Larry Merchant: Margarito had loaded gloves so I give Cotto a pass for that loss

[Iceta]

After watching Cotto's greatest hits on HBO on demand I do come to the conclusion he was beaten up by loaded gloves. But even still, we have to assume that Margarito cheated even before that fight. So to me, when people keep using that as an excuse for Cotto's loss, they need to give someone like Paul Williams credit for outboxing and outlasting him. There is a possibility that the plaster started to harden and the result being that fight becoming competitive in the late rounds.

[2nd Round KO]

Anyone with 1/2 brain knows that Cotto's loss has an asterisk next to it. How different the fight would have been is a whole other matter, but at the end of the day if anyone is naive enough to think marg cheated vs. mosley only, when he was a 3-1 favourite & not cheat vs. Cotto when he was a heavy underdog...well really ive got nothing to say. ill just smile n shake my head.

You're a better man than I am. I try to ignore it but I can't.

[johnm is...]

Does he give everyone else on Margarito's resume a pass as well? Or is this just one big circle jerk around Cotto?

I'm not saying the guy didn't cheat against Cotto. I believe he might have. But good luck proving it. A loss is a loss. And Cotto's forever got one.

[Vivid Intent]

If I had to guess I'd say he started using loaded wraps because of the loss to Williams.

[2nd Round KO]

No need to prove it if you use this little thing called common sense.

[120]

If I had to guess I'd say he started using loaded wraps because of the loss to Williams.

I'd say the same....

But this is a dead end and needs to be buried. He will never admit he loaded his gloves.

[johnm is...]

No need to prove it if you use this little thing called common sense.

Common sense should tell you that you'll never know the truth. And that everyone should get over it.

[Spirit]

Show me a pic of Floyd quitting in a fight and I'll remove him from my sig.

Not trying to discredit Floyd here, but when has Floyd ever faced a puncher like Margarito, loaded gloves or not. We dont know how Floyd would have faired against him just like we dont know if Margarito cheated in that fight. One can only assume he did, because it was the biggest fight of his life, but you know that already

[Vivid Intent]

I'd say the same....

But this is a dead end and needs to be buried. He will never admit he loaded his gloves.

Yeah, there's nothing can be done so it is what it is, a controversial loss.

[Mojita]

Cotto basically takes the loss as what it is - a loss.

He said himself he fought a poor fight and Margarito was the better fighter that night - it should be really matter what the fighter says to his loss. He admits his loss, point blank.

Do I think Margarito had loaded gloves? of course, but Cotto doesn't lose sleep over it and is on track to rebound while the other is at home banned.

point blank