Pantera Combat Zone

“Ripping into the core of the fight scene”

By: Robert Ramos
December 1, 2011

Cotto vs. Margarito II
Redemption or Retirement for Miguel Cotto?

This Saturday night, HBO Boxing’s Pay-Per-View feature presentation is a surprising rematch between the 31-year-old Miguel Angel Cotto and his 33-year-old archrival Antonio Margarito, as they battle once again, but this time it will be for the WBA Super World light middleweight title championship belt.

When this rematch was announced, fight fans were stunned in disbelief that Cotto would ever want to step in the ring again vs. Margarito because in their first bout many felt that Margarito might have ended Miguel Cotto’s career via a relentless and never-ending assault that ended up with the very determined, but crushed Cotto on bended knee with his corner throwing in the towel and losing by a TKO. During that first bout, I felt that Cotto won most of the early rounds of the fight and could have possibly won the fight on the judges scorecards, if only he had avoided getting knocked out by Margarito’s vicious onslaught in the 11th round.

Although Cotto continued to box after the Margarito loss, I personally felt that his best days were behind him, due to all the heavy-handed battles he’d been in, and also because he lacks the offensive arsenal via a combination of brutal shots to the body, then to the head of his opponents, a hard-hitting knockout style he was once known for.

Cotto’s main reason for going after the rematch against Antonio Margarito, may not be all about the money, his logic for taking on the relentless Margarito, may well be to redeem his career and avenge his very first loss against Margarito. Cotto refuses to believe that the initial outcome versus Margarito has taken the best of what is left of his war torn former champion self, and particularly because Cotto senses that Margarito may have possibly had his hand wraps laced with plaster of Paris. Margarito’s fortified hand wraps were discovered by Shane Mosley’s camp in the locker room before their fight, which took place following the Cotto fight. This discovery lead to a one-year suspension for Margarito, which leads Cotto to believe that he was unfairly duped in his first fight against Antonio

Cotto could have been killed during that vicious beating, if Margarito actually had his hands filled with cement. To this day, Margarito continues to deny that he had any knowledge whatsoever, that his trainer, Javier Capetillo, placed illegal hand wraps on him. Margarito’s blatant disregard for the safety of others and refusal to accept responsibility for his own actions has placed him in the evil ranks as one of boxing’s darkest villains. Justifiably so, after the Cotto fight, Antonio Margarito experienced two brutal losses of his own, one, a spectacular one sided knockout loss against Sugar Shane Mosley, and a fractured eye socket via ferocious knockout loss against the invincible Manny Pacquiao.

On Saturday night, Cotto’s redemption comes within reach, and without a doubt in the spotlight, both fighters’ camps will be carefully eyeing their opponent’s hands getting wrapped. Each boxer’s chief trainer will be in their opponent’s respective locker rooms, ensuring there is no foul play. This time, win, or lose, there will be no excuses.

Regardless of Miguel Cotto’s true motives for taking on the rematch, one must give him credit for taking on what could be the fight of his life, because losing to the ruthless Margarito could be the end of his career. Cotto has much to lose this time around, but one thing for sure, I have always admired Cotto for never ducking any of the tough opponents that were presented to him, but more so, I admire the Cotto for always getting back up when he unwillingly became famous for getting knocked down in the early rounds against formidable opponents, only to make flawless comebacks, annihilate and eventually beat them via merciless knock outs.

The purity of the sport in this square ring means one of the boxers, Cotto (W-26 + L-2), or Margarito (W-38 + L-7) has the capacity to obliterate his opponent and not make the mistake of leaving the decision in the biased hands of the judges. That said, It could be any man’s night, one the victor, and the other cast into boxing’s murky shadows. Yes, there is still much to savor in boxing’s mano a mano (hand to hand combat) scenario, especially, when they are on an even playing field.