Live Blog: Miguel Cotto scores 9th-round TKO over Foreman

This is the one we’ve all waited for, two fighters in Miguel Cotto and Yuri Foreman looking to be among the elite. In Cotto’s case, he is out to prove he still has it. For Foreman, it’s all about putting his name on the map.

The announced crowd was 20, 727. Not bad for a boxing match in the Bronx.

Cotto has dropped two of his last four fights and has taken a beating each time. He looked early in his fight against Manny Pacquiao last November, but he couldn’t sustain it. He edged Clottey in a close fight last June, but he took a beating. Foreman doesn’t have a lot of knockout power and is not a great finisher, so Cotto could have the upper hand.

Foreman doesn’t fear Cotto. But the question is does he have the chin to stay alive. Foreman’s best win was over Daniel Santos for the WBA 54-pound title.

The bottom line is Foreman needs to hurt Cotto early and often. And he has to stay on him. If Cotto fights off Foreman's attack, it will be lights out for Foreman.

Inside the Numbers: Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs); Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs).

Purse: Cotto - $2 million; Foreman - $750,000.

Attendance: 20, 727.

We'll be back in a little bit for round 1.

ROUND 1: Cotto, as usual, took time to feel out Foreman. He kept peppering Foreman with his left jab. And he actually wobbled Foreman with 1:45 left in the round. That left kept Foreman from going on the attack. Cotto wins, 10-9.

ROUND 2: It was a lackluster round for the most part until Cotto landed a straight left that wobbled Foreman with 1:15 left in the round. He added a hard right with about 35 seconds to go. And two more lefts with under 15 seconds.  Cotto wins it, 10-9.

ROUND 3: Foreman landed an overhand right to start the round. It was effective, but not enough to stun Cotto. Foreman added a left jab with 2:15 left, but that was after Cotto hit him with a straight right. Cotto landed a solid combo with 1:35 left that ended with a left hook. Foreman landed a glancing overhand right about 10 seconds later. Foreman landed another decent left with a minute left, but paid for it as Cotto landed a right-left overhand Combo. Cotto wins the round, 10-9.

ROUND 4:Foreman started the round on fire as he landed a combo and added a hard right seconds later. Cotto countered with a left, but Foreman's shot did some damage. Foreman continued on the attack and hit a nice combo with two minutes left. Foreman is bleeding from his nose now. So far, no cut over Cotto's eye. Foreman landed another right with a minute to go. Foreman fell, with 45 seconds left, but it was a slip. Foreman wins an exciting round, 10-9.

ROUND 5:Foreman started strong again with a good right. Cotto came back at the 2:05 mark with a nice right to the head. Foreman came inside, but Cotto came back with another good combo, ending it with a left. Cotto doubled up on his jab with 1:20 left and added a straight left with one minute left. The pro-Cotto crowd is starting to get really loud. Foreman landed a nice right toward the end of the round, but Cotto answered with another left. Cotto win the round, 10-9.

ROUND 6: Both fighters exchanged combos at the two-minute mark. Both were effective. Foreman is dancing and trying to stay away from Cotto's left. But his punches aren't landing with any real authority because of it. But Foreman landed a sharp left hook with 30 seconds left. Cotto tagged Foreman with a straight left and a sharp jab to end the round. Cotto wins it again, 10-9. 

ROUND 7: Foreman is bleeding from his left eye. Cotto won an exchange at the 2:30 mark. Ref Arthur Mercante Jr. called timeout, because Foreman slipped apparently. Cotto is starting to go on the attack. But Foreman slipped again at the 1:34 mark. Cotto's back on the attack and landed a sharp left hook. Cotto landed an uppercut followed by a vicious combo. Cotto landed a hard left uppercut that stunned Foreman with 1:oo left. He followed up with a nice exchange. Foreman is hanging on with a limp, barely. Cotto wins an exciting round, the best of the night, 10-9.

ROUND 8: Foreman's right knee (which has a brace) is a problem now. He's limping and can't move like he was earlier. Cotto started the round with two left jabs and a lead right. Cotto's left jab is really hampering Foreman. Foreman's corner threw in the towel at the 1:15 mark of the eight round. But  they reversed it and fight will still go on. Apparently, tthe towel was thrown in by someone not in Foreman's corner. Foreman gets all the credit in the world for continuing on his bad knee. Cotto wins the round, 10-9.

ROUND 9: This time the fight is really over. Referee Art Mercante Jr. stopped the fight after Cotto landed a left to Foreman's side 42 seconds into round 9.

Big win for Cotto, who needed to prove he could still hand in there. And he did it against a bigger fighter. As for Foreman, he gets credit for standing in and fighting, especially after someone from outside his corner threw the towel in.

 Cotto improves to 34-2, 28 KOs. Foreman drops to 28-1, 8 KOs.

For a great fight story, check out Greg Logan's story at Newsday.com on the following link: www.newsday.com/sports/boxing/cotto-stops-injured-foreman-in-ninth-round-to-take-title-1.1985372