Looking Back on Cotto vs Margarito, what did you think of this matchup?

[El 7 Mares V.2]

I called Margarito beating Cotto, proved I was right. Margarito had been waiting for this kind of fight throughout all of his career, there was no way he was going down after all the hard work he had put in.

This was a huge fight for both men, and it turned out to be one of the greatest Welterweight fights of all time. Seeing Cotto land those bombs the first half of the fight was downright scary, but Margarito's resilence to continue pressing foward and put in work while absorbing those kind of shots was not human.

[IMDAZED]

I always knew that it would be fireworks. But I remember picking Miguel Cotto though. I thought that his boxing talent would win him the fight although Tony was a tough, rugged fighter.

But, I vividly remember Cotto landing some BOMBS and Tony just didn't stop coming forward, I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing. Tony landed some huge shots as well too though. One of the best fights I've seen, but the damage done to both fighters is apparent.

Back in 2006, I ordered Margarito's career collection. After sitting through all those fights, I knew exactly why no welter dared mention his name. His chin was godly - what a mind**** on Cotto to land those punches and watch Tony sneer before jogging forward.

[borikua]

I though it was going to be the best Puerto Rico vs. Mexico match in decades, at it was. Cotto landed so much clean bombs on Margarito that it was unreal...

Margarito will always have an (*) on this win since he got caught trying to cheat on his very next fight against what everyone though was a less risky opponent.

[savorduhflavor]

I thought Cotto would be able to outpoint him.

Controversey aside, Tony earned that fight. He did great body work early in the fight and he fought the right fight in order to beat Cotto.

What an incredible fight though. They ended the elite part of each other's careers that night.

[Toney Loc]

I was laughed at when I picked Tony by 9th round TKO.

[cleaner147]

I was laughed at when I picked Tony by 9th round TKO.

lmfao gtfo now.

[DARKSEID]

I thought it would be Cotto by decision. I was a fan of both, but before Shane Mosley, I always thought Margarito was like.. unstoppable. I've seen him take the worst shots anyone has ever taken and just keep moving forward, never backing up.

But I thought Cotto could slow him down(not knock him out, but slow him down), at the time I thought Cotto was the hardest puncher at 147. And even though I knew Margarito and his pressure would start getting to Cotto in the later rounds, but I felt Cotto could win enough of the early rounds and outbox/survive until the end to pull the decision.

My heart started dropping when cotto started gassing out and more and more short uppercuts started to get in(btw, to anyone that's never boxed, it's those short, inside shots that are the most painful- especially if it's a hook or uppercut)

[TOBYLEE1]

I was a big fan of both guys but favored Margo cause he had the better resume at WW and came in with a lot of momentum. Cotto didn't go to the body and didn't hold him when he had to.

At the present time I don't credit Margo with anything proven cheater and cheated the public. As a boxing fan I can't endorse ppl like him and especially when he refuses to come clean about the accusations of the Mosley fight. It is a disgrace that he is getting a huge payday cause it is riding on the controversy of the handwraps

[Horvo]

The part that shocked me then, and now when I rewatch it, is how easily Margo walked through Cotto's shots. Regardless of handwrap insert or no insert, that is what determined the fight. Cotto simply couldn't hurt or even slow Margo down. I just think Cotto is the perfect opponent for Margo, just like Margo is the perfect opponent for Mosley. If they were to fight again I would put heavy money down on Margo destroying him again.

[SCEN3RY]

Good stuff
For those of you who picked Cotto...today, do you feel like Cotto lost b/c of Margarito's possible use of plaster or is it just a case of styles make fights?

Myself - since Margs got caught, I've watched the fight again, and maybe he had plaster in his wraps...somebody once said, 'of course, it looks like Margarito's punches are slow, he's throwing bricks around, how fast do you expect him to be?' But Cotto just fought the wrong gameplan, he kept kneeling his head, Margs kept connecting on uppercuts. Lackluster defense & movement, he was caught against the ropes too often...Margarito kept pressing forward, and if he had actually used plaster of paris in his wraps then that obviously played a big role in breaking Cotto down, ultimately leading him to a victory.