ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (AFP) — Unbeaten champion Miguel Cotto posted his fourth-straight title defence by dominating Alfonzo Gomez in a one-sided World Boxing Association welterweight fight on Saturday.
"I tried to do everything in this fight, work on my punching and put pressure on him," said Puerto Rico's Cotto.
Cotto punished Gomez forcing the referee to halt the fight after the fifth round. This defence follows convincing wins over Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and Oktay Urkal.
"My jab in the last three fights was the difference," Cotto said."I am a better boxer than them."
Cotto, who has 32 wins, no losses and 26 knockouts, captured the WBA crown by knocking out Carlos Quintana 17 months ago in Atlantic City
The 27-year-old champion began pounding on Gomez (18-4-2) from the outset.
The powerful and hard hitting Cotto, of Caguas, made it look easy by knocking Gomez down in the second, third and fifth rounds before the referee mercifully stepped in to stop it.
With elite boxers like World Boxing Council champ Floyd Mayweather showing not interest in fighting him, Cotto has had to take fights against lesser opponents like Gomez.
"I am ready for the next guy. I am going to prepare for everything," said Cotto. "I can't promote my career. I am not a promoter. I am a boxer.
"If Mayweather wants to fight me I am ready. I am not afraid of anybody."
Against Gomez, Cotto landed a whopping 188 punches to his opponent's 63. Cotto also connected on 51 percent of his punches while Gomez connected on just 21 percent.
Gomez's only claim to fame so far is a role in the American reality boxing show "The Contender'.
Cotto has a history of destroying his opponents as three of his previous eight opponents have not fought again.
In an earlier championship bout, Mexico's Antonio Margarito knocked out Kermit Cintron in the sixth round here to capture the International Boxing Federation welterweight title.
It marked the second time in his career that Margarito (36-5, 26 KOs) has won a welterweight crown, with both victories coming against Cintron (29-1).
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