So that's why every welterweight in the world was so scared of Antonio Margarito.

Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round last night in Las Vegas, blemishing Cotto's unbeaten record and claiming the WBA 147-pound title with one last incredible barrage of punches.

Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs), the Mexican star so often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th after several rounds of relentless pressure in a fight that lived up to its lofty billing at the MGM Grand Garden.

"I told my corner I would wear him down and then knock him out," said Margarito, who won his third welterweight belt. "He never hurt me, but that was the game plan, to come out early strong and to wear him down and knock him out. I got him with body shots, and then I hit him in the head, and then I knocked him out."

Cotto (32-1), the respected champion attempting his fifth title defense, won the early rounds with defense and timely counterpunching. Margarito took several major shots on his tough chin, yet still kept up the same relentless attack that finally paid off in the middle rounds.

With Cotto bleeding and woozy, the champion's corner stopped the fight with 55 seconds left, sending Margarito's team into a delirious celebration of a long-awaited victory. Cotto, unable to speak clearly through tears and welts, was taken to a hospital from his locker room.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

LAWLER RETAINS ELITEXC TITLE IN SACRAMENTO

Robbie Lawler retained his EliteXC middleweight world championship with a second-round knockout victory over Scott Smith in the main event of the "Unfinished Business" mixed martial arts card yesterday at Sacramento, Calif.

Lawler was bleeding from his head after taking an elbow from Smith early in the second round, but responded with knee strikes. After dropping Smith with a knee to the body, Lawler pounced and landed punches to the head.

The referee stopped it 2 minutes, 35 seconds into the round. It was scheduled for five 5-minute rounds.

Lawler, who is from Iowa, is a former champion of the Hawai'i-based Icon Sport organization.

In other championship bouts, Antonio Silva defeated Justin Eilers by TKO for the heavyweight title, and Jake Shields beat Nick Thompson by choke submission for the welterweight title.

The event was televised nationally on CBS.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

LA.-MONROE PLAYER ARRESTED FOR FIRING GUN

Regena Jackson, a leading scorer on the Louisiana-Monroe women's basketball team last season, was arrested early yesterday for firing a gun from an apartment balcony, a university spokeswoman said, and was dismissed from school.

The spokeswoman, Laura Harris, said nobody was hurt, and university police were called after Jackson threatened several students and staffers, and fired one shot into the air.

They immediately disarmed and arrested Jackson, Harris said.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Joseph said Jackson's bond was set at $50,500.

Jackson averaged 8.7 points per game as a sophomore last season.

ELSEWHERE

Commentator scored a dominant, front-running victory in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap yesterday at Saratoga (N.Y.) Race Course. Commentator, ridden by John Velazquez, set a moderate pace and was never threatened while running 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.23. The 7-year-old gelding widened the advantage to 4 3/4 lengths over Student Council at the wire in front of 27,297. ... Oregon linebacker Kevin Garrett was suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules. Coach Mike Bellotti announced the suspension yesterday. Details of the violation were not released. Garrett, a junior from Harbor City, Calif., was at the top of the depth chart at weakside linebacker heading into preseason practice. ... C.J. Miles will stay in Utah after the Jazz matched the deal offered by Oklahoma City to the restricted free agent. On July 18, Oklahoma City offered a four-year deal worth about $15 million to Miles.