You are Cotto's new hired trainer, what would your gameplan be to beat Margarito?

i wouldnt change a godamn thing...cotto was perfect first time around, had marg fought without the loaded gloves cotto wouldve decisioned him at worst.

Develop better footwork to be able to move around smoothly. With a pressure fighter like Margarito, this is a must. Next is to improve on defense to avoid having to trade punches. All these require proper and almost perfect conditioning. No way Cotto could win this fight if he gasses out too early. Lastly, there's no shame in riding his bike, which he did in the Pac fight, to survive a round and complete the distance if the challenge is too insurmountable. Then engage at the right moment and attempt a ko punch. :usa:

My gameplan would be to test Margarito hard early in the fight digging the body and if Margarito just keeps on coming, go to plan B and reveal some concealed knee pads and beg for mercy.

Jab, stay off the ropes clinch. Good amount of body work, and stay away from those damn uppercuts.

Cotto should just cheat this time. Imo this is gonna be a brawl of a fight, he's gonna need cement wraps to guarantee victory. You gotta cheat Cotto, no one will ever see that coming! Unless Cotto's wraps come out of the special sealed suitcase too... Lol i like it, flip the script on the fukker! Cunning....:davil2:

He wasnt Outclassing Margs completely, Tony was landing some shots but Cotto was clearly the better fighter when both were fresh and i dont think there is a case for Margarito winning anymore than One of the first six. Man i cant fukkin wait for this fight yo!!! Cotto should just cheat this time. Imo this is gonna be a brawl of a fight, he's gonna need cement wraps to guarantee victory. You gotta cheat Cotto, no one will ever see that coming! Unless Cotto's wraps come out of the special sealed suitcase too...

work on stamina. train for a 15 round fight. dont be tempted to stand and trade. use the ring.

I don't remember what the official score cards were on that fight, but you should rewatch it. Cotto definitely benefitted from perception in the early going. If you watch it now, Cotto has some very impressive and flashy moments. But Margarito was definitely having his own moments as well. Cotto didn't just hit a wall at the halfway point for no reason. I definitely would not have scored the first 6 rounds a shutout for Cotto. I do however think if Cotto fought the last 6 rounds exactly as he did the first 6 he would deserve the victory. He wasnt Outclassing Margs completely, Tony was landing some shots but Cotto was clearly the better fighter when both were fresh and i dont think there is a case for Margarito winning anymore than One of the first six. Man i cant fukkin wait for this fight yo!!!

If I was Cotto's new trainer I would get a meeting with his wife and son, make them watch the previous fight and tell them that he has no chance of escaping a similar beating in the rematch. If they still insisted in the fight happening I would send Miguel out on his bike, telling him to jab and move his head as much as he could until the impending beat down happened and then to stick on his knee pads and hold tight for 10 seconds and all would be good. http://media.fakeposters.com/results/2011/09/10/e3so0z3ome.jpg

Well he won the first 6 last time on most cards so all he'd need to do really would be win one more round than last time and LAST one more round and he wins theoretically. His nose got bust last time which to an already tiring fighter is the last thing u want, breathing trouble (it didnt bust its self tho, Tony did it) He has to hope he can avoid an injury like that I don't remember what the official score cards were on that fight, but you should rewatch it. Cotto definitely benefitted from perception in the early going. If you watch it now, Cotto has some very impressive and flashy moments. But Margarito was definitely having his own moments as well. Cotto didn't just hit a wall at the halfway point for no reason. I definitely would not have scored the first 6 rounds a shutout for Cotto. I do however think if Cotto fought the last 6 rounds exactly as he did the first 6 he would deserve the victory.

Work the body. Clinch whenever Marg tries to mount any kind of offense. Dodging and evading punches might work for a while but if the first fight is anything to go by that will only work for so long.

In front of this crowd, essentially fighting in PR. All he has to do is be standing after 12 rounds. I still don't think he can do that though. Well he won the first 6 last time on most cards so all he'd need to do really would be win one more round than last time and LAST one more round and he wins theoretically. His nose got bust last time which to an already tiring fighter is the last thing u want, breathing trouble (it didnt bust its self tho, Tony did it) He has to hope he can avoid an injury like that

Same as first 5rds! I would say fight like he did the first 5 rounds of there first fight but clinch more instead as move as much as he did because all that moving tired him out! So I would use the cliching and smuthering Margarito's punches to conserve energy and frustrate Margarito!Keep it short and simple. Here's my gameplan: Fight smart. Jab, jab, jab and keep Margarito at bay. Move and engage in exchanges on the move, stay out of the ropes and keep moving. Use your superior skillset to win a UD. Just be smart in picking your shots and don't give Margarito the chance to catch you still. Goal: Win in dominating fashion via UD. Yours?

Body punching, aim to the pit of the stomach if he's blocking his rib-cage. Head-hunting will not get you anymore. Aim for the eye, keep the jab popping to that side of his face. Don't fight hard for the entire round, pace yourself and when it doubt, pump the jab. Look out for the uppercut on the inside because you're very susceptible to getting hit with those. When you're not prepared to engage, get out of his range! Don't take unnecessary punishment, clinching could save you this time around. STAY off the ropes, keep him in the middle of the ring where your superior boxing ability will dominate. Feed off the energy of the MSG crowd, don't ****ing disappoint them! lol Biggest thing: Do not go for to KO, that's what ****ed you up the last time. You're going in there to get a UD. If the KO prevents itself, then go for it, but if it doesn't, continue to box his ears off. Excellent post sir :boxing: I havent really seen Miguel throw straights to the body and not much down the middle, his body work is mainly hooks and uppercuts to the RIBS but ur absaloutely right it would work far better IF he can do it

do what he did last time but clinch on the inside more he let margarito hit him un teh ropes to much get into incredible shape too

Body punching, aim to the pit of the stomach if he's blocking his rib-cage. Head-hunting will not get you anymore. Aim for the eye, keep the jab popping to that side of his face. Don't fight hard for the entire round, pace yourself and when it doubt, pump the jab. Look out for the uppercut on the inside because you're very susceptible to getting hit with those. When you're not prepared to engage, get out of his range! Don't take unnecessary punishment, clinching could save you this time around. STAY off the ropes, keep him in the middle of the ring where your superior boxing ability will dominate. Feed off the energy of the MSG crowd, don't ****ing disappoint them! lol Biggest thing: Do not go for to KO, that's what ****ed you up the last time. You're going in there to get a UD. If the KO prevents itself, then go for it, but if it doesn't, continue to box his ears off. In front of this crowd, essentially fighting in PR. All he has to do is be standing after 12 rounds. I still don't think he can do that though.

Cotto has to fight a Cotto fight. He didnt do that the first time and i will explain what i mean. In the first fight cotto was running plain and simple. That is not his style. Thats why he gassed in the second half. but thats only half the problem. He also didnt sit down on any punches. People like to say he hit marg with everything but it didnt faze him. Well thats because he was too busy trying to run and he never commited. What cotto needs to do is stay right in margs wheels house and commit on the punches hes throwing like shane did. Cotto is slow but marg is slower. He doesnt have to run. Margs shots are so wide and slow that he should be able to get out of the way just by taking a step back or to the side. Dunno dude, Cotto looked like he put some Real Meat on alot of those shots last time, landed clean - No effect. Tony for all his limitations has a chin and a half, Cotto wont land as much as Pac or as hard and Margarito kept coming... Shane put on a GOAT type performance but u have to question Margs mental state going in and seemingly he had had trouble making weight

Body punching, aim to the pit of the stomach if he's blocking his rib-cage. Head-hunting will not get you anywhere, mix it up. Aim for the eye, keep the jab popping to that side of his face. Don't fight hard for the entire round, pace yourself and when it doubt, pump the jab. Look out for the uppercut on the inside because you're very susceptible to getting hit with those. When you're not prepared to engage, get out of his range! Don't take unnecessary punishment, clinching could save you this time around. STAY off the ropes, keep him in the middle of the ring where your superior boxing ability will dominate. Feed off the energy of the MSG crowd, don't ****ing disappoint them! lol Biggest thing: Do not go for to KO, that's what ****ed you up the last time. You're going in there to get a UD. If the KO prevents itself, then go for it, but if it doesn't, continue to box his ears off.

Hmm interesting post.. I agree with your points and your plan. I really think those minor tweaks will help him get thru those 12 rounds. I couldn't agree more about the clinching hurting Tonys rhythm but again I don't think Cotto is a good clincher.. I could be wrong maybe. Who knows.. Also could be true (about the clinching). Do you think some boxers refuse to clinch due to the fact that it might look as a sign of weakness or what? I really think Cotto is just not good at it and I think it is an art. Like timing a clinch is crucial IMO.. I think it is a skill that only a few master. What do you think? Umm nah im gonna disagree on that one homie, i think its as basic as it gets and i picked it up easy. U box dont u? It might not come natural if u like a tear up but give it a bash, its easy man. I do think thats why Miguel dont do it, he's a clean fighter (i know he got heat for low blowing Zab but ive got all his fights and a good lot of his amateur bouts and have watched them numerous times - he is a clean fighter, and clinching IS a foul) but mainly its like u say a Macho Pride thing. That knee shiit from last time? Gotta gets a by from me - dude was rocking cement wraps and it was a helluva fight, Miguel was spent plain and simple plus he has shown many many times over the years he's ALL FIGHTER.

Cotto has to fight a Cotto fight. He didnt do that the first time and i will explain what i mean. In the first fight cotto was running plain and simple. That is not his style. Thats why he gassed in the second half. but thats only half the problem. He also didnt sit down on any punches. People like to say he hit marg with everything but it didnt faze him. Well thats because he was too busy trying to run and he never commited. What cotto needs to do is stay right in margs wheels house and commit on the punches hes throwing like shane did. Cotto is slow but marg is slower. He doesnt have to run. Margs shots are so wide and slow that he should be able to get out of the way just by taking a step back or to the side.