My take on Margarito-Cotto after re-watching it...

[_original_]

Something was always fishy about that fight, it just didn't make sense. It made for an amazing fight and one which will probably be remembered for decades to come, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking both fighters were on even grounds. All the unanswered questions were answered the fateful night where Margarito stepped into the ring with Shane Mosley.

It hurts to look at this fight this way cause it stops me from fully analyzing it, but I'm a realest.

[Bushbaby]

Yeah,Cotto's straight back retreat to the ropes is what won the fight for Margarito & his inability to clinch when necessary.If Cotto learns to clinch with Stewart coupled with my opinion that Margarito is more shot than him,he's gonna win the rematch.Margarito has eaten flush shots from Cotto,Mosley a bum & then Pacman,his chin isn't taken much more.

[jaskieee]

Cotto had very poor footwork and was constantly on the ropes eating those uppercuts, but I think Margarito's chin scared the **** out of him, he hit him with his best and it didn't faze Marg. It was awesome when Pac rocked Marg.

This is my take, I dont know whether Margarito had loaded gloves or not but regardless, Cotto wasnt hurting him.

[jazluvr]

If there is any truth about Stewards comments about Cotto's right arm that is recovering from surgery, we are going to see a MUCh different fight.

On the other hand, look at the Clottey fight with Cotto. Cotto was ****in' away with bombs with both hands. I saw no sign of a weaker right arm...i honestly don't know what's up with that statement.

[Mojita]

Had Cotto been smart to stay off the ropes and not take much punishment like he did when he was on them and clinched a little he would have probably made the 12th round.

It doesn't help Marg busted his nose in Round 2 to hinder his breathing, if it hadn't been for that i think he would have a better time, though Margarito would have surely still kept coming.

and anyway, everyone was confident on Cotto when the rematch was suppose to be in 09 anyway. He just needed to avoid uppercuts, stay off the ropes and THATS IT. Two things and he would walk away the winner and probably 8 rounds in a boxing match, but Cotto's ego got in the way thinking his left hook attack would slow Marg down. Even though, he did damage Margarito that night.

[freedom213]

moving forward every fighter's team facing Margarito will be on him prefight about what seemed to give him his edge, energy pills and illegal wraps. Watching his fights from the past now it is pretty evident that mr unstoppable was jacked to high heaven and whether he knew it or not was operating with a loaded weapon. If Cotto continues to look improved under Steward I see him beating down Margarto in their rematch.

[freedom213]

Had Cotto been smart to stay off the ropes and not take much punishment like he did when he was on them and clinched a little he would have probably made the 12th round.

It doesn't help Marg busted his nose in Round 2 to hinder his breathing, if it hadn't been for that i think he would have a better time, though Margarito would have surely still kept coming.

and anyway, everyone was confident on Cotto when the rematch was suppose to be in 09 anyway. He just needed to avoid uppercuts, stay off the ropes and THATS IT. Two things and he would walk away the winner and probably 8 rounds in a boxing match, but Cotto's ego got in the way thinking his left hook attack would slow Marg down. Even though, he did damage Margarito that night.

It's undeniable Cotto made a lot of mistakes strategy wise that really hurt him. His constant habit of leaning forward and going to the ropes/backwards is probably all he would need.

[freedom213]

This is my take, I dont know whether Margarito had loaded gloves or not but regardless, Cotto wasnt hurting him.

Moving backwards most of the time when punching will take the steam out of most anyone's punches. Cotto will have to mix up boxing with standing his ground and he will have to work the body no excuses, thats how both Pac Mosley ultimately hurt Margarito.

[Spray_resistant]

well I remember the fight clearly and came away with the same feeling as you. I said from the 2nd round on it was clearly Margarito's fight, unlike alot of others think. Even when he wasnt winning the round, you could just tell which guy was in control and which guy was basically landing out of desperation. I could see Margarito easily doing that again.

With that being said, I do disagree with you on the plaster thing. You may be 100% right but you cant be certain about that plaster thing making no difference. If he doesnt have that extra power then maybe Cotto isnt fighting out of desperation. Maybe he can stay more, trade more, or take more punishment without every punch feeling like death.

Cotto landed a ton in that fight but he never ever commited to any of his punches. He never dug in because he wanted to get out. Mosley dug in. If Margarito doesnt have that plaster then maybe Cotto digs in with those punches more. It could go either way for me in that regard

Who knows what could have happened or what really did happen that night, in any case the whole plaster thing takes away from the fact that this fight was a modern classic and I hope we do see the rematch and we can come to some conclusions based on what happens there.

[Rome-By-Ko]

If Cotto clinches in this fight he wins..IMO Cotto is one of the better fighters of his time and has fought so many great fighters,I always felt he did not like pressure and if they fight again I see the same thing happening..But Stewart may have something up his sleeve for Marga's,hopefully a better game plan..