By Bob Canobbio
Unlike the inconclusive ending to the Sopranos finale Sunday night, Miguel Cotto left no doubt as to who was the better welterweight Saturday night, as he stopped former champ Zab Judah in the eleventh round of their title fight before a sold out crowd of 21,685 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
After getting outlanded in power shots and rocked in round one (won by Judah on all 3 cards), Cotto rebounded to out throw and out land Judah in each of the remaining ten rounds.
With blood oozing from a cut on his lower lip that dotted his chest and turned his white trunks pink, Cotto pressed forward all night, averaging 68 total punches thrown per round. He didn’t just lead with power shots, he averaged 20 jabs thrown per round, outlanding Judah 78-42. Cotto also had a 214-90 edge in power connects, landing an average of 21 non-jabs per round, including 31 of 57 (54%) in round eight and 34 of 61 (56%) in the ninth- causing Judah to take a knee in his own corner to avoid further punishment.
Judah, who was gallant in defeat, landed 57% of his power shots for the fight, stopping Cotto in his tracks on several occasions with left uppercuts. It was basically one punch at a time for Zab, who rallied to win the seventh round on all three cards after landing 13 of 25 power shots. The seventh would be Zab’s last hurrah.
It was all Cotto the rest of the way. He outlanded Zab 90-24 in power shots after the seventh, sending Judah flat in his back early in the eleventh. Zab beat the count, but was absorbing more punishment before referee Arthur Mercante did what Zab’s father/trainer should have done after the ninth round- stop the fight.
Overall, Cotto landed 292 of 683 total punches (43%) to 132 of 459 (29%) for Judah. Cotto also landed 214 of 481 power shots (44%) to 90 of 159 (57%) for Judah. Floyd Mayweather landed 205 total punches (46%) vs. Judah over 12 rounds, while Zab landed just 89 total punches punches vs. Floyd (18%).
Yes, Cotto’s defense has a few holes, but he makes up for it with his relentless pressure and punching power. Just ask Mohammad Abdullaev, Paulie Malignaggi and Zab Judah, who all left the ring at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden with their faces rearranged.
Mayweather would land on Cotto all night, but not hard enough or often enough as he usually throws 40-45 punches per round. Cotto would walk through Mayweather’s shots, the question is, would he be able to cut off the ring and “find” Floyd enough to do damage? Hopefully we’ll find out next year at this time.