Today, Ringnews24.com appreciates Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito
Just last week, Bob Arum, Antonio Margarito and boxing fans worldwide were on the edge of their seat awaiting a verdict on whether the Mexican would be granted a licence to fight in New York State. Miguel Cotto had already stated he would not fight anywhere other than New York. If the NYSAC refused Margarito permission to fight, the hugely anticipated rematch would be off.
For all those who are unaware, the commission was not meeting to discuss the Mexican’s illegal hand wraps he attempted to use in the Shane Mosley fight in 2009. Instead, the commission were not convinced that his right eye, the one which required major surgery after Manny Pacquiao’s ferocious fists pounded it for 12 brutal rounds in 2010, had healed to sufficient standard. Put simply, the NYSAC did not want to see a fighter go blind in the ring.
Nevertheless, the New York State Athletic Commission, under guidance from two independent specialists, finally gave Margarito the all clear to fight. I imagine that Bob Arum could well have rose both arms and danced the night away after hearing his multimillion pound fight was going ahead. Margarito was equality ecstatic; he needed this fight for redemption. But most of all, the fans were the happiest. We would finally see these two battle it out once again.
Now, with the fight around the corner, Ringnews24 relives the first epic battle between the two warriors, just to wet your appetite.
After breaking Paulie Malignaggi’s jaw in a brutal one sided fight in June 2006, Miguel Cotto moved up to the Welterweight division where he was to make his name. A solid win over Carlos Quintana saw the Puerto Rican capture the vacant WBA strap. What followed was simply superb. A terrific struggle with Zab Judah was won in the 11th round having struggled with the American’s speed early on, and this was followed up with great displays against Sugar Shane Mosley and Alfonzo Gomez. After being denied a mega money fight with Pound for Pound King Floyd Mayweather, the unbeaten Cotto secured a fight with the ever game Margarito.
The Mexican’s path to the fight was somewhat different. Having lost three of his first 12 fights, Margarito shot to fame against Danny Perez, shutting the American out in 2002 to claim the WBO Welterweight title. Having failed to capture the 154 title, Margarito moved back down in weight, knocking out Sebastian Lujan to reclaim his WBO Welterweight crown. Wins over Kermit Cintron and Joshua Clottey saw him matched with unbeaten Paul Williams in 2007. A terrific back and forth fight ensued with the American given the nod over 12 gruelling rounds. After beating Golden Johnson in the first round, the Mexican once against fought Cintron, this time stopping his man in the 6th with a beautiful body shot to win the IBF crown. His eyes were now set on the Puerto Rican.
Stylistically, the fight was a match made in heaven. A boxer puncher against a come forward aggressor willing to risk it all in the ring. The bout started well for Cotto. His movement had given the Mexican trouble in the first 4 rounds, with the Mexican finding it hard to cut off the ring. Danger signs for Cotto began to appear in the 5th. The Puerto Rican’s movement had slowed, and he appeared to be gassing. The Mexican was now closing the distance better, backing the unbeaten Cotto to the ropes, all the time getting closer with the right hand. While Cotto was still boxing well, he had definitely slowed.
By the 7th, Cotto was under severe pressure. The movement he beautifully possessed in the first few rounds had all but stopped, and it seemed clear the fight was only heading one way. Jim Lampley summed it up perfectly. ‘Antonio Margarito is bringing the frustrations and impatience of a long career of waiting out on Miguel Cotto. Cotto is landing thudding blows, but Margarito is stepping right through them.’ While the 8th and 9th were good rounds for Cotto, the 10th was disastrous. While boxing well for the first 2 minutes of the round, Margarito tagged Cotto big late on and stumbled the unbeaten fighter backwards. The good work of the 8th and 9th rounds were completely undone barely a minute into the 11th as, with Cotto shipping a barrage of hooks and uppercuts on the inside, he was forced to take a knee finally succumbing to the pressure. His face was a bloody mess, and with nothing left in the tank, he backed away once more on unsteady legs only for his corner to come to the rescue.
The all time great struggle was smothered in controversy some 6 months later after the Mexican warrior was shamelessly caught using illegal hand wraps just before a fight with Shane Mosley (one in which he lost by knockout). After a year ban, and a subsequent one sided beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, Margarito looks for redemption against Miguel Cotto on December 3rd. For the Puerto Rican, this fight is all about revenge!
{SQUARE} {SQUARE1} {SQUARE2}
{loadposition SQUARE3}
