No Surprises at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.

By: Mike Indri, Ringside
Retired Boxers Foundation

Atlantic City, NJ – With the Boardwalk Hall filled, and HBO broadcasting to millions at home, Miguel Cotto tore into Alfonso Gomez and in the same ring where the “Contender” fighter enjoyed his greatest win (TKO 7 vs. Arturo Gatti, 7/14/07), punished the likable and big willed fighter, sending Gomez to his most demoralizing defeat.

While the bout actually lasted until the ring doctor advised referee Randy Neuman not to let the one-sided debacle continue after round five, the fight was realistically over in the first round; when the first few exchanges proved this twelve round title match was simply a mismatch.

Barely escaping in round one, a collection of Cotto body shots towards the end of round two sent a devastated Gomez to the canvas for his first of three knockdowns. More nasty body shots by Cotto dropped Gomez again in the third and a vicious debilitating barrage sent the overwhelmed fighter to the deck late in round five. Badly bruised and totally finished, a demoralized and defeated Gomez managed to slowly amble back to his stool where he dropped, and rightfully was not allowed to get back up from.

At times Cotto seemed to be toying with Gomez, dropping his hands and pounding on the lesser fighter, all to the delight of the largely partisan Puerto Rican crowd. When it was all over Cotto had out landed Gomez 188 to 63 in total punches, and a staggering 125 to 46 in power shots (according to Compu-Box)