By: Phil Kane
June 5th, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY: Looking to regain this upper echelon status prior to two devastating losses first to Antonio Margarito then later at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto put himself right back in the thick of things with a ninth round TKO win over WBA Light Middleweight Champion Yuri Foreman.

Miguel Cotto was not only successful in his return but he did it in true Cotto fashion ending it with a Cotto patented left hook body shot in round nine giving the former champion his first loss.

Cotto not surprised by Foreman’s movement established a heavy jab early but was out of range unable to sit down on his shots and follow with any heavy shots.

As each round passed the gap began to close when Foreman not one to stand and trade cmae out firing in the fourth. The light handed Rabbi to be landed some clean right hands but Cotton was never in trouble. After seeing some success in the fourth the champion pressed again in the fifth but you could just sense that it was a matter of time.

In the sixth both fighters picked their spots Foreman moving again and Cotton taking his time.

In the seventh Foreman went down to the canvas seemingly injuring his already bandaged knee. Hobbling around the game champion again looked to trade with the challenger but his lack of power would be his down fall. Not possessing the punch to keep the proud Puerto Rican challenger at bay and unable to employ the movement he had earlier the champion’s armor began to crack.

In the eight Cotto remained patient closing the distance when Foreman’s knee appeared to give again causing him to hit the deck. The gallant champion made it upright only to be met by an attacking Cotto ripping heavy shots to the body. Foreman like a true champion attempted to fire back when a usually fight ending towel came flying into the ring momentarily pausing the action. After several minutes of confusion referee Arthur Mercante Jr. addressed an unhurt Foreman who pleaded to continue and was allowed after the ring was cleared. Cotto stalked a limping Foreman who battled like a champion.

Round nine would prove to be the end with Cotto setting up and delivering a left hook to the body dropping the champion to the ropes and then a knee prompting referee Mercante to stop it at 0:42 of the round.

What’s next for Cotto? Rumors are a rematch with Pacquiao if the negotiations with Mayweather falter or a possible rematch with Margarito which could easily be promoted as “Redemption.”

In the first of two co-features, 2004 Olympian light middleweight Vanes “Nigtmare” Martirosyan out worked Brooklyn, New York’s “Mean” Joe Greene continually beating the southpaw Greene to the jab in the early going. Martirosyan then used his jab to open the door for some quick combinations and a steady dose of looping rights. Greene was successful with his left in the middle rounds but his lack of combination punching allowed Martirosyan to counter with his right.

In the final round behind on points Greene was caught loading up and dropped for a flash knockdown securing a 98-91, 96-93 times two unanimous decision.

In the second of co-feature light middleweight Pavel “Raging Bull” Wolak battled New York’s own Irishman James Moore in an action filled bout much to the delight of spirited crowd. Moore started quickly taking control from the outside landing long straight shots. Wolak always the aggressor began to close the distance beating Moore to the punch working his way inside where he made his stand changing the tide of the bout.

Moore picked up the pace in the closing rounds making each round close but too little too late with “The Raging Bull” getting the nod when the scores were announced judges Kevin Morgan and George DeGabriel having it 97-93 while judge Frank Lombardi called it 96-94 all for Wolak advancing Wolak to 27-1, 17Ko’s while Moore slipped to 17-3, 10Ko’s all three loses coming in Moore’s last five outings. Cotto now the WBA Light Middleweight Champion moves to 35-2, 28Ko’s with Foreman suffering his only loss at 28-1, 8Ko’s.

Undercard results:
Colorado welterweight Terry Buterbaugh won a 60-54, 59-55 times two unanimous decision over Long Island’s Tommy “Razor” Rainone moving Buterbaugh to 6-3-1, 3Ko’s while Rainone dips to 13-4, 4Ko’s losing four of his last six.

Miguel Cotton’s cousin lightweight Abner Cotto remained unbeaten scoring a six round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Edgar Portillo, 59-55, 59-55, 58-56 climbing to 8-0, 4Ko’s while Portillo fell to 6-5-1, 4Ko’s.

New Jersey featherweight Jorge Diaz stopped South Korean Jae Sung Lee at 1:54 of the sixth and final round to keep his zero at 14-0, 9Ko’s while Lee dropped to 10-3-1, 7Ko’s.

Puerto Rican lightweight Juan Gonzalez was finally forced to go the distance winning a four round unanimous decision over Pharr, Texas Juan “Nacho” Lucio dropping Lucio to 4-1-1, 2Ko’s while Gonzalez remains unbeaten at 8-0, 7Ko’s.

New york welterweight Christian Martinez remained perfect dropping then stopping fellow New Yorker Jonathan “Lil Big Man” Cuba at 1:18 of the fourth and final round. Martinez record remains unblemished at 4-0, 4Ko’s while Cuba evens out at 2-2, 2Ko’s.