Cotto wins WBO junior welterweight title

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Undefeated Miguel Cotto won the vacant WBO junior welterweight title Saturday night, stopping Kelson Pinto in the sixth round.

Showing power and precision, Cotto attacked from the start with sharp left hooks to the face and displayed poise in his first tittle fight in front of his countrymen.

The knockout came at 2:28 of the sixth, after a left hook and a series of combinations in a corner sent the Brazilian face first to the canvas. Pinto beat the count, but was visibly hurt and his corner stopped the fight.

"He came out strong, but we imposed our plan," said Cotto, who improved to 21-0 with his 17th knockout.

It was the first loss in 21 fights for Pinto, who had defeated Cotto twice in amateurs bouts.

Pinto was knocked down twice before the sixth -- in the second, with a left hook, and in the fifth, with a left hook and a short right to the chin.

In the other title fight, Daniel Santos retained his WBO junior middleweight title in a split decision over Antonio Margarito.

The fight was stopped after the ninth round because of a cut over Margarito's left eye, and the judges gave the fight to the Puerto Rican.

Two judges saw the bout 86-85 and 87-84 for Santos (29-2-1), and one gave it 86-85 to the Mexican.

The Associated Press saw Margarito (30-4) winning the fight 87-86.

Margarito was aggressive in the opening rounds, exchanging combinations with the champion and bringing the crowd to its feet in several occasions.

After an accidental headbutt in the sixth opened a cut on Margarito's left eyebrow, the Puerto Rican became more aggressive and dominated the final rounds.

"That was the plan, to be more aggressive after the cut," said Santos' trainer, Pupy Latorre.