Al Bello, shooting for Getty Images, and Tom Hogan, of Hoganphotos.com, took top honors in the Boxing Writers Association of America photo contest. They will be recognized at the 88th annual BWAA Awards Dinner on April 11 at the Capitale in New York, along with placing entries in the BWAA writing competition. The writing contest winners will be announced when the judging is completed.
NEW YORK -Saturday night's SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast of Miguel Cotto vs. Austin Trout on SHOWTIME® earned record viewership for boxing on the premium network in two categories. The three-fight telecast drew an average audience of 1.047 million viewers, the highest since 2004 when Nielsen began to separately measure premium television multiplex channels. The main event, Cotto vs. Trout, peaked at nearly 1.4 million viewers, the highest peak on record since 2009 when data on viewership for individual bouts first became available.
Surprisingly, Austin Trout had a 192-154 edge in power shots landed, hitting on 45%. Miguel Cotto landed just 29% of his total punches. Trout averaged 29 jabs thrown per round, controlling the pace of the fight.
Bill Emes catches up with WBA "regular" junior middleweight champion Austin Trout to discuss his career-defining victory over former three division beltholder Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Austin talks about the victory, what's next and more.
Bill Emes catches the post fight press conference to Miguel Cotto vs. Austin Trout. Hear post fight comments from Cotto, Trout, middleweight contender Daniel Jacobs and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.
By Cliff Rold - Madison Square Garden, New York City – In front of 13,096 noisy fans on Saturday night, largely unknown 27-year old WBA Light Middleweight titlist Austin Trout (26-0, 14 KO) of Las Cruces, New Mexico, used accurate right hands and a steady jab to defeat 32-year old former three-division titlist Miguel Cotto (37-4, 30 KO) of Caguas, Puerto Rico in an exceptionally well fought contest. It was a disappointment for Cotto fans who saw their man lose for the first time in eight starts at Madison Square Garden and ten overall in New York City. It was also Cotto’s second consecutive defeat after a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather in May. Mayweather continues to hold the WBA’s “Super” title in the division, as opposed to the belt Trout has now successfully defended four times. Trout came into the contest at the division limit of 154 lbs. Cotto came in a shade under at 153 ½. The referee was Charlie Fitch. A ten-bell salute to former three-division champion Hector “Macho” Camacho had the crowd chanting “Macho” in full-throated adoration. Moments later, the image of Trout on the jumbotron above the ring had those same faithful in a state of lustful hate, boos raining down from seemingly every direction. They got louder when Trout made his way to the ring. It was nothing compared to the Steve Austin-like pop of the crowd when the ringwalk music of Cotto blared over the arena speakers. Another decibel was reached as Cotto started towards the ring. That big fight feeling was in the air. At the bell for round one, both men came out jabbing, the longer southpaw Trout mixing in a clubbing right hook lead near the halfway mark of the round. He looped another right around Cotto’s guard and landed a straight shot to the body, Cotto responding with a flurry to force Trout into the ropes. Little landed and Trout shook his head to say so. An overhand left from Trout wobbled Cotto, who collected himself and fired back with a left hook. Down the stretch, Cotto ate another left, answering with some digging body shots.
NEW YORK — Miguel Cotto looked on respectfully Wednesday as Austin Trout, his promoter and his manager mentioned Trout’s previous victories in hostile territory. The WBA 154-pound champion beat Mexico’s Rigoberto Alvarez by unanimous decision in Guadalajara to win the then-vacant title in February 2011. The 27-year-old southpaw previously topped Panama’s Nilson Tapia by majority decision in Panama City. Those are among the reasons the unbeaten Trout (25-0, 14 KOs) isn’t intimidated by the thought of boxing Cotto at Madison Square Garden, Cotto’s home away from home, on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET; Showtime). Cotto couldn’t care less. He emphasized Trout’s significant step up in competition Saturday night, despite that the Las Cruces, N.M., native will make the fourth defense of his championship.
Austin Trout's the busier fighter, Miguel Cotto hits harder. Trout threw as many jabs as Cotto did total punches in his last four fights. Trout's opponents, of a lower quality, landed just 19% of their total punches.
by Cliff Rold - No one can win a big fight in boxing until they do. No one can win a big fight in boxing until they get one. Austin Trout, who has had a quiet career to date, has his big fight. In Madison Square Garden, he has one of the most accomplished fighters of this generation. It doesn’t matter that he is the defending titlist. Holding the WBA’s lower case ‘world’ title (as opposed to their so-called “Super” title that Cotto just lost to Floyd Mayweather) isn’t worth a ton. When a fighter would have a hard time selling out their living room, what matters is exposure. Trout has that. A Showtime “All-Access” profile and a big-time main event is exposure. Without victory, it will be fleeting. Can Trout make his moment into more?
Miguel Cotto has never lost before at Madison Square Garden – or anywhere in New York. Austin Trout has never fought before at Madison Square Garden – or anywhere in New York. Both statements mean about as much as the fact that prior to November 24, Ricky Hatton was undefeated in the U.K. The more being, you still have to fight it out in the ring. Cotto (37-3, 30KO) attempts to start a fifth title reign in a career spanning three weight classes. The Puerto Rican superstar enters on the heels of a competitive points loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. this past May. The loss ended a 154 lb. title which lasted nearly two years, including his revenge 10th round stoppage win over Antonio Margarito at the Garden exactly 52 weeks ago.