Yuri Foreman vs Miguel Cotto

On Saturday, June 5th, 2010, boxing fans gathered at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York to witness the Yuri Foreman vs Miguel Cotto fight, which was promoted by Top Rank and featured Foreman's first defense of his WBA World Super-welterweight title against Cotto, the former super-lightweight and welterweight champion. The contest was aired on HBO World Championship Boxing and attracted an attendance of 20,272.

Yuri Foreman, hailing from Brooklyn, New York by way of Gomel, Belarus, entered the ring with an impressive 28-0-0 record. He was ranked as the #6 junior-middleweight in the world, according to The Ring Magazine. His opponent, Miguel Cotto, from Caguas, Puerto Rico, boasted a 34-2-0 record and was ranked as the #5 welterweight by the same publication. Despite being a big betting underdog, Foreman was determined to keep his title.

The fighters' official weights were recorded as 153½ lbs for Miguel Cotto and 154 lbs for Yuri Foreman. It was Cotto's first appearance above 147 pounds, which added to the anticipation surrounding the match. Foreman, meanwhile, was focused on defending his title.

The bout marked a turning point for Miguel Cotto, as it was his first fight under the guidance of renowned trainer Emanuel Steward. The stakes were high for both fighters, with Cotto earning $2 million for the fight and Foreman receiving a career-high $750,000, as reported by promoter Bob Arum.

The match was historic not just for the fighters, but also for the venue itself. This was the first boxing card to be held at the new Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009. The old Yankee Stadium had hosted 46 boxing events over 53 years, with the last being the 3rd meeting between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton in 1976.

The fight took a dramatic turn in the 7th round when Foreman slipped and fell, causing his already braced right knee to buckle. Despite the injury, Foreman got back on his feet and continued to fight, though heavily favoring his knee. His determination was evident, even as he endured a few more falls due to his weakened knee and Cotto's relentless onslaught.

In the midst of the 8th round, Foreman's trainer Joe Grier threw in the towel, believing his fighter could no longer continue. As both camps and officials filled the ring and the fighters embraced, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. intervened. After assessing Foreman's condition and determining he was not in immediate danger, Mercante asked Foreman if he wished to continue, and he agreed.

With the crowd's confusion palpable, the ring was cleared after a delay of a couple of minutes, and the fight resumed. Cotto's relentless pursuit paid off when he landed a powerful left hook to Foreman's body early in the 9th round. Foreman went down 42 seconds into the round, his inability to put weight on his injured leg contributing to his collapse.

Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. then called off the fight, awarding Miguel Cotto a TKO victory in the 9th round.

Cotto's triumph marked a significant accomplishment in his career as he claimed his third title in separate weight divisions.