Austin Trout beats Miguel Cotto

Austin "No Doubt" Trout tags Miguel Cotto (ESPN Photo)
From ESPN.com - NEW YORK -- Austin "No Doubt" Trout controlled the fight early and roughed up Miguel Cotto late to win a 12-round unanimous decision and retain his share of the 154-pound title Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Trout (26-0) left Cotto's battered face red and swollen after cranking up the pressure over the final two rounds to truly take control on the scorecards. Cotto (37-4) lost his second straight fight after dropping a piece of the 154-pound title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May.
Cotto had long ruled as the undisputed champion of the New York fight scene, winning all seven of his fights at the Garden, plus one at Yankee Stadium.
Trout never wavered even as the crowd was against him from the start. Two judges scored the bout 117-111 and the third had it 119-109. Trout delivered in easily the biggest and most high-profile fight of his career. The 2004 U.S. Olympic alternate grinded out a championship reign in Texas and New Mexico and was a relative unknown on the national scene. No doubt, that has changed.
Trout truly swung the scorecards his way with stiff punches to the head and relentless jabs that shook Cotto.
Trout got second billing in the pre-fight introduction, walking out first, a member of his team holding the title belt high over his head -- the intro traditionally reserved for the challenger. But Cotto's company, Miguel Cotto Promotions, helped promote the fight, and he was the main reason why 13,096 fans came to the Garden.
Trout did enough in his fourth title defense over the final two rounds to keep his WBA super welterweight belt. After everyone cleared the ring, Trout hopped on the top rope, pointing to the few fans left calling his name. "To have my hand raised with a champion like Miguel Cotto is a dream come true," he said. Read more
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