Post Fight Analysis: Margarito vs Cotto

[!! Shawn]

First off, I would like to congratulate both fighters on a great fight.

From the opening round, I was confident this fight was going to unfold exactly as I expected. Miguel was going to work his four corners defense, and Margarito was going to be massively outclassed and brutalized.

Needless to say, I was right.

However, what I did not expect was for Miguel Cotto to make two fatal mistakes.

1) Neglecting body work.
2) Trying to knock Antonio Margarito out.

I was astonished! Miguel Cotto of all people should know the importance of body work. Infact, the momentum of the fight changed in the middle rounds when Antonio Margarito started to invest in a solid body attack.

By neglecting to invest in a solid attack to the body, Miguel Cotto did not tax Margarito's stamina, and did not limit his punch output in the later rounds.

Boxing 101 tells us that if you are on the ropes and your opponent is throwing punches, you go to the body. It brings down your opponents hands, and stops the barrage. Miguel Cotto instead traded upstairs, which brings us to our next critical error on the part of Miguel Cotto.

Miguel Cotto tried to knock Antonio Margarito out. The one fact that was not disputed in the lead up to this fight was Antonio Margarito's chin. Unloading powerful punches on the chin of Margarito is simply wasting your energy.

This is what Miguel Cotto did. Every punch was thrown with malice and knockout written all over it. Round after round, Miguel Cotto WASTED his energy throwing HARD punches at Margarito's chin.

There IS a reason why classically boxers are not punchers. It is not that they cannot punch, it is that in order to have the energy box and stay away for 12 rounds, you cannot waste your energy trying to knock your opponent out.

Miguel fell into this trap. He tried to knock Margarito out while boxing. The result? Cotto ran out of energy in the later rounds.

I do not fell that Cotto running out of energy had much if anything to do with Margarito's work rate as Cotto appeared relaxed, and expended very little energy defending against the onslaught. He simply punched himself out.

Had Miguel invested his energy in a body attack, I feel the fight would have taken a dramatically different path.

While Margarito won, and I give him all the credit in the world, he showed why he will never be able to beat Paul Williams.

Round after rounds Margarito did the same thing. Round after rounds Cotto brutally beat him. Round after round, Margarito failed to adapt. Against a fighter like Paul Williams who can sustain his work rate for all 12 rounds, Margarito has no answers. He does not adapt, and is inherently unskilled.

With that said. Margarito is one ****ing tough son of a *****. A true WARRIOR. Nobody is going to knock him out, and anyone that tries is going to lose.

In order to beat Margarito, you have to take a page out of the book of Paul Williams. Pity Pat your way to victory.

[!! Shawn]

This is also an absolute disaster for boxing.

[Burner]

No Cottos fatal mistake was not clinching.....he looked like a lost rookie.

[!! Shawn]

No Cottos fatal mistake was not clinching.....he looked like a lost rookie.

Clinching would not have been required if he did not punch himself into exhaustion.

[MaFu MoFo]

first Off, I Would Like To Congratulate Both Fighters On A Great Fight.

From The Opening Round, I Was Confident This Fight Was Going To Unfold Exactly As I Expected. Miguel Was Going To Work His Four Corners Defense, And Margarito Was Going To Be Massively Outclassed And Brutalized.

Needless To Say, I Was Right.

However, What I Did Not Expect Was For Miguel Cotto To Make Two Fatal Mistakes.

1) Neglecting Body Work.
2) Trying To Knock Antonio Margarito Out.

I Was Astonished! Miguel Cotto Of All People Should Know The Importance Of Body Work. Infact, The Momentum Of The Fight Changed In The Middle Rounds When Antonio Margarito Started To Invest In A Solid Body Attack.

By Neglecting To Invest In A Solid Attack To The Body, Miguel Cotto Did Not Tax Margarito's Stamina, And Did Not Limit His Punch Output In The Later Rounds.

Boxing 101 Tells Us That If You Are On The Ropes And Your Opponent Is Throwing Punches, You Go To The Body. It Brings Down Your Opponents Hands, And Stops The Barrage. Miguel Cotto Instead Traded Upstairs, Which Brings Us To Our Next Critical Error On The Part Of Miguel Cotto.

Miguel Cotto Tried To Knock Antonio Margarito Out. The One Fact That Was Not Disputed In The Lead Up To This Fight Was Antonio Margarito's Chin. Unloading Powerful Punches On The Chin Of Margarito Is Simply Wasting Your Energy.

This Is What Miguel Cotto Did. Every Punch Was Thrown With Malice And Knockout Written All Over It. Round After Round, Miguel Cotto Wasted His Energy Throwing Hard Punches At Margarito's Chin.

There Is A Reason Why Classically Boxers Are Not Punchers. It Is Not That They Cannot Punch, It Is That In Order To Have The Energy Box And Stay Away For 12 Rounds, You Cannot Waste Your Energy Trying To Knock Your Opponent Out.

Miguel Fell Into This Trap. He Tried To Knock Margarito Out While Boxing. The Result? Cotto Ran Out Of Energy In The Later Rounds.

I Do Not Fell That Cotto Running Out Of Energy Had Much If Anything To Do With Margarito's Work Rate As Cotto Appeared Relaxed, And Expended Very Little Energy Defending Against The Onslaught. He Simply Punched Himself Out.

Had Miguel Invested His Energy In A Body Attack, I Feel The Fight Would Have Taken A Dramatically Different Path.

While Margarito Won, And I Give Him All The Credit In The World, He Showed Why He Will Never Be Able To Beat Paul Williams.

Round After Rounds Margarito Did The Same Thing. Round After Rounds Cotto Brutally Beat Him. Round After Round, Margarito Failed To Adapt. Against A Fighter Like Paul Williams Who Can Sustain His Work Rate For All 12 Rounds, Margarito Has No Answers. He Does Not Adapt, And Is Inherently Unskilled.

With That Said. Margarito Is One ****ing Tough Son Of A *****. A True Warrior. Nobody Is Going To Knock Him Out, And Anyone That Tries Is Going To Lose.

In Order To Beat Margarito, You Have To Take A Page Out Of The Book Of Paul Williams. Pity Pat Your Way To Victory.

Very Well Said.

[!! Shawn]

Very Well Said.

Thanks. I am still surprised at how good Margo's chin is.

[1pretty boy1]

has anyone link for this fight?

[{}MATADOR{}]

Margarito is KING!

[Silencers]

Good post.

I was surprised as well, I expected Cotto to come out using his jab and moving like he did but also to pick his shots to the body to try and slow Margarito down a bit down the stretch, the big key in this fight for Cotto was his versatiliy, unfortunately, he didn't use much versatility, he really should have mixed up his punches more.

But I take no credit away from Margarito, he got hit by some serious shots from Cotto and just kept going like they were nothing and he eventually caught up with Cotto when Cotto started to slow down in the mid rounds, Margarito was doing some nice body work as well as pressuring Cotto along the ropes and it took a lot of energy away from Cotto. Margarito showed a lot of will and determination.

Very good performance from both of them, the better man won. Hopefully, Cotto can come back OK from this loss.

[!! Shawn]

Good post.

I was surprised as well, I expected Cotto to come out using his jab and moving like he did but also to pick his shots to the body to try and slow Margarito down a bit down the stretch, the big key in this fight for Cotto was his versatiliy, unfortunately, he didn't use much versatility, he really should have mixed up his punches more.

But I take no credit away from Margarito, he got hit by some serious shots from Cotto and just kept going like they were nothing and he eventually caught up with Cotto when Cotto started to slow down in the mid rounds, Margarito was doing some nice body work as well as pressuring Cotto along the ropes and it took a lot of energy away from Cotto. Margarito showed a lot of will and determination.

Very good performance from both of them, the better man won. Hopefully, Cotto can come back OK from this loss.

I think Margarito really mind ****s people. He is so incredibly easy to hit upstairs that people just get ****** into beating on his face trying to knock him out. I honestly can't remember one fighter that put forth a good body attack against Margo. I fully expected Cotto to do it. I have no idea why he didn't other than what I just mentioned. Margo is so easy to hit upstairs people take it.

If Cotto had expended all the energy on a body attack, I believe we would be singing a different tune right now.

Good job to Margarito for getting the win, but he did not win that fight, Cotto lost it. There was no Margarito breaking Cotto down, or Cotto getting punished.

The whole fight was Cotto outclassing Margarito. Cotto lost that fight. It is 100% his fault. He failed to implement that game plan that was needed to win.

Hopefully Cotto learns a valuable lesson from this fight. It was a learning experience because he didn't take that much punishment, but he learned a valuable lesson about conserving energy, and choosing which punches you need to throw.