On the biggest stage he ever performed on, against his best and biggest named opponent and in the world’s most famous city and boxing arena, Austin “No Doubt” Trout put on a remarkable display of boxing against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden. Trout retained with ease his WBA super welterweight title against the Garden favorite and Latin boxing star.
This was done in, again, both hostile territory and far away from home–conditions that Trout said he is both used to and comfortable with. The deft southpaw champion was in control of the fight from the very beginning to the end. The judges’ scorecards all showed him winning the last six rounds. The final scoring was 119-109,117-111 and 117-111. Likewise, the Amsterdam News had him winning every single round.
He was masterful. As the fight progressed, Cotto, who came into the bout 7-0 in his Madison Square Garden contests, started to retreat. The quick jabs and uppercuts from the champion were both stinging his face and closing his eye. And as the eye closed, the door was being shut on any chance Cotto–outside of a knockout–had of beating the stylish left-handed champion from New Mexico.
Trout came to New York both unknown and unheralded, despite being both a creditable world champion and undefeated. He had said prior to his New York debut that fighting in Madison Square Garden was “a dream come true.” He made his dream a nightmare for Cotto.
After his victory, the devout Christian stated, “I thank God for the victory. All I wanted was a chance.” And Austin took full advantage of that chance at every aspect.
He made no fuss about the purse, though he was the defending champ and should have received the highest percentage of the revenue, which went to Cotto. Trout also permitted Cotto, though he was the champ, to be introduced last at the pre-fight press conference and again, though the champ, he allowed Cotto to enter the ring last–a privilege, by boxing tradition, that always goes to the champ.
Trout, a true champ with unbelievable class.
STARS ABOVE AND BELOW:
The ringside bell was rung 10 times in memory of New York boxing legend Hector “Macho” Camacho. Ringside boxing stars in attendance included Buddy McGirt, Gerry Cooney, Juan LaPorte, John Duddy and Carlos “Sugar” de Leon.