By CompuBox
Most boxing observers expected Saturday night’s match between WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and "Contender" alum Alfonso Gomez to be a glorified sparring session, and one can certainly make that case considering the ease with which Cotto hammered Gomez into a sixth round corner retirement. The numbers were reflective of just how overpowering the pound-for-pound entrant was on Saturday night.
Cotto landed 188 of his 369 punches (51 percent) while Gomez connected on 63 of his 316 attempts (20 percent), which meant that the Puerto Rican star averaged 21 more connects per round – or seven more per minute. The power connect figures showed similar dominance as Cotto landed 125 of 213 for an extraordinary 59 percent connect rate while Gomez was 46 of 143 (32 percent). In the final three rounds Cotto out-landed Gomez by a withering 91-23 in power shots and by a sickening 129-29 overall. In rounds three and four, Cotto landed 70 and 71 percent of his power shots while Gomez steadily descended from his round two peak of 48 percent (15 of 31) to post power percentages of 34, 24 and 20.
In the weeks before the fight Gomez touted his increased effectiveness and commitment to the jab, and for good reason. While that was evident in his bouts against Martin Concepcion, Arturo Gatti and Ben Tackie it was not so against Cotto as he connected on just 17 of 173 (10 percent), including an 0 for 40 in round three.
Meanwhile Cotto, who credits his jab for his career-defining victories over Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, was once again on the mark as he went 63 of 156 (40 percent), amassing double-digit connect totals in four of the five completed rounds. In the last three rounds, Cotto’s jab out-landed Gomez’s by a 38-6 margin.
In the end, Cotto walked through Gomez because he didn’t respect the Mexican-American’s punching power, and at times his relaxed and cavalier ring demeanor reflected that fact. But when Cotto got down to business, he inflicted the kind of sustained beating that rearranges faces in the short term and potentially ruin careers in the long term. Though Gomez clearly had the desire and courage to continue, the ringside physician did the only medically responsible thing by stopping the bout.
Cotto is tentative scheduled to fight July 26 against newly crowned IBF champion Antonio Margarito, and one must wonder if his wrecking ball tactics will work against the Mexican, who will be the most physically – and statistically – imposing fighter he has yet faced. Only time, as they say, will tell.