Sunday, February 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Cotto unleashes power on helpless Sosa

Unbeaten lightweight rises to moment with fourth-round TKO

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Miguel Cotto, right, stands over Victoriano Sosa after knocking him down in the fourth round en route to a TKO victory. Photo by Cariño Casas

After a spectacular fourth-round technical knockout of Victoriano Sosa on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, Miguel Cotto can no longer be considered one of boxing's best prospects.

He's now one of its best fighters.

In the best performance of his brief career, Cotto decimated Sosa, who had gone the distance in lightweight title fights against Paul Spadafora and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Before an announced crowd of 8,094, Cotto knocked down Sosa three times in the fourth round, forcing referee Kenny Bayless to jump in and save the battered Dominican.

Cotto improved to 19-0 with his 16th knockout and served notice on the top 140-pounders that he will be a major factor.

"He's a very, very hard puncher," Sosa said. "And he has a very good chin."

There was little the 23-year-old Cotto didn't do well. According to the punch statistics, Cotto connected on 35 percent of his punches while limiting Sosa to just 10 percent.

He cut the ring off when he had to, and when he got Sosa in trouble, he didn't let him get away.

Cotto was full of praise for Sosa, clearly his most accomplished opponent so far.

"Sosa's a very, very good, tough fighter," Cotto said. "He's the best I've fought."

If Saturday's performance was any indication, Cotto will become the best fighter on the résumés of many fighters.

He ripped Sosa with a powerful left hook as the fighters were along the ropes in the fourth round. Sosa was in serious jeopardy when he got up and Cotto immediately pounced again. He fired a left down the middle that floored Sosa a second time, forcing Bayless to look carefully at him.

This time, though, Sosa got up winging punches. Instead of getting caught, Cotto bided his time before digging a hook to the body that caused Sosa to sag into the ropes. Cotto jumped on him immediately, firing a volley of punches that finally caused Sosa to collapse, blood streaming from his mouth.

Cotto will likely fight for the WBA title this year against Vivian Harris. He clearly appeared ready for a title shot Saturday, and grinned when it was suggested he would be favored in a championship bout.

"I'm just trying to get better every time I go into the gym," Cotto said. "I'm glad people think that I have."