Miguel Cotto vs Muhammad Abdullaev

On Saturday, 11th June 2005, Madison Square Garden in New York City hosted the world title fight between Miguel Cotto and Muhammad Abdullaev. The event, promoted by Top Rank and aired on HBO Boxing After Dark, saw Cotto defending his WBO World Super-lightweight Title for the third time. Cotto, a Puerto Rican fighter with an undefeated record of 23-0-0, faced off against Abdullaev, a seasoned contender hailing from Andijan, Uzbekistan, boasting a record of 15-1-0. Both fighters weighed in at 138¾ lbs, setting the stage for an intense rematch of their 2000 Summer Olympics bout.

In the 2000 Summer Olympics, Muhammad Abdullaev, who would later become the gold medalist, defeated Miguel Cotto with a score of 17-7. The rematch, taking place nearly five years later, provided an opportunity for Cotto to prove himself against his former Olympic rival and showcase his growth as a professional fighter.

Cotto, known for his powerful punching and aggressive fighting style, began to gradually wear down Abdullaev with precise body shots and well-timed combinations. Meanwhile, Abdullaev attempted to counter Cotto's relentless offense with his own strategic moves, but he struggled to match Cotto's intensity.

As the fight progressed, Cotto's power and tactical prowess became increasingly evident. By the middle rounds, it was clear that Cotto was in control of the bout, forcing Abdullaev to fight defensively. Despite Abdullaev's resilience and determination, Cotto continued to dominate, landing powerful punches that eventually led to significant swelling around Abdullaev's right eye.

Referee Johnny Callas closely monitored the situation, and by the ninth round, the swelling around Abdullaev's eye had worsened to the point where his vision was severely impaired. With Abdullaev's safety in mind, Callas made the decision to stop the fight at 0:57 in the ninth round, declaring Cotto the winner by TKO.