New York: Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto avenged his controversial loss to Antonio Margarito three years ago when he beat the Mexican on Saturday (Sunday in the UAE) to retain his WBA super-middleweight world title at Madison Square Garden.
Cotto improved his career record to 37-2 (30 KO) while Margarito fell to 38-8, (27 KO).
The referee stopped the fight before the start of the 10th round when ringside doctors ruled that Margarito was not fit enough to continue.
Cotto was already well ahead on points at the time on all three judge's cards.
Margarito's right eye, which had required surgery after he was brutally beaten by Manny Pacquiao, was closed shut after he had been hit so many times by Cotto.
Cotto savoured the victory over his bitter rival by staring down Margarito after the stoppage.
"Just to look at him and taste my victory on him," Cotto said. "He means nothing to me. I'm here with all my crowd and all my people. He means nothing to me."
