MIGUEL COTTO TKO5 MICHAEL JENNINGS

It was like watching a stronger animal attacking a weaker one as Miguel Cotto steamed right through Michael Jennings on Saturday’s PPV show from Madison Square Garden. Cotto was relentless and even a 22-foot ring couldn’t help Jennings. It seemed that no matter which way he went — to his left, to his right or straight back — Cotto was right with him.

This was just the sort of performance that Cotto needed after his bruising loss against Antonio Margarito last July. He regained a welterweight title and the Puerto Rican superstar looked as strong and sharp as he has ever done in a performance reminiscent of his fifth-round destruction of Carlos Quintana.

Jennings is speedy, but Cotto’s swiftness has been underrated. He closes in fast and hard, and even when he wasn’t actually hitting Jennings he was putting enormous pressure on him.

When Jennings started to dab at his bloodied nose he had the look of a fighter who was shocked at being hit by the hardest punches he has ever taken. The difference in physical strength and punching power was strikingly apparent from the start. Jennings popped away with what Rocky Marciano would have called powder-puff punches whereas even Cotto’s jabs seemed to be hurting the British underdog.

I had thought that Jennings could at least make it through six rounds, but when he went down in the fourth it was obvious that the finish was near at hand. Cotto’s body punches took effect more quickly than I had expected, and once Jennings’s movement around the ring had been compromised he was in dire straits because he wasn’t strong enough to tie up Cotto and his jabs and right hands were woefully inadequate at this level: Cotto had nothing to worry about and he was in no mood to prolong the proceedings.

Saved by the bell after two knockdowns in the fourth, Jennings pluckily came out for the fifth when his trainer, Brian Hughes, probably would have been happier to have his man remain on the stool. Jennings was soon down again, though, and it was a relief when referee Benjy Esteves waved the finish with 22 seconds remaining in round five.

Cotto seemed intent on showing that he has not been adversely affected by the Margarito fight. He was in the cold and cruel frame of mind that spelled trouble for whoever was in the ring with him on Saturday and unfortunately for the British boxer it happened to be Jennings.