On This Day: Antonio Margarito scored tainted win over Miguel Cotto
Miguel Cotto controversially lost his unbeaten record to a ferocious Antonio Margarito on July 26, 2008
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This fight had a tagline “La Batalla” (The Battle) that ultimately proved apt, although for the first five rounds it resembled more a scintillating procession as Cotto used speed and precision to dictate. However, Margarito gradually forced his opponent to fight at a pace he was uncomfortable with, creating his best chance for victory and an enthralling fight into the bargain.
Cotto was the undefeated East Coast draw coming into his prime, having won world titles at two weights. Margarito was the gnarled, perennially underrated former IBF and WBO welter king who had lost to Paul Williams just three fights before. This was thought to be Cotto’s coming-out party in Sin City.
It certainly began in that manner, as the Puerto Rican hero danced and dazzled his way to an early lead but, ominously, the shots he’d used to destroy fighters in two divisions simply bounced off the durable Margarito.
“Tony” bullied his way back into an absorbing contest with a concerted body attack and intelligent aggression. His cutting down of Cotto’s space forced myriad exciting exchanges that Margarito gradually got the better of as his prey tired. Margarito hurt Cotto in the seventh and 10th before eventually knocking him down twice in the 11th to force Miguel’s uncle and trainer Evangelista Cotto to throw in the towel at 2-05.
“The game plan was to come out strong and to wear him down and knock him out. I got him with body shots, and then I hit him in the head, and then knocked him out,” said Margarito.
The loser has enjoyed a brighter future, adding a light-middle strap and gaining one-sided revenge over Margarito, before halting world middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in June this year to cement his place in history. Antonio was swathed in controversy after being discovered with doctored handwraps before his next fight, a loss to Shane Mosley, and he retired after Cotto battered him to defeat in their 2011 rematch.
Margarito made a comeback in March of 2016 with a lucklustre decision over Jorge Paez Jnr.
It was never proven that he cheated vs Cotto. But if he did cheat, we can chalk it up to payback for the times Trinidad was KOing people with his loaded gloves.
LOL take it easy there.
How could Margarito claim he didn't know his trainer was outing hardening substances on his wraps. And the comish believed him?
I think he knew for years and did it because he liked winning.
Cotto has always seemed a Diva, and a bit over rated in my opinion. He was notorious for using low blows to take control of fights earlier in his career. I don't respect that *****. I was glad when Margarito made him his b!tch in front of him family.
Tainted or not
It was one of the greatest fights of the past decade or so.. Huge fight that lived up to all the hype. A PPv fight that was worth the money. Great fight with a dramatic, iconic ending.
it wasnt a tainted victory. Even a shot to **** margarito caused miguel problems in the rematch.
Right by landing 9 punches and saying silly ***** like, "you hit like a girl, Miguel!"
"Cotto hits harder than Margarito..." ~ Shane Mosley :peeright:
what's your take on it?
is he a cheater? was it blown out of proportion? was it cotto fighting the wrong fight?
Let me put it this way, I don't have a problem with people who believe he cheated against Cotto. It's difficult to just give him benefit of doubt knowing what we know surrounding the Mosley fight.
But there's just no evidence to a claim that Margarito was 'always a cheat' and so on. And if the commission would have caught him definitely with plastered wraps, he would have been banned for life.
As for the fight, I believe it made a factor that Cotto broke his nose early on(?) and couldn't breath normally/swallowed blood. Margarito was just a tough, tough customer and he wore him down.
The controversy was not whether Margarito had plaster in his wraps preparing for the Mosley fight. That is a proven fact. The commission had no way of proving he used the plaster for previous wins and could not prove Margarito had knowledge that his trainer was putting it on his hands. That is why Margarito only got a year suspension. If he was caught after a fight with the plaster he would have been suspended for life.
Excellent. Green't
The controversy was not whether Margarito had plaster in his wraps preparing for the Mosley fight. That is a proven fact. The commission had no way of proving he used the plaster for previous wins and could not prove Margarito had knowledge that his trainer was putting it on his hands. That is why Margarito only got a year suspension. If he was caught after a fight with the plaster he would have been suspended for life.
Your right, he only cheated for one fight in his entire career, only one.
No, you're right. Cotto took a beating for 11 rounds with plaster gloves and had no permanent injuries. FOH
"Tainted" LMAO :lol1: its hilarious how Cotto fans try to act like the handwrap controversy happened during the Margarito vs Cotto fight
Your right, he only cheated for one fight in his entire career, only one.
You get caught cheating, and the credibility of your entire career gets called into question. I've got no issues with it being deemed a tainted win.
We do the same for boxers that fail drug tests.
9y ago
On This Day: Margarito scored tainted win over Cotto | BoxingScene Community