Graham Houston changes his tune after seeing Cotto and Margarito on site.

[damian5000]

Saturday on-site notes: Margarito looked so much taller than Cotto at Friday's weigh-in, so strong and so confident, that I am now veering back to my original thoughts of Cotto by decision rather than a possible stoppage. Interestingly, at the MGM Grand sports book the Cotto by KO TKO or DQ proposition opened at +180 and had been bet down to +120 at one point, so someone hit the line quite hard, I would imagine. Emanuel Steward told me he likes Cotto in the fight but, like everyone, feels that this is a very dangerous fight for him. He reminded me that Cotto had a good result against the much taller Kelson Pinto -- but Pinto is no Margarito. "I spoke with Cotto," Steward said, "and he told me he thinks he can outbox Margarito but he knows that at some stage he is going to have to stand and fight the man." ... Cotto was a -260 favourite at the MGM sports book as of this morning. He opened at -170, was bet up to -270, then money showed for Margarito. ... The prevailing mood around the media centre was that if Cotto wins it will be by decision, if Margarito wins it will be by KO. However, one player, from Los Angeles, told me he was betting Margarito by decison at +500. "Everyone thinks Margarito has to stop Cotto to win, but I think he will outwork him by throwing many more punches," the player told me. ... Fred Sternburg, the ace publicist, meanwhile was thinking on the lines of a Hagler-Hearns three-round war. ... One thing I do know, no matter how long the fight lasts, it will be exciting.

Full writeup here: http://www.fightwriter.com/?q=node/1783

[The Gambler1981]

Houston always has great articles for gamblers prefight. It is to be expected that Cotto got bet up but he never got as high as i figured he would. Margarito at +500 for a decision win is an interesting bet though but the standard wisdom has that as the least likely outcome. +120 for Cotto knocking out Margarito is a suprising number it would tough to bet on that number even +180 i would have a lot of reservations.

I didn't bet on this fight though the numbers were never to my liking.

[Kball15]

Yea im gong with Cotto by UD as well. He didnt pick a new winner, just how Cotto was going to win.

Margarito has an iron chin. Cotto doesnt hit hard enough to really hurt Margarito badly, so i think at worst, Marg takes a beat and Cotto wins a lopsided decision. At best, Cotto wins a razor thin decision with some very shaky moments.

Cant wait

[Mr. Ryan]

I still can't pick a winner definite because as good as Cotto is, he has flaws that have been exposed in spots, but he usually finds ways to win nonetheless. Cotto will lose some time in his career because of his inability to get away from right hands and tendency to negate the jab, but I think he'll have enough to win this fight.

Margarito has the perfect style to exploit some of his shortcomings, it's just hard to overlook Margarito's own defensive liabilities. Someone asked me who the toughest guy in boxing was and I said it was between Glen Johnson and Margarito. Then I pointed out how I felt Margarito was tougher because unlike Johnson, he has very little defense, he just takes the punches very well.

You can't take them well all night though.