Pavlik, Cotto victorious in Top Rank promoted showcases!

On Saturday night, I went to Miami Mike's, which is where I usually go to watch PPV boxing. They just happened to be showing the Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto Top Rank PPV doubleheader, so I figured why not go and check it out? After all, I was not having to pay the $44.95 that folks watching the telecast from home were required to shell out.

Both Pavlik and Cotto did exactly what they were supposed to do in their returns to the ring following the first defeats of their respective careers. They both dominated and stopped the opposition, albeit rather light opposition, that they had in front of them.

Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Miguel Cotto TKO5 Michael Jennings... From the outset, Jennings came out on his bicycle attempting to keep it a boxing match and tried to avoid exchanges with Cotto, but he did not have the punching power to get Cotto's respect. Cotto was in complete control from the opening bell, as he won the first three rounds from Michael Jennings before twice depositing him on the seat of his pants in round four. Cotto dropped Jennings again in round five, but Jennings would once again make it to his feet. Referee Benji Estevez elected to protect the Jennings from having to take further punishment, mercifully stopping the contest at 2:36 of round 5. With the win, Cotto was awarded the WBO welterweight championship.

John Duddy W10 Matt Vanda... In the co-feature at Madison Square Garden, John Duddy won a convincing unanimous decision over Matt Vanda, who was best known for coming up on the wrong end of a controversial decision against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Duddy outboxed Vanda most of the way, as he was able to avoid getting into the type of brawl that left him battered and bruised against the unknown Walid Smichett in his previous appearance at the Garden. Vanda had a big tenth round, but by that time it was too little too late. Vanda was awarded the decision by scores of 99-91 (twice) and 97-93. Boxing Chronicles also scored the fight 97-93 for Duddy.

Chevrolet Centre
Youngstown, OH

Kelly Pavlik TKO10 Marco Antonio Rubio... Kelly Pavlik, fighting in front of over 7,000 adoring fans his hometown of Youngstown, OH, made the second successful defense of his WBC/WBO middleweight titles by stopping Marco Antonio Rubio in ten rounds. Rubio showed that he was a tough and durable customer, taking hundreds of punches to the body and head, but Pavlik simply outworked and out landed the game challenger. After winning all of the first nine rounds on the Boxing Chronicles scorecard, as well as the scorecards of the three official judges, Pavlik was declared to winner when Rubio remained in his corner and failed to answer the bell to begin round 10.

television: Top Rank PPV