Eddie Cotton vs. Roger Rouse (3rd meeting)

Roger Rouse 174 lbs beat Eddie Cotton 174 lbs by MD in round 12 of 12

• Date: 1966-11-03
• Location: Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, USA
• Referee: Fred Apostoli 116-116
• Judge: Whitey Domstad 118-113
• Judge: Jimmy Rondeau 117-115

"Roger Rouse of Anaconda, Mont., was a step closer today to a title fight with light heavyweight champion Jose Torres after pounding out a 12 round split decision over Eddie Cotton Thursday night. It was Rouse's fight from the start when he opened a cut over Cotton's right eye with a sharp left jab in the 1st round. He fought inside most of the way, punishing the 40 year old Cotton with hard blows to the mid-section. Cotton had two good rounds - the 6th and the 10th when he caught Rouse with a right and left to the head that seemed to daze him momentarily. He followed with three or four more punches to the head but appeared to tire when he might have put Rouse away." -Associated Press

• Unofficial AP scorecard - 117-115 Rouse
• Attendance - 6,634
• Gate - $40,023

Post fight comments

• "I'll believe it when I see it." -Roger Rouse, when hearing he may get a title shot with Torres in February.

• "It was me, it wasn't the other fellow." -Eddie Cotton, explaining how he felt he did not fight a good fight.