Floyd Mayweather Jr extended his unbeaten record to 43-0 with a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over Miguel Cotto on 5 May 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout, billed as Ring Kings, saw Mayweather capture the WBA (Super) super welterweight championship in what proved to be one of the most demanding contests of his glittering career.

Cotto entered as defending champion, fresh from his revenge triumph over Antonio Margarito, and determined to assert himself at 154 pounds. Mayweather, stepping into the ring at a career-heaviest 151 lbs, was seeking his second title in the division after previously outpointing Oscar De La Hoya in 2007. With the failed negotiations for a super-fight against Manny Pacquiao lingering in the background, this match carried heightened intrigue for fans eager to see Mayweather tested.

The opening rounds showcased the familiar Mayweather rhythm – fast counters, precise footwork and defensive mastery. Yet from the third round onwards, Cotto pressed forward with authority, pinning the American to the ropes and letting combinations fly. The Puerto Rican champion’s jab and body work disrupted Mayweather’s flow, and by the middle rounds the favourite’s nose was bloodied – a rare sight for a man accustomed to avoiding damage.

Despite Cotto’s relentless drive, Mayweather’s adaptability told. Working off the ropes, he landed crisp uppercuts and sharp right hands that slowed Cotto’s advances. From the ninth round onwards the tide shifted firmly back towards Mayweather, whose accuracy and timing enabled him to regain control. The twelfth and final round underlined his supremacy, a punishing uppercut leaving Cotto shaken before the bell.

The judges returned scores of 118-110 and 117-111 twice, all in favour of Mayweather, though the crowd voiced displeasure at the wide margins given the competitiveness of the encounter. Statistically, Mayweather landed 179 punches from 687 thrown (26 per cent), compared with Cotto’s 105 of 506 (21 per cent). Both fighters left the ring marked – Mayweather with swelling and a bloody nose, Cotto with puffed eyes – a testament to the intensity of the twelve rounds.

Financially, the fight was a blockbuster. Mayweather earned a record-breaking guaranteed purse of $32 million, while Cotto pocketed $8 million plus pay-per-view revenue. With 1.5 million PPV buys generating $94 million, it became one of the most lucrative non-heavyweight contests in boxing history.

For Cotto, the defeat was his third but came with respect for a gallant showing. For Mayweather, the win cemented his place atop the sport, even as questions about a long-awaited clash with Manny Pacquiao remained unresolved.

On a night when blood, sweat and skill were on full display, Mayweather proved once again why he was regarded as the pound-for-pound king, but Cotto ensured that victory came at a cost.