Cotto Vs. Martinez: Puerto Rican Slugger Still Has It After Clinching 4th Title In As Many Divisions, What's Next?

The Cotto Vs. Martinez bout made boxing history on Saturday night as it was witnessed live by a record-setting 21,090 crowd at the Madison Square Garden. 

Coming in as the challenger and underdog in the bout, the 33-year-old Miguel Cotto only had one goal - to make history for himself. 

And just after the bell rang for Round 1, it looked like Cotto wanted to finish the match early. Up against veteran boxer and future Hall of Famer Sergio Martinez in his seventh title defense for the WBO lineal middleweight title, the Puerto Rican charged and connected with a left hook, dropping Martinez. 

The flurry of punches continued and Cotto knocked down the defending champion three times in the opening round. 

Weathered by years of fighting in the ring, Martinez became cautious in the succeeding rounds, choosing his punches carefully lest he falls in Cotto's trap. The Puerto Rican waited patiently until he could unleash the final blow. 

That punch did not take place, as Martinez' trainer Pablo Sarmiento threw the towel six seconds into the 10th round before more damage could be done. 

The victory gave Cotto his fourth title in as many weight divisions, surpassing his fellow Puerto Rican boxers who are already part of the Hall of Fame. 

Just a couple of years back, his ugly losses against Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Austin Trout and Floyd Mayweather were thought to have calmed the fighter in him. Fortunately, he and Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach immediately hit it off when they began training together a couple of fights back. 

Coming into the Martinez match, Cotto still looked fierce, but it his his patience in the ring which have sealed the victory. During his early years, Cotto could have dived into every opportunity of knocking Martinez out especially after a brilliant performance in round 1. But he didn't. 

According to reports, Cotto will fight again in December though there isn't an exact opponent yet. However, promoter Bob Arum says that he could be up against former junior middleweight titlist Canelo Alvarez.