Miguel Cotto vs. Kelson Pinto

Miguel Cotto vs. Kelson Pinto, billed as Night of Revenge, was a professional boxing match contested on September 11, 2004, for the vacant WBO junior welterweight championship.[1]

Night of Revenge
DateSeptember 11, 2004
VenueJosé Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Title(s) on the linevacant WBO junior welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Miguel Cotto Kelson Pinto
Nickname "Junito"
Hometown Caguas, Puerto Rico Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
Pre-fight record 20–0 (16 KO) 20–0 (18 KO)
Age 23 years, 10 months 27 years, 9 months
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) 5 ft 10+12 in (179 cm)
Weight 140 lb (64 kg) 139 lb (63 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBO
No. 2 Ranked Light Welterweight
WBO
No. 1 Ranked Light Welterweight
Result
Cotto defeats Pinto by 6th round TKO

Background

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They had previously fought as amateurs, with Pinto beating the then 19-year-old Cotto.[2] The September 11, 2004 fight was televised by HBO's Boxing After Dark from San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a doubleheader with Daniel Santos's rematch with Antonio Margarito.[3]

The fight

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Pinto figured he could out box and out smart the younger and shorter Cotto, after all he had beaten him before.[4] This proved to be a fatal mistake, as Cotto, hungry and eager to seek revenge and also not let his home crowd down started out beautifully and in the second round Pinto was floored with a right to the chin followed by a vicious left hook to the side of the head. The crowd was ecstatic, but the brave Pinto got up the canvas and survived the round. Pinto, after realizing that he was facing a vast improved Cotto with deadly power in both hands decided he would have to box, keeping Cotto away using his long jab, it worked well for most of the third and fourth rounds however Cotto would occasionally slip in a combination here and there.

The fifth round started out the same, and as Pinto's courage started to build up towards the end of the round he moved closer to Cotto and tried to trade with him. This proved to be fatal, and once again Cotto unloaded his artillery with at least five vicious punches including an upper cut that staggered the Brazilian, and on his way to the canvas Cotto's punching power and incredible speed would land one last punch as the Brazilian was dropped for the second time in the fight.

Saved by the bell Cotto did not waste any time when they came out for the sixth. He launched into full attack, landing a right hand to the jaw and unloading power punch after power punch against the helpless Brazilian who was trying hard to block punches to no success. One last left hook to the body dropped Pinto and referee Roberto Ramirez stopped the fight just as Pinto's corner was about to throw the towel.[4][5]

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[6]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
  United Kingdom Sky Sports
  United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "Miguel Angel Cotto vs. Kelson Pinto". BoxRec. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  2. ^ Michael Woods (10 September 2004). "Forget the amateurs: Cotto will win". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ Paul Ruby (9 September 2004). "'HBO Boxing After Dark' Returns With Cotto/Pinto, Margarito/Santos". boxing247.com. East Side Boxing. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Do you remember the Miguel Cotto vs Kelson Pinto fight? » Boxing News". Boxing News 24. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  5. ^ Joe Cunningham (15 September 2004). "HISTORIC SHORTS". nypost.com. New York Post. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  6. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Miguel Cotto's bouts
11 September 2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Jose Otavio da Silva
Kelson Pinto's bouts
11 September 2004
Succeeded by
vs. Jose Marcos do Espirito Santo