Before he hangs up the gloves for the final time at the end of the year, Miguel Cotto showed once more why he will live on in boxing infamy as one of the greats.
With an excited, sold-out crowd cheering at Carson’s Stub Hub Center, Cotto dominated battled-tested Yoshihiro Kamegai to capture the vacant WBO junior middleweight title by unanimous decision.The judges scored the bout 119-109, 118-110, and 120-108 all for Cotto.
“I tried to do my best, and I think I did that tonight,” said Miguel Cotto. “I am happy with my performance. Kamegai is a tough fighter and opponent. It was during round five or six that I knew he was going to make it to the 12 rounds. Come December 31, I will retire. I’ve done it all. I’m 36 going on 37, and I think I’ve come to the end of my career. I will fight once more in December. I’ll let Freddie [Roach] tell you who I want.”
In previous interviews, Cotto’s trainer Freddy Roach has made it clear he wants the winner of the upcoming Canelo vs. Golovkin match on September 16 with tonight being no exception.
Cotto, who entered the ring shaking off the effects of a nearly two-year absence, settled rhythm after dropping the first round to Kamegai. Connecting with accuracy and ferocity, Cotto stacked up round after round while Kamegai displayed an iron will to continue. In the end Cotto found his hand raised but it was Kamegai who won over the fans with his sheer determination.
“I felt so much frustration not being able to land any of my punches,” said Yoshihiro Kamegai. “I could not catch him at all. I couldn’t catch him at all. He is such a talented legend, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to fight him.”
With the WBO title now in his possession, Cotto may have just the leverage he needs to lure Alvarez back to the ring should he defeat Gennady Golovkin.
In the co-feature bout, Rey Vargas defeated Ronny Rios by unanimous decision to retain the WBC Super Bantamweight title. Judges final scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 115-113.