Cotto vs Margarito 2: Full Fight Video of Their Epic 2008 Meeting

by Scott Christ on Nov 24, 2011 5:00 PM EST in Boxing Fight Videos - Full Fights

On July 26, 2008, in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, then-undefeated Miguel Cotto met what figured to be possibly -- probably -- the toughest challenge of his career. Cotto, then 32-0, was one of boxing's biggest stars, a Puerto Rican dynamo who cultivated a large audience of his countrymen and those sharing his heritage in the United States. He was a star anywhere he went, and a terrific fighter to boot.

Matched with Mexico's Antonio Margarito, then 36-5, he was facing a new type of challenge. Cotto had been in the ring with and beaten the likes of Shane Mosley and Zab Judah before, but Margarito was a relentless sort who could walk through his opponent's best shots and smile at them. He had twice decimated another Puerto Rican, Kermit Cintron, by taking what were supposedly monstrous blows from a man with the reputation of being one of boxing's best punchers. Shrugging them off, he wore out Cintron and broke his will to fight, stopping him in five rounds in 2005, and in six rounds three years later.

Would Cotto be able to hold up to the pressure of Margarito? As a small welterweight, could Cotto get through the inevitable charge from the relatively enormous Mexican?

This fight was great. There is no denying that. But six months later, the memory of the fight changed forever when Margarito was caught attempting to use illegal hand wraps before his fight with Shane Mosley in California.

Today, Miguel Cotto believes that Antonio Margarito used the same illegal wraps in their fight, and says that without the aid of plaster, the result of this fight will be different.

Even if it is, is there even a remote chance the December 3 rematch lives up to the drama of the first fight in the ring?

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there is

too much hatred between these two fighters, that wathever the level of competition every well connected punch will be very significant
So, yes, I expect drama and a good fight.

@mauriki

by Hermano Cerdo on Nov 24, 2011 6:12 PM EST reply actions

no chance it goes like the first fight

I assume any sort of flurry by Cotto and the ref jumps in……NYSAC will look awful if Margo gets pummelled badly

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 24, 2011 6:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Let There Be War

The NYSAC definitely has a predisposition. In fact, a prejudice against letting Margarito fight, literally to the point of initially refusing to even consider Margarito’s medical record of corrective surgeries.

The fact that the issues have now been settled and the fight remains in their jurisdiction, a fast stoppage is a highly likely scenario. That is, if it is Margarito being hit and hurt. Not the other way around. If, like in the Golden Johnson fight in which AM started and finished fast (after losing to Williams because of a slow start) , Margarito starts and gets to Cotto first and hard, I have no expectation of the commission stepping in unless it Cotto is all but KOed.

They have an axe to gring with Margarito (as do many others) and not Cotto.
Advantage Cotto

The biggest factor IMO will be who has more left in the tank. These guys are not going to be kissing, hugging and cashing checks. They will go to war.

Margarito flew into NYC in order to ensure the fight would remain there. That is how bad he wanted it to stay in NYC. He could easily have stayed in in the mountains in Mexico and continue to prepare but he chose to break camp when asked and fly to NY and back. He could have said that Denver, Pheonix or a barge was fine. But he did more than that.
That tells me a lot about his disposition.

Cotto, IMO, gave up mental advantage once again when he said, to everyone’s surprise, that he would only fight in NY. I understand the sentiment but when you have one guy who ould fight on a barge in the Hudson (or any place else they could find) and another who will only fight a t home, I say advantage Tony.

I am certain Margarito will be in animal mode but like everyone else, I have no real idea of what he has left at this level. As for Miguel, I think the fight has to go exactly as he’s planned…or he’s in trouble. Once again.

So those are the issues.

1) The NYSAC commission stopping Margarito early regardless.

2) Which fighter has more left in the tank?

3) Is Cotto still haunted by the Ghost of Margarito.

There s only one way to find out. Wait and watch.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Nov 24, 2011 8:08 PM EST reply actions

You're right about Cotto having almost every advantage going into this fight

But we will see what happens when Margarito hits him in the face.

I have the same feeling I had going into the Mares-Agbeko fight. Everyone in the business wanted Mares to win, and they made sure it happened.

Everyone in the business wants Cotto to win (he’s a top 5 draw in the sport, fan favourite, and the babyface in this situation) and I think they’ll do whatever they can to make sure he wins.

Margarito needs a KO. Probably two of them. But at least he seems to know it.

by Lee Payton on Nov 25, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions

hard to pick fight , Relentness will power vs Skill and versatility

Both fighters have had the fight beaten out of them. Cotto was destroyed at the hands of Margarito and Margarito was decimated at the hands of Mosely. Cotto’s team will definitely be looking at the Mosely tape for a game plan. I think Cotto will go back to his signature body punching style which was almost completely absent in their first fight. Margarito will just try to do the same and out will his opponent. Cotto will have the advantage going into this fight because he is more fluid and versatile. I expect to see Cotto employing a Benard Hopkins technique of throwing and landing a punch and clinching to catch his breath similar to what Mosely did. Overall I think Cotto will win a unanimous decision due to his various game plans at his disposal.

by Dinamita001 on Nov 25, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Cotto hates clinching… he never learned how to do it because he hates it… it’s a good weapon to have in your arsenal, and it’s an important weapon missing from his.

I do think Cotto has more openings this time around. If Margarito protects his eye, Cotto can go to the body. If Margarito protects his body, like in the first one, Cotto can destroy the eye.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Nov 25, 2011 7:37 PM EST up reply actions