NEW YORK (Reuters) – Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight title with a grueling split decision win over Joshua Clottey of Ghana at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Judges Don Trella and John McKaie scored the bout for Cotto, 116-111 and 115-112 respectively. Tom Miller scored the bout 114-113 for former IBF champion Clottey.

The Ghanaian, 35-3 (20 KOs), complained bitterly about the decision.

"I fought my heart out," said in a televised interview after the fight. "I'm chasing the guy. He's running. I'm blocking the punches. So I don't know what I have to do to win the fight."

At times it appeared the contest would not last long enough for the judges to play a role.

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