Miguel Cotto KOs Michael Jennings

Miguel Cotto made a strong case that he's the best welterweight in boxing Saturday night, thoroughly dominating an overmatched Michael Jennings with a fifth-round technical knockout victory at Madison Square Garden.

Cotto controlled the pace of the fight throughout. He calmly backed Jennings off with his jab in the first three rounds, and then knocked Jennings down twice in the fourth round. Although Jennings valiantly tried to keep fighting in the fifth round, Cotto knocked him down again again, and even though Jennings got up after the knockdown in the fifth round, he was wobbly, and the ref wisely stopped the fight.

It was Cotto's first fight since he lost to Antonio Margarito in July. That loss, an 11th-round TKO in which Cotto simply couldn't handle Margarito's punching power, has become controversial after Margarito was caught trying to put a hard substance in his hand wraps last month. Although there's no evidence that Margarito did the same thing against Cotto, many boxing observers suspect that he did. Saturday night, Cotto looked like he's looked in every fight of his career except the one against Margarito: Like a great boxer.

Cotto said afterward that he'd be happy to fight either Shane Mosley or the winner of the May bout between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton next. There are a lot of interesting matchups available for Cotto, who's one of the best in the world.

The Puerto Rican Cotto improved his record to 33-1. The British Jennings fell to 34-2.

Cotto vs. Jennings Photos

Miguel Cotto reacts after a fifth round TKO against Michael Jennings, of England, in a WBO World Welterweight title fight Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 in New York. Cotto won the fight with a TKO in the fifth round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico (L) has his arm lifted by his opponent Michael Jennings of England after Cotto scored a technical knockout win during the fifth round of their WBO World Welterweight Title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Miguel Cotto, left, of Puerto Rico, reacts after beating Michael Jennings in their WBO World Welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico celebrates after defeating Michael Jennings of England on a technical knockout during the fifth round of their WBO World Welterweight Title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Miguel Cotto, left, of Puerto Rico, ducks a punch from Michael Jennings, of England, during the fourth round of their WBO World Welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Cotto won the fight with a TKO in the fifth round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Michael Jennings, of England, gathers himself as the referee counts after he was knocked down during the fourth round of a WBO World Welterweight title fight against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Cotto won the fight with a TKO in the fifth round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Michael Jennings, of England, takes a left from Miguel Cotto, right, of Puerto Rico, during the fourth round of their WBO World Welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Cotto won the fight with a TKO in the fifth round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Michael Jennings (L) and Miguel Cotto exchange punches during their WBO World Welterweight title bout at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Jennings;Miguel Cotto

Getty Images

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Michael Jennings (R) and Miguel Cotto (L) exchange punches during their WBO World Welterweight title bout at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Jennings;Miguel Cotto

Getty Images