Miguel Cotto v Mohammed Abdullaev

WBO light-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto overcame Olympic conqueror Mohammed Abdullaev with a ninth-round stoppage in New York to stay on track for a showdown with new kingpin Ricky Hatton next year.

Puerto Rican Cotto, who lost to Uzbekistan fighter Abdullaev at the 2000 Games in Sydney, won the fight after swelling on his opponent’s right eye prevented him from continuing.

The highly-impressive Cotto, long tipped to excel in the 10 stone division, boxed impressively at Madison Square Garden and looked in control for much of the fight.

Cotto capitalised on his early work and targeted the injured eye with precise combinations to the area.

And when Abdullaev admitted to referee Johnny Callas he was struggling to continue in the ninth round, the doctor was summoned and unbeaten Cotto extended his record to 24 victories.