Miguel Cotto has won the WBC middleweight title after Sergio Martinez retired on his stool at the end of the ninth round.
The Puerto Rican fighter dropped the champion three times during an explosive first round, and although he was unable to finish off his Argentine opponent in the opening three minutes, he controlled a one-sided contest in front of 21,000 fans at Madison Square Garden.
The first knockdown came from a Cotto left hook, before shots to the head and body had Martinez struggling to make the end of the round.
He reappeared for the second stanza but, from then onwards, Cotto never let his advantage slip as he peppered Martinez at will.
After more severe punishment in the ninth, Martinez remained on his stool to concede the title to the 33-year-old.
Cotto improves his professional record to 39 victories from 43 fights, while Martinez, in falling to his third loss in 56 matches as well as suffering from a long-standing knee problem, could contemplate retirement from the sport.
