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Cotto beats Judah to retain WBA title

Zab Judah reacts to a low blow during his WBA Welterweight Championship against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) title on Saturday by overpowering American Zab Judah in a welterweight bout at Madison Square Garden.

Cotto (30-0, 25 knockouts) remained unbeaten by knocking Judah down in the 11th round before finishing him off with 49 seconds left in the round as Judah slumped against the ropes.

"I felt him weaken more each round and that is why I kept pressing," said Cotto, who landed a straight right hand, left upper cut combination to secured the victory.

It was Cotto's second defense of his WBA title which he holds along with the World Boxing Organization junior welterweight crown.

This was a classic prize fight that featured a couple of low blows by Cotto and accidental head butts from both fighters.

"I worked hard in the gym and on the track for this," Cotto said. "When I tried to hit him low he jumped and that is the reason for the low blows. I didn't do it on purpose."

Each boxer was bleeding early, Cotto from a cut on the right side of his mouth and Judah from a cut over his eye.

Judah came out with more spark though, looking for the early knockout in the first round as he landed some solid rights. But his attack was halted when Cotto hit him with a low blow in the same round that sent Judah to the canvas.

After a brief reprieve, Judah got to his feet and continued trading punches.

"I got hit with two low blows and that took a lot out of me," Judah said. "Miguel is a great fighter and I would love to fight him again in Puerto Rico."

Cotto, who was bleeding heavily from a cut on his lip, hit Judah with an even more devastating and direct low blow in the third and was penalized by having a point taken away.

Cotto was the more aggressive of the two, powering his way forward with his hands up, head down, and pumping his jab as he consistently backed Judah up.

In the seventh, Judah hurt Cotto with a wild left during a heated exchange. Cotto rebounded in the eighth and hammered the challenger with heavy punches to the head as Judah began to grow weaker.

In the ninth, Cotto continued his onslaught and watched the ex-champion take a standing eight-count.
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