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I don't think I've ever enjoyed it this much. Just wanted to say that I'm damn hyped for the rematch. I also realized I no longer hold a grudge against Margarito (heartwarming, I know). That doesn't mean I don't think he cheated, but you really have to appreciate the crude yet ballsy fighter he is. Seriously man, that guy has an excess of balls (King Kong sized nuts and a third testicle under his right eye after the Pac fight).
That being said, I'm pissed the fight was postponed (damn you Pac... or rather, damn you Cole). I was really looking forward to enjoying it during my summer break away from all stress from classes, but I guess a weekend is just as good.
As for the fight itself, I honestly have no clue what to expect, but if it's half as good as the first one it'll be well worth the money. I honestly see a rough night for both. I usually find myself thinking Miguel will fatigue and end up same as last time, but then I remember how much of a role his broken nose played in that fight and the fact he seems to fight at a slower pace now. Then again we haven't seen him forced to keep pressure off in a while, so while beneficial in terms of stamina, the slower pace may have adverse effects stylwise. On top of that is the fact that Pac gave him a worse beating, and as hurt as he was, he wasn't tired (he was running all over the place). Of course that was also likely a product of Marg's bodywork. Still, that broken nose from round 2 can't be ignored. Then there's the chin, I honestly think his chin has improved somewhat at 154, he didn't take HUGE punches in his last fight, but he got caught clean once or twice from a heavy handed Mayorga (No one can tell for certain whether he was hurt or not, but if he was, he didn't lose his cool).
Then I turn to Margarito and realize his current form is an equally big enigma. While its true he showed tremendous pressure and resiliency against Manny, it may not be a matter of chin or will anymore. As many have pointed out, broken bones tend to mend stronger than before, but they seem to forget that huge-ass cut under his eye. Those don't heal, at least not quick enough. Look at Cotto, post Margarito (plaster or not, it was a beating). While the Clottey and Pac fight would warrant cuts and swelling, he was bruised against Foreman, and scratched up by the end of the first round against Mayorga. The observation: It takes neither strong (Foreman) nor consistent (Mayorga) punching to bruise badly damaged tissue. Assuming the rematch follows the busy pace of the first one, there WILL be cuts and/or swelling, possibly on both fighters; the ref will more than likely play a big role.
Other than that, Marg's stamina and will are still there, and he will make it rough. Although I kinda have to wonder why he was backing up and boxing against Garcia. You could argue that he was just coming off the layoff and had to work off the ring rust, or just get some rounds in (although if that was the case he could have probably stepped it up late in the fight and stopped the guy in the 12th ). While that is probably it, that somehow leads me to my next argument.
The bodywork. It was a huge asset for Marg the first time around, but as Mosley and Pac showed, he can be severely slowed down by a good body shot himself. The few shots that I remember he got hurt were just big single punches, it wasn't really consistent bodywork (at least as I recall, specifically with Pac). Cotto did mention after the first fight, the reason he went head hunting was because he couldn't work his way to the body, but evidently, it can be done, so I expect this to be something Steward works on.
Then there are the intangibles. 154 just seems to fit Marg better, he looked like a monster against Pac. Cotto on the other hand looks kinda chubby. I know looks aren't everything, but that's why I'm listing this as intangible. Then there's the power. Cotto really hasn't shown much pop at 154 , but then again, neither has Marg (I won't go into into plaster speculations for the sake of objectivity). Yes he hurt Pac with two bodyshots, but IMHO those were freebies as Pac got tangled up in that thing that vertically holds the ropes together (whatever its called). We know Pac shook those off rather quickly, so either Manny played it off and carried on like a trooper, or Marg's power isn't all that and those reports of Manny lying down in pain were bull. Finally, there's the mental edge, which clearly goes to Marg. I do think Cotto somewhat intimidated by the guy BUT, that's just a gut feeling, I think his reaction during the Mayorga post presser was just him being legitimately pissed off (mainly at Arum, and to a lesser degree maybe Marg).
I just noticed I seemed to favor Marg on all the intangibles; likely cause I tend to fear for my guys whenever one of them fights. Objectively, I think Cotto has it in him to win it (and this I realized just now while writing this post). I find it hard to make a clear prediction, as cuts on either guy complicates things. I will say this, it could end for either guy on TKO via cuts/swelling, or a decision. The fight would play out mostly like the first, except Cotto doesn't gas, at least not as badly as the first time, which would lead a close decision assuming Marg steps it up late as he usually does. Im not trying to downplay Marg's bodywork, but I think it was ultimately Cotto's broken nose and the swallowed blood that slowed him down, so even should Marg rally late in the fight, Cotto could probably run like he did against Pac and preserve the early lead he would have likely built up, or lose a close decision as Marg takes the late rounds. Either way, I don't see a knockout unless is on cuts/swelling. Just my two cents.
I have spoken, lets get it on!!!
That being said, I'm pissed the fight was postponed (damn you Pac... or rather, damn you Cole). I was really looking forward to enjoying it during my summer break away from all stress from classes, but I guess a weekend is just as good.
As for the fight itself, I honestly have no clue what to expect, but if it's half as good as the first one it'll be well worth the money. I honestly see a rough night for both. I usually find myself thinking Miguel will fatigue and end up same as last time, but then I remember how much of a role his broken nose played in that fight and the fact he seems to fight at a slower pace now. Then again we haven't seen him forced to keep pressure off in a while, so while beneficial in terms of stamina, the slower pace may have adverse effects stylwise. On top of that is the fact that Pac gave him a worse beating, and as hurt as he was, he wasn't tired (he was running all over the place). Of course that was also likely a product of Marg's bodywork. Still, that broken nose from round 2 can't be ignored. Then there's the chin, I honestly think his chin has improved somewhat at 154, he didn't take HUGE punches in his last fight, but he got caught clean once or twice from a heavy handed Mayorga (No one can tell for certain whether he was hurt or not, but if he was, he didn't lose his cool).
Then I turn to Margarito and realize his current form is an equally big enigma. While its true he showed tremendous pressure and resiliency against Manny, it may not be a matter of chin or will anymore. As many have pointed out, broken bones tend to mend stronger than before, but they seem to forget that huge-ass cut under his eye. Those don't heal, at least not quick enough. Look at Cotto, post Margarito (plaster or not, it was a beating). While the Clottey and Pac fight would warrant cuts and swelling, he was bruised against Foreman, and scratched up by the end of the first round against Mayorga. The observation: It takes neither strong (Foreman) nor consistent (Mayorga) punching to bruise badly damaged tissue. Assuming the rematch follows the busy pace of the first one, there WILL be cuts and/or swelling, possibly on both fighters; the ref will more than likely play a big role.
Other than that, Marg's stamina and will are still there, and he will make it rough. Although I kinda have to wonder why he was backing up and boxing against Garcia. You could argue that he was just coming off the layoff and had to work off the ring rust, or just get some rounds in (although if that was the case he could have probably stepped it up late in the fight and stopped the guy in the 12th ). While that is probably it, that somehow leads me to my next argument.
The bodywork. It was a huge asset for Marg the first time around, but as Mosley and Pac showed, he can be severely slowed down by a good body shot himself. The few shots that I remember he got hurt were just big single punches, it wasn't really consistent bodywork (at least as I recall, specifically with Pac). Cotto did mention after the first fight, the reason he went head hunting was because he couldn't work his way to the body, but evidently, it can be done, so I expect this to be something Steward works on.
Then there are the intangibles. 154 just seems to fit Marg better, he looked like a monster against Pac. Cotto on the other hand looks kinda chubby. I know looks aren't everything, but that's why I'm listing this as intangible. Then there's the power. Cotto really hasn't shown much pop at 154 , but then again, neither has Marg (I won't go into into plaster speculations for the sake of objectivity). Yes he hurt Pac with two bodyshots, but IMHO those were freebies as Pac got tangled up in that thing that vertically holds the ropes together (whatever its called). We know Pac shook those off rather quickly, so either Manny played it off and carried on like a trooper, or Marg's power isn't all that and those reports of Manny lying down in pain were bull. Finally, there's the mental edge, which clearly goes to Marg. I do think Cotto somewhat intimidated by the guy BUT, that's just a gut feeling, I think his reaction during the Mayorga post presser was just him being legitimately pissed off (mainly at Arum, and to a lesser degree maybe Marg).
I just noticed I seemed to favor Marg on all the intangibles; likely cause I tend to fear for my guys whenever one of them fights. Objectively, I think Cotto has it in him to win it (and this I realized just now while writing this post). I find it hard to make a clear prediction, as cuts on either guy complicates things. I will say this, it could end for either guy on TKO via cuts/swelling, or a decision. The fight would play out mostly like the first, except Cotto doesn't gas, at least not as badly as the first time, which would lead a close decision assuming Marg steps it up late as he usually does. Im not trying to downplay Marg's bodywork, but I think it was ultimately Cotto's broken nose and the swallowed blood that slowed him down, so even should Marg rally late in the fight, Cotto could probably run like he did against Pac and preserve the early lead he would have likely built up, or lose a close decision as Marg takes the late rounds. Either way, I don't see a knockout unless is on cuts/swelling. Just my two cents.
I have spoken, lets get it on!!!
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