Why couldn't Cotto attack Margarito's body in the 1st fight?

Margarito did a good job of keeping his elbows tight on his body. IMO I felt like if Cotto was this elite boxer that people claimed him to be then he should have been able to create openings to land shots to Margarito's body and he wasn't able to that. It was just that simple IMO. Don't take that comment wrong I still like Cotto as a boxer.

Not necessarily, you can land bodyshots at mid and long range. Pac landed straight lefts to the body and Mosley landed long hooks. You got guys like Floyd, Ward, Dirrell who throw straight punches to the head and body. Cotto just doesn't have that type of skills and coordination. Of course you can but those shots were more used to set up the head shots. Body sets up head and vice versa, I understand that very well but that wasn't the point of the fans saying that Cotto needed to use body work to wear down Marg. I don't think Cotto can wear Marg down with body shots because of the dedication needed to be there standing in front of him. He can however use them to set up the hooks and straight shots to the head though.

marg was so easy to hit in the head with 2-3 punch combo's he just got carried away and forgot about the body. . . rest assured he won't this time. .. hit marg in the ribs and that's his sweet spot. . . when pac hit him in the ribs it was all downhill from there - made marg INSTANTLY retreat. Yeah that's because he got a very slim mid section. He's top heavy so he loses all his weight in that area (including muscle), that's why he was able to stay in the same division for more than 15 years but that's definitely his weak spot.

because everytime Cotto aims for the body, Antonio read that and made him eat uppercuts

This is very true and another reason Cotto couldn't sit on his shots and really try and hurt Marg. Also, Cotto is a much different fighter going backwards than he is coming forward, just like Marg is. Yup both guys prefer to bring the fight to their opponent, it just so happens Tony knows how to get right to the point and make it clear that, that is what he is doing for the fight and you better find something else. I just watched his fight with Roberto Garcia and honestly he looked good I mean he dominated that kid, used some better defense got in rounds dropped the man early which I think he could have gotten him out of there anytime he wanted. But what I like out of that fight Garcia is about the same size as Cotto, and tried to come forward and pressure Margarito and just couldnt the physical size of Tony is something you just have to work around I have no idea how Cotto is going to win this fight, what is he going to bring new? if he brings the mentality that alls he has to do is make it an additional 4:30 seconds, that wont be enough, and it will explain why he brought in an amateur trainer

No, because Marg's best punch is the uppercut. What most people don't understand is that to dedicate yourself you going to the body, you have to get in close and it leaves you exposed for uppercuts. Why would Cotto want to stand and trade with Marg on the inside? Makes no sense. I think Cotto will throw the occasional body shot but I don't think stylistically he will be able to really throw to the body the way he normally wants to. Not necessarily, you can land bodyshots at mid and long range. Pac landed straight lefts to the body and Mosley landed long hooks. You got guys like Floyd, Ward, Dirrell who throw straight punches to the head and body. Cotto just doesn't have that type of skills and coordination.

Look at what kind of fight it was, Margarito kept driving miguel back and when your being pushed back and hit like that with weird shots coming from angles you dont see every day its nearly impossible to set your feet bend those knees and get off with any type of regularity This is very true and another reason Cotto couldn't sit on his shots and really try and hurt Marg. Also, Cotto is a much different fighter going backwards than he is coming forward, just like Marg is.

Look at what kind of fight it was, Margarito kept driving miguel back and when your being pushed back and hit like that with weird shots coming from angles you dont see every day its nearly impossible to set your feet bend those knees and get off with any type of regularity

Yea Cotto "doesn't believe in holding" wants his fighs clean like that. Stupid if you ask me but whatever. Pacquiao landed left straights to the mid section.....Cotto only throws hooks to the body which Margarito picks off with his elbows. If Cotto developed a straight right to the body or fought southpaw and through a straight left to the body, right between his forearms, that could work.

I believe so. I think the setup comes early as he works upstairs to give Tony the sense that the right eye really is the target. Then comes the bombs to the body. Of course I could be wrong but based on the prefight talk I'd say it would seem the likely preliminary strategy.

^ By what I have seen from the Cotto's training video. He is not planning on holding.

that's exactly what I was going to say. Those uppercuts were forcing cotto to keep it to the outside. Granted he was getting hit by them anyway, but I'd imagine he would have got hit with even more if he tried to attack the body. I think the better question is how come cotto didn't clinch? Mosley did it and it worked great for him. Any time Margarito got to close, shane tied him up. Cotto doesn't do that, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to start now. For me the two strategies and adjustments each man can make to help them in this fight are these two: For Cotto: clinch on the inside. Keep Marg pre occupied by holding him and win the rounds from the outside. It will also keep you better rested. For Marg: Use the jab. He comes in so eager to land his shots that he comes in without throwing anything. He's longer than Cotto, use it. Jab, jab, jab to neutralize Cotto's speed advantage.

Seems like Cotto all but abandoned his left hook to the body as he moved up to 147. He put Gomez down with it at 147, but didn't stop him, which probably indicated to him that it wouldn't be the show-stopper it once was at the lower weights. He ended fights with it at 140, but only scored a knockdown with it against a tune-up opponent at 147, so a marquee fighter would probably be even less phased. Also, he TKO'd Foreman with a left hook to the body in their fight, but the announcers were basically selling radio ads during the fight about his left hook to the body making a comeback, and he conveniently started throwing it with regularity that night. Almost as if the fighters were interviewed beforehand by HBO, like usual, and his team was asked if he would try to use the left hook to the body again...

The head was so tempting that he did not even bother to hit the body. Pac hurt Margarito to the body. Cotto should hurt him.

No, because Marg's best punch is the uppercut. What most people don't understand is that to dedicate yourself you going to the body, you have to get in close and it leaves you exposed for uppercuts. Why would Cotto want to stand and trade with Marg on the inside? Makes no sense. I think Cotto will throw the occasional body shot but I don't think stylistically he will be able to really throw to the body the way he normally wants to.

The Gomez fight was the last time i really saw cotto throw good body punches. He threw some good ones vs Mayorga. He also finished Forman with a nice body shot.

The Gomez fight was the last time i really saw cotto throw good body punches.

I think he tried early and couldn't because of the way Margo holds his elbows. Mosley and Pac got to the body off counters and Margo started leaning forward. Whenever Cotto Countered he went to the head. Another thing is that Margo moved his upper body a lot in the first fight. He barley moved at all vs Mosley and Pac. pretty much this, he always keeps his elbows against his body tight

Because Marg kept his elbows low, hence why he got hit in the face so many times.. Plus you have to commit when you go to the body, Cotto didnt want to do that because Marg would be able to return fire more easily.. Plus if you look at it, Cotto couldnt hurt Mosley,Clottey,Pac or Tony to the body.. That devestating body work only works on C fighters and 140lbers.. At 154, Im sure is punches will be even less effective vs Tony.. Barring Tonys eye falling out, I dont see Cotto winning this one

I remember reading somewhere that it was his intention to go to the body, but he just was not able to. Didn't really explain why. If you pay attention to the Mosley and Pacquiao fights (vs Margs), both landed damaging shots to Margarito's long, lean torso. Shots that appeared to have set Margarito back in both fights. With that said, why didn't Cotto go to the body in the first fight? Will he attack the body this time around? I think he tried early and couldn't because of the way Margo holds his elbows. Mosley and Pac got to the body off counters and Margo started leaning forward. Whenever Cotto Countered he went to the head. Another thing is that Margo moved his upper body a lot in the first fight. He barley moved at all vs Mosley and Pac.