‘No doubt’ Trout takes unanimous decision over Cotto

American remains unbeaten

NEW YORK, Dec 2, (AP): After most of the fans who flocked to the Garden had left, Austin Trout hopped on the top rope, his championship belt still around his waist, and pointed in appreciation to the ones who stuck around in celebration.

Trout had started the night about as unknown as any champ in the sport. Without a doubt, he made a name for himself in New York with the signature victory that had eluded his title reign.

Trout roughed up Miguel Cotto late to win a 12-round unanimous decision and retain his share of the 154-pound title Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Trout remained unbeaten and used lopsided scorecards to end Cotto’s run as the undisputed champion of the New York fight scene.

“All I wanted was a chance,” Trout said. “That’s all I asked for.” He made the most of it at the Garden. Trout (26-0) grated skin off Cotto’s battered face, leaving the challenger red and swollen, after cranking up the pressure over the final two rounds to truly take control on the scorecards. Cotto (374) lost his second straight fight after dropping a piece of the 154-pound title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May.

Billed as “No Doubt” Trout, he never wavered even as a raucous pro-Cotto crowd was against him from the start. Two judges scored the bout 117-111 and the third had it 119-109. “I hope they bring me back to New York,” he said. “I Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico (left), punches Austin Trout during the seventh round of their WBA Superwelterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in

New York, Dec 1. (AP) loved fighting in the Garden.”

Cotto used to feel the same way. He long ruled in New York, turning the city into his own home-ring advantage, win- ning all seven of his fights at the Garden, plus one at Yankee Stadium.

Trout delivered in easily the biggest and most high-profile fight of his career. The 2004 U.S. Olympic alternate grinded out a championship reign in Texas and New Mexico and was a relative unknown on the national scene. No doubt, that has changed. “I’ve been preparing for this fight my entire life,” he said. “Fighting someone like Miguel Cotto is a dream come true for someone like me waiting for their big moment. I had to show him I was the biggest guy and push him back a couple of times. I kept pushing him back to show he had no advantage there.”

Trout truly swung the scorecards his way with stiff punches to the head and relentless jabs that shook Cotto.

Cotto, a four-time world champion, stormed out of the ring after the 12th and tersely asked who the fans thought won the bout. But this bout was no popularity contest. The 32-year-old Cotto wanted to time to think with his family before deciding to fight again.

“I’m not finished yet,” he said. “I still have boxing in my mind. I just want to rest with my family the rest of the year.”

Trout got second billing in the prefight introduction, walking out first, a member of his team holding the title belt high over his head - the intro traditionally reserved for the challenger. But Cotto’s company, Miguel Cotto Promotions, helped promote the fight, and he was the main reason why 13,096 fans came to the Garden. They serenaded him with “Cotto! Cotto!” chants as he walked to