Cotto missed with a combination. A lead right hand from Mayweather is partially blocked. 10-9 round for Mayweather.
Round 2:
Cotto came out keeping his guard up high, and Mayweather landed a few early jabs to the body and head of Cotto. Mayweather easily ducks under a jab from Cotto. Mayweather landed a straight right hand over the top and Cotto answered with a shot to the body. Cotto blocked two right hands from Mayweather. Cotto landed a right hook to the body of Mayweather. Cotto landed two more hooks to the body of Mayweather. Cotto landed another hook to the body of Mayweather near the ropes. Mayweather thew two more right hands and they are blocked from Cotto. Cootto again attacks the body of Mayweather near the ropes, and Mayweather attemps to counter by banging at the guard of Cotto. Cotto had Mayweather pinned against the ropes in a very close round. Swing round, 10-9 for Mayweather , Cotto used ring generalship and was the ring general, but Mayweather landed the cleaner shots.
Round 3:
Cotto came back out with his guard up high again and landed an early jab. Mayweather landed a jab to the body of Cotto. Cotto landed a short left hook upstairs on Mayweather. Mayweather landed two quick jabs, and Cotto landed two hard body shots and Mayweather landed a flush right hand. Cotto landed two hard shots to the body of Mayweather, and Mayweather slipped a punch through the guard of Cotto. Good two punch combination to the body and head of Mayweather. Cotto landed a solid jab to the chin of Mayweather, and Mayweather landed a solid straight right hand. Cotto again mixed up combination to the body and head of Mayweather, and a solid jab connected for Cotto. Cotto landed another good jab on Mayweather. Cotto with a left hook to the body and a right hand upstairs. Clearer round for Cotto. 10-9 for Cotto.
Round 4:
Mayweather landed an early lead left hook upstairs. Mayweather landed a lead uppercut on Cotto. Mayweather landed two solid right hooks on Cotto. The right hand of Mayweather is starting to find its home often. Cotto landed a straight right hand to the body of Mayweather, and Mayweather connected with a combination of his own. Cotto landed two good shots to the body of Mayweather, but Mayweather landed a straight right hand. 10-9 round for Mayweather.
Round 5:
Cotto lunged forward and partially landed a jab. Cotto connected with a two punch combination to the body of Mayweather and partially trapped Mayweather by the corner, but landed nothing flush. Cotto banged two more hooks to the body of Mayweather, and Mayweather calmly landed a straight right hand off the corner. Mayweather landed a lead left uppercut. Mayweather landed a straight right hand, and Cotto bangs at the body of Mayweather again. Cotto landed a short left hook on Mayweather and stays in close with Mayweather. Cotto landed a short left hook and is making this an ugly fight. Cotto ripped a good combination to the body of Mayweather, and Mayweather has blood trickling fr Mayweather landed a lead left hook on Cotto. Cotto landed a solid right hook on Cotto. Cotto landed a short uppercut on Mayweather 10-9 round for Mayweather, but the rounds are close.
Round 6:
Cotto landed a lead left hook upstairs on Mayweather , and again banged at the body of Mayweather near the ropes. Cotto landed another good left hook to the body and Mayweather landed a hook upstairs. Mayweather connected with a good right hand down the middle. Cotto landed a solid jab on Mayweather down the middle and another jab down the middle. Mayweather had nose coming from his nose, and Cotto landed a short left hook. Cotto digged a jab in the body of Mayweather. Cotto landed a solid left hook in the middle of the ring. Mayweather landed a good straight right hand on Cotto. Cotto landed another short left hook on Mayweather. 10-9 round for Cotto.
Round 7:
Mayweather landed an early jab on Cotto, and followed it up with another jab. Mayweather continued to pepper Cotto with jabs. Cotto landed two good body shots on Mayweather near the ropes. Mayweather landed a fury of punches on Cotto in the center of the ring. Mayweather fired off two straight two punch combination at the guard of Cotto. 10-9 round for Mayweather.
Round 8:
Cotto tried to trap Mayweather by the corner but was unsuccessful. Mayweather landed a solid left uppercut to the chin of Cotto. A straight right hand landed for Cotto, and Cotto landed some body shots on Mayweather near the corner. Cotto landed a good combination on Mayweather by the corner by mixing up shots to the body and head again. Mayweather landed a good uppercut as Cotto leaned in on Mayweather. Cotto landed a jab on Mayweather as Mayweather was backing up. Otto landed another combination to the body of Mayweather. Cotto again keeps his attack to the body of Mayweather. Cotto landed three punches on Mayweather by the corner and the crowd roars in approval. Great close round, 10-9 for Cotto.
Round 9:
Cotto and Mayweather tie up near the corner and the referee separated them. Cotto caught Mayweather with a short left hook as he was backing up, but Mayweather landed a good right hand on Cotto as Mayweather was backing up. Cotto banged two more shots to the body of Mayweather. Cotto partially landed with a short left hook to the body and a jab upstairs. Cotto landed a solid left jab that momentarily stunned Mayweather. Cotto caught Mayweather with a left hook and a jab. Mayweather has Cotto by the ropes but Cotto jabbed his way out of trouble. Mayweather landed a short uppercut on Cotto and Cotto ducks the punches of Mayweather. Close round again, 10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 10:
Mayweather landed an early jab on Cotto and a straight right hand. Cotto digged a short right hook on Mayweather near the corner, and Mayweather landed a combination on Cotto by the corner. Mayweather had a left hook partially blocked by Cotto. Cotto digged two more uppercuts to the body of Mayweather, but Mayweather answered with a short uppercut on Cotto. Cotto landed a straight left hand on Mayweather as he was backing up. Mayweather partially landed a right hand. Cotto and Mayweather exchange near the center of the ring again in another close round. 10-9 for Cotto.
Round 11:
Mayweather circled the ring on the outside early in round 11 and landed a lead straight right hand on Cotto. Cotto landed two punches to the body but misses with a straight left hand upstairs. Cotto partially landed a left hook upstairs. Cotto leaned in on Mayweather near the ropes but was unable to do any damage. Cotto landed a left hook upstairs on Mayweather, but Mayweather landed a combination on Cotto in response including a hard uppercut. 10-9 round for Mayweather.
Round 12:
They came back out to the center of the ring in the last round of the fight, and Cotto probably should press the pace and try to go for the knockout. Cotto landed a left hook upstairs on Mayweather and Mayweather responded with a good combination of his own. Mayweather tied up with Cotto by the ropes and landed a few short right hands. Cotto banged some more hooks to the body of Mayweather by the ropes. Mayweather landed a short left uppercut and may have hurt Cotto. Cotto looked a little wobbly as Mayweather landed some hard combinations on Cotto. 10-9 round for Mayweather.
The official scores were 117-111, 117-111, and 118-110 for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The fight seemed closer than what the scores suggested, but it was another victory for Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
