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Miguel Cotto VS Antonio Margarito: And The Loser Is Floyd Mayweather Jr...
Miguel Cotto Vs Antonio Margarito:
And the Loser is Floyd Mayweather JR
By Geno McGahee-June 15, 2008
In one of the most anticipated welterweight showdowns in recent history, the undefeated Puerto Rican superstar, Miguel Cotto, 32-0, 26 KO’s, will be facing the relentless and larger, Mexican warrior, Antonio Margarito, 36-5, 25 KO’s, in late July. Cotto carries the WBA Welterweight Title and has proven to be a much better fighter at this weight, while Margarito has rebounded with a solid knockout win over RSR Feature Writer, Kermit Cintron, to capture the IBF Title and put him into this match up. It will be two freight trains colliding and a treat for the boxing fans.
There is no doubt that the superstar potential surrounds Miguel Cotto. In the absence of Felix Trinidad, Puerto Rico has placed their support in his corner, and he has thus far not disappointed. He has not only shown power and one of the best jabs in boxing, he has shown the heart of a champion, climbing off the canvas on several occasions to knock out his opponent.
There have been comparisons between Cotto and the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, who is perhaps the best Mexican fighter ever to lace up the gloves. Chavez cut down his opposition with a fantastic body attack. He was relentless. That body attack is similar to Cotto’s, as he chops and chops away at his opponent’s midsection until they crumble in the later rounds. Although similar in style to Chavez, there are distinct differences. Chavez seemed never to take a backward step, never straying from the straight ahead, in your face, game plan. If it works, go with it. For Cotto, he has learned that he can box when needed and use mobility and defense as well as his power to defeat his opponent. He showed this during his tough times in his last bout with Shane Mosley.
The Mosley bout was proof that Cotto belonged in the big time. Although he had defeated some very good fighters like Zab Judah and Carlos Quintana who currently holds a belt, he was still seeking the fight that would distinguish himself as Floyd Mayweather’s #1 opponent…a man that the public demanded to challenge the pound for pound best. It was a demand that fell on deaf ears, as Mayweather opted instead to face off against a 7 foot giant in a staged professional wrestling event, followed by a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, which is strictly a money fight and a fight that the public does not want to see, outside of the De La Hoya fans and the people that don’t follow the sport too closely.
With the refusal of Mayweather, JR., to put up and take on the most logical opponent, Cotto needed to focus elsewhere, and that shifted to the IBF Welterweight Showdown between Cintron and Margarito. A Margarito – Cotto bout has been in the works for a long time but has never materialized until now. There was some thought that it would never happen and that Cintron with his power and skill may see to that, but history repeated itself and this bout was on. Cotto has stayed busy beating up “Contender” Alfonso Gomez, in what has to be the Mismatch of the Year for all of you keeping track for your yearly boxing awards. After Judah and Mosley, he deserved a night off with pay and he got one as he violently dismantled Gomez, pounding him into submission midway through the fight. It cemented the deal however, and now the fight was set.
Antonio Margarito was once called “The Most Avoided Man in Boxing,” but should have been called “The Most Avoided Man by Floyd Mayweather.” I think that the size and reach were enough to scare away Floyd, but the reputation of being the most avoided man in the game was a negative thing for his career. Margarito began losing focus in his fights, namely in his bouts with Joshua Clottey and later with Paul Williams. He was able to squeak by Clottey by a late round rally to win the decision and then lost a decision to Paul Williams, where he was sleepwalking for the full twelve rounds. After watching Quintana expose Williams as a flawed fighter, you have to assume that Margarito would have most likely won had his head been in the game.
His head is in the game now, with a one round destruction of Golden Johnson, followed by an equally impressive dismantling of Kermit Cintron. He is a man on a mission and a much better fighter when he is trying to prove himself to the public, who have not always been kind. Knocking out Miguel Cotto in his next bout would be the result that he desperately wants to once again impose the challenge on Mayweather.
Margarito and Cotto remind me a great deal of Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler as we go into this bout in July. In 1985, both Hearns and Hagler were well respected in the boxing community, but the focus of the fans at large was still on Sugar Ray Leonard. Hagler badly wanted Leonard in the ring to justify his claim that he was the best in the game, but that was a wish that would not be granted (for several years). Hearns after suffering the defeat to Leonard had rebounded but wanted another crack, considering just how he had dominated for the most part until he ran out of gas. They both wanted Leonard, but when they came up empty, they found each other and had one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing. Margarito and Cotto have now found each other with the refusal of Floyd Mayweather to accept either as a challenger, and we will probably get another memorable war for the ages.
One has to wonder why “Money Mayweather” isn’t taking on the challenges of either man. Obviously, “The Golden Boy” brings more **** for the buck, and will always sell a pay per view regardless of who he fights. Both Floyd and Oscar made a killing when they first punched it out, but the fight was a dud, and there is no drama in this rematch. The idea that an old De La Hoya can beat a prime Floyd is laughable. The idea that a prime De La Hoya can beat a prime Floyd seems absurd. So, why this fight?
There was a time when Floyd spoke of legacy and placing himself above the likes of Ray Robinson and Ray Leonard. He was fighting for respect, but the focus has shifted in the last several years, as he opted for the path of least resistance. People can argue that Ricky Hatton was a good opponent. He was. He was not a great opponent. He was marketable but small and too wild to compete with the skilled Mayweather. On paper, it may have been seen as a good match, but in reality, it was far from it.
The list of opponents that Floyd has defeated, with some exceptions, have been a display of opportunism. Carlos Baldomir, Arturo Gatti, and Ricky Hatton were not challenges for “Pretty Boy.” All three were custom made for his style, and with the exception of Hatton, there was very little demand for the bouts. Now he is set to face De La Hoya again in a rematch that is happening merely to line the pockets of the fighters and the promoters. It is not a fan friendly fight and will do more to diminish the reputation of Floyd, who is now seen as more of a showman rather than the best in the game. If he wants to fatten his bank account, De La Hoya is the key. If he wants to secure his legacy, he should have fought Cotto.
It is likely that Floyd will go on to fight the winner of Cotto-Margarito, when he defeats De La Hoya, and that will once again secure his spot as the best in the game, should be come out victorious. The Cotto-Margarito fight should be a spectacular display of heart and power and bring these two gladiators to the attention of the casual boxing fans, much the way that Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo gained recognition from their war.
If Miguel Cotto wins, there will be an overflow of public support and if Floyd does not fight him, there will be the question lingering over his head. Did he avoid Cotto? If Margarito wins, the demand may not be as high, but hopefully there will be enough to get Floyd into the ring with the tough Mexican. With Floyd out of the equation, we still have a great fight to look forward to and depending on the result, Floyd may need to fight to maintain his status.
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This was obviously written before his retirement...
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