Abner Cotto Batters Sergio Perez Into Submission
Dec 22, 2012 • 11:21 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
Unbeaten lightweight prospect Abner Cotto won big in the final Telefutura telecast of 2012, forcing Sergio Perez to quit on his stool after six rounds of punishment Saturday evening at Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Cotto wasted no time making his presence felt, connecting with a right-left-right combination upstairs to floor Perez in the opening round. His momentum carried him forward, nearly tripping over the fallen 37-year old before making his way to a neutral corner.
Perez dusted himself off and gave a decent account of himself in round two. Cotto stalked, looking to corner his foe but couldn’t quite figure out how to cut off the ring and disrupt Perez’ lateral movement. Perez scored with body shots towards round’s end, but also drew a warning for roughhousing.
It didn’t take long for Cotto to regain control, this time with momentum permanently staying with the Puerto Rican prospect. The youngest member of the fighting Cotto family – a second cousin to Miguel and Jose Miguel Cotto – was measured in his attack, using his jab as a range finder to repeatedly catch Perez with right hands.
The punishment came for several more rounds before Perez decided he had enough. Cotto stood up ready to fight at the start of the seventh round, only for Perez’ corner to inform the ref that their guy – seated on his stool – was done for the night.
The official time was 0:01 of round seven.
Cotto picks up his fourth win of the year as he improves to 16-0 (7KO). His showing was an upgrade from his last appearance in this venue, which came just over a month ago when he was forced to climb off of the canvas to outpoint Alejandro Rodriguez.
Perez suffers the first stoppage loss of his career. A three-fight win streak also comes to an end as he falls to 27-14 (18KO).
TELEVISED UNDERCARD
Cesar Seda Jr. looked sensational in the televised co-feature, destroying Lorenzo Trejo just over a round of action.
Seda Jr. wasted no time going to work, flooring Trejo three times in the opening round. The first knockdown almost appeared to come in slow motion as Trejo was slow to react as he collapsed to the canvas. The bout could have been stopped at any point afterward, but the referee gave the veteran every chance to fight back.
All it did was give Seda Jr. the chance to shine. Four knockdowns came of the brief affair when all was said and done, the last of which came moments after the bell to start the second round. Trejo once again went crashing to the canvas, this time rescued by the referee.
The official time was 0:17 of round two.
Seda Jr. improves to 24-1 (17KO) with the win, his fourth straight since moving up to super bantamweight following a failed title bid against super flyweight champ Omar Narvaez last April. The 26-year old believes to be ready for a second title shot, calling out current 122 lb. titlist Abner Mares during his post-fight interview.
Trejo was once a serviceable journeyman but has now become a punching bag. The 35-year old has just one win in five years, with eight knockout losses over that stretch after Saturday's result. The latest debacle sends his record spiraling to 31-26-1 (18KO).
With plenty of time to kill until the main event, Jose 'Wonder Boy' received unexpected air time. The 18-year old prospect made the most of his showcase, pitching a four-round shutout against Eric Gotay in a matchup of unbeaten featherweights.
Scores were for 40-34 across the board for Lopez (6-0, 5KO), who was forced to go the distance for the first time in his young career. His power was still felt, having scored a knockdown midway through the opening round and again in the closing seconds of the contest.
Gotay loses for the first time as a pro, falling to 3-1 (1KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:
@JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
