The crowd is buzzing hear at Madison Square Garden for the first two bouts of the Latin Welterweight Tournament. Heavy turnout for Local Favorite Miguel Cotto. These two boluts will determine who will meet in round two of this tourney. First part of the double header will pit Columbia's "Kid Pambele" Antonio Cervantes, moving up for this event from 140 Lbs. Against Fernando Vargas , who actually slimmed down to Welterweight for this one & rumor has it he has been looking a little weight drained. The Main event has Corlos Palomino going against Miguel Cotto & this heavy partisian crowd. Fernando storms out & actually looks very good & cutting off Cervantes & landing heavy blows to the body. Antonio keeps moving and finally starts to establish the jab in the mid rounds. Vargas keeps pressure & has his moments, when he is able to get Cervantes trapped in a corner or against the ropes. An angry welt opens up on Vargas' right eye & he is having trouble seeing the stinging jabs come in. Antonio finally gets the room he was waiting for and has right hands coming in after the jab as well as three punch combinations. Fernando is taking shots & is slowing way down. Cervantes moves freely in the late rounds & delivers stinging shots. ANTONIO CERVANTES 15 Dec. FERNANDO VARGAS In the Main event, the crowd has Cotto pumped up. they both storm out and engage in heavy combat. Miguel is throwing hard punches & Carlos is consentraiting on the body. The mid rounds have Cotto moving foreward &Carlos landing sharp punches, which start to open cuts on Cotto's face. As the rounds progress Palomino's output increases, a sharp combo staggers Cotto in the tenth. Cotto recovers to win the eleventh. In the Thirteenth Cotto storms out and throws hard punches, a right staggers Palomino and he backs away. Cotto is swinging wildly trying to land a big punch. A few more land exciting the crowd! With a minute to go Cotto looks winded! Palomino recovers and unleashes a volley of punches! between rounds there is a comotion in Cotto's corner, the Referee and ring doctor have seen enough & stop the fight! Cotto is protesting, but to no avail! Carlos Palomino . 14 TKO. Miguel Cotto
