Cotto Margarito I - Best fight you've ever seen?

I know this is going to be a controversial opinion, but to me, the first Cotto / Margarito fight is the best boxing match I've ever seen. I would put it above Hagler / Hearns, even. Hagler / Hearns was three brilliant rounds of sustained action and is legendary in its own right. However, Cotto vs. Margarito had an incredible amount of tension and suspense that I've never seen in any other fight. The surmounting pressure of Tony getting closer and closer as Cotto gradually goes from totally outclassing him with powerful, crisp shots, to Margarito walking him down and slowly breaking his will and taking his legs. Cotto was my favorite fighter at the time, and I remember watching the PPV with a roomful of people who were watching the fight because they knew of my interest in the sport and because I sparred with a few friends regularly who were also watching. I remember leaving the fight with a sickening feeling. An actual physiological reaction to Cotto's defeat. It seemed slightly traumatic at the time. Those guys basically took each other's primes that night. Margarito possibly cheated, but we'll probably never really know unless he admits it years from now. From the sixth round on, Cotto was a shot fighter. Margarito too.

Comments (20)

Phil_Ivey

FAR FAR from it.

14y ago

wolfw

great fight ,but not the best i've seen.

14y ago

etlux

no it's not. the best to puerto ricans maybe who only know cotto like the thread starter

14y ago

LoadedWraps

Jesus christ............... :haha: :haha:

14y ago

Emon723

This was one of my favorite fights too, along with Mayweather-Hatton.

14y ago

LeG00N

Jesus christ...............

14y ago

Danny_Gunz

It was my personal favorite fight of all time. I have a much bigger connection to this fight then the other ones because Cotto was one of my favorites and it was one of the first ppv fights I got at my home.

14y ago

KingTito

No. It didn't even win fight of the year. It was a great fight though.

14y ago

Da_Boxer

On my top 5 fights....but the only one that left a mark!!!! :usa:

14y ago

Hewito

Surprised no love for Diaz-Marquez I marquez pacquiao was good too......

14y ago

Hewito

Vazquez-Marquez, Corrales-Castillo. All much greater fights. hell yeah!!...this guy is crazy..the fight was good,but in no way better tha morales barrera..and that one was in color..

14y ago

aristotlemoses

Was a great match don't get me wrong, but until the end when Margarito finally started hitting Cotto, it was just Cotto boxing Margartio and Margarito backing him up. The Drama didn't start til later in the fight.

14y ago

bojangles1987

Sorry, damn good fight but not even close. Castillo-Corrales, Pacquiao-Marquez 2, Vazquez-Marquez 3, all far better for me from the 2000s, let alone all time.

14y ago

La_Vibora

Certainly not the best fight that I have ever seen, but it is certainly a modern classic. I have only been able to watch that fight once as I can't stomach seeing Cotto get that type of beating again.

14y ago

TintaBoricua

Cotto-Margarito I isn't the best ever. It's a very, very good fight though. Off the top of my head, the best fights I've seen: JLC-Corrales I Vasquez-Marquez III Gatti-Ward I Morales-Barrera I Marquez-Pacquiao II Tito-Vargas I'm currently watching Cotto-Margarito as I'm making this post little-by-little...it's a damn good fight. Anyone who watched this fight live were on the edge of their seats, I don't care who you were cheering for. I truly regret not being a fan of boxing back when JLC-Corrales happened. People must have shat bricks when it happened live, what with the ending and all.

14y ago

kraftzman

It's nothing like Morales vs Barrera or Gatti vs Ward. What made it controversial was due to the handwrap fiasco.

14y ago

DLT

I dont even think its that great of a fight. I think from the 2nd round on, Margarito was in total control. Even when he wasnt winning the rounds, you could tell he was fighting his fight while Cotto was punching more out of survival. I think it was a good solid scrap but nothing super special. I didnt see it as 2 even guys going back & forths. Just like I didnt see the Kirkland-Angulo fight like that even thought thats how mostly everyone else seemed to see it

14y ago

IronDanHamza

It was a very good fight and I loved the emotion and comeback. But it certainly isn't even one of the greatest fighters of all time.

14y ago

the_good_doctor

Surprised no love for Diaz-Marquez I

14y ago

jazluvr

Cotto is currently still my favorite fighter, and I know the feeling, it was crazy how I felt that night. I know many people pretend to not get attached to a boxer, but with his style and warrior attitude it was inevitable and I was crushed when I saw him face defeat. That 7th round was BRUTAL. I wouldn't say it's my favorite, maybe because of the outcome, haha, but it's definitely top 5 for me and one of the most memorable ever, because of the action, drama and controversy. Exactly how I felt about it. I was really butthurt by it and I'll admit it. I don't like Margo, even if you take away the wraps controversy, i just don't like the guys personality. I think it was one of the best fights i ever saw, but at the same time, one of the worst cuz of the result...lol. Cotto will always be my fighter boxer. Ali used to be, but for some reason When i saw Cotto the first time, there was just something about him. Loved watchin' him kick-ass up to the Margo loss. He just seemed invincible. I loved his confidence and swagger. This rematch is very, very big for me. For me, I'd rate it up there with the Thrilla in Manilla. Just my :2 cents: I was into Ali big time back then. Re; the thread title, it's a matter of opinion. A poll would have been interesting. It would reflect a more general opinion than personal. There's been many better fights, rematches and trilogies...Pac-JMM, Pac-Morales, Ward-Ghatti...etc.

14y ago