WBA lightweight champion Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz retained his world title with an impressive twelve round points decision win over Jose Cotto at the Thomas & Mack Centre on Saturday night on the undercard of Mayweather vs. Judah.

The battle of unbeaten fighters was a crowd-pleasing contest with lots of punches thrown in a very fast paced fight. 22 year-old Diaz 29-0 (14) in black trunks opened up in the 1st and 28 year-old Cotto 27-1 (19) from Puerto Rico came firing back The two exchanging jabs and body shots at a slick pace. A nice left hook from Diaz in light blue trunks, had Cotto on the ropes, as the older brother of Miguel Cotto was trying to work his way back into the round.

Cotto came out leading in round 2, but Diaz kept landing his strong right hands. Diaz looked sharp despite his extended absence from the ring and appeared to have the stronger punches. Cotto was coming forward early in round 3, as Diaz was jumping in and out landing some powerful combinations. Both men were landing, but Cotto appeared to be receiving the harder shots.

Diaz was boxing nicely at range as he mixed jabs with vicious left hooks to the body in round 4. The pace of the fight slowed a little, as Diaz stalked Cotto from a distance. Exploding at times to land strong body shots. Trainer and Uncle Evangelista Cotto telling his nephew between round to 'show all your heart'. Exchanging jabs in round 5. Cotto trying to close the fight and land some stronger punches. But his punches did not have the same zip as Diaz'. Cotto landed his best right hand punches of the night, but Diaz kept coming back with harder shots.

The fighters went toe to toe exchanging body shots in round 6. The tough Cotto kept soaking up the punishment that Diaz was dishing out. Most of the time Diaz would back up Cotto onto the ropes and landed furious combinations of body shots. When Diaz broke, Cotto would return his own body shots. Cotto was landing his punches, but they were not having a significant effect on Diaz.

Diaz was happy to stay in close in round 7 as both men took turns working their body shots. Diaz moved more on the outside towards the end of the round. Landing some right hands from longer range. A six-punch combination from Diaz with all landing demonstrated Cotto's toughness and his ability to take a punch. But he was not going to win the fight like this.

Diaz maintained his good work rate in round 8. Cotto kept coming forward throwing throughout the round trying to make an impact on Diaz. Cotto using some head movement to make Diaz miss. Diaz landed more right hands in round 9, but Cotto kept coming forward. Some good uppercuts from Diaz in round 10, Cotto starting to look wobbly for the first time, his face reddening from all the punches he has taken.

Both men tired in round 11, the fast pace taking its toll. Diaz was still the stronger fighter though, Cotto with little power from his arm punches. But he just kept winding up regardless of what he was receiving. WBO junior welterweight and brother Miguel Cotto commentating at ringside

Both men went toe to toe to open round 12. Cotto with his back on the ropes just kept swinging like a windmill as Diaz opened up on him. Diaz landed a huge right hand which sent Cotto's head looking skyward. Diaz trying for a knockout to win the fight as opposed to coasting to the bell. Diaz' impressive combinations causing Cotto endless trouble throughout the fight. The punches flowing until the final bell. Diaz' mother crying at ringside. His father looking proud and confident of victory.

Judges scored the fight for Diaz, 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110. This writer had Diaz winning 118-110.

In December 1999, Diaz won the gold medal and was declared "Outstanding Boxer" at the Mexican Open National Championships at the age of 15 to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. However to his disappointment, Diaz was later informed that he was three months too young to compete in Sydney and turned professional at the age of 16 after compiling an amateur record of 105-5.

After tonight's win, the message is clear to Diaz' promoter Main Events and manager Shelly Finkel. Lets see a lot more of the "Baby Bull" Juan Diaz.

Also on the card, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr from Mexico retained his undefeated record with a 2nd round TKO win over Tyler Ziolkowski. With living legend and proud father Julio Cesar Chavez Sr watching closely at ringside, 20 year-old Chavez Jr 25-0-1 (19) did what was expected of him against lesser opposition, landing a sweetly timed left hook to the body and dropping Ziolkowski to the canvas. Referee Joe Cortez started the count, but then waved it off with Ziolkowski writhing in agony on the canvas. The fight was ended at the 2:40 minute mark.

The six foot tall Chavez weighed 147lbs for the fight and landed one strong right hand towards the end of round 1, which had 22 year-old Ziolkowski 8-3 (6) backing up. He bloodied the American's nose in round 2 before stopping him.