Not to try and deflate the hype for December, but...

[Pez]

i don't think it's going to be as great as the first but it will still be action packed. i mean c'mon, it's a mexico vs. puerto rico fight, the best rivalry of all time.

[DoctorD]

Of course it won't be as good as the first, both guys are diminished fighters and the first time around they were essentially fighting for the welterweight crown with Floyd "retired" and Williams at 154. Now they've both been brutalized by Pacman, plus Margarito got beat down by Mosley too. Should be interesting to see the toll those two beatings put on Margarito.

[El Chicano]

If Cotto truly thinks that Margarito cheated in the first fight, he may be in for a similar beating.

[$mannyFresh]

The first fight was incredible and I don't think we truly EXPECT the rematch to be equal or greater but the possibility IS there.

Like someone posted, the circumstances for the rematch are what bring so much intrigue to Dec 3. The other fights that are booked for that date are good, too. I just can't see any boxing fan watching those fights without eagerly looking forward to Cotto-Marg II.

They might not be as good as they were in '08 but then again, they could be just as good (at least in Cotto's case).

... Fights that are hyped as much as this one will be, have an easier route to becoming historic and I think it's ****** to undermine it's significance and how exciting 12/3 will be for boxing fans.

[TintaBoricua]

I like the examples the poster gave initially and have to agree that this could be a let down in regards to expectations. The only way this letdown happens is if one of the guys gets hurt and stopped early. To me the biggest reason why this fight will likely not disappoint is the fact that Margarito truly does know only one way to fight, face first and a tornado of punches. If Cotto can't put that jab on him early and hard make Margs reset and effectively move it will come down to who can break down the other guy first. Not sure if Cotto can win that battle.

I will say this time around I think Cotto will look much better simply because he knows what Margarito brings to the table, he will prepare for it as opposed to last time which I believe he and his team thought they would roll thru a one dimensional Margarito. Problem ended up being that Tony's one dimension is rather deep, with or without plaster.

Cotto said in an interview that he had the longest training camp of his career for his fight with Antonio (12 or 12+ weeks@2:18 in the video)



I'm sure he was physically prepared in that fight. He withstood a lot of punches. The only thing I think they didn't expect was Margarito withstanding so many flush shots himself. Cotto hit with him a lot of clean punches, SNAPPING punches and Margarito was never hurt or wobbled. Any other welter at the time would've crumbled with the type of punches Cotto was consistently landing. Margarito's chin was among the top two or three topics being discussed the following day. He looked damn near indestructible that night...

[Roja's480]

I'm hyped for this fight been wanting to see a rematch since they caught Margarito with his loaded gloves

[Rockin']

Tommy got screwed in the 2nd fight with Leonard, I wouldn't say that it was exciting as the first but it was a damned good fight........Rockin'

[Hougigo]

The fact that arum loaded up on the undercard makes me su****ious that he might know something about the main event possiablly that margs face won't hold up and this will resemble Marq-Vaq IV more than anything else so he's got a safety blanket with the unders.

CONSPIRACY!
Even if the main even blows out... the card got me pumped as crap. If that's not good, least I get Bam Bam ****.

[clmags12]

Cotto/Margs 1 was a great fight!

I have been waiting on this rematch for a while too. Whether people will say either of them have diminishing skills or whatnot, I feel it will not show. This fight is a grudge-match from the start, pride and determination will decide the winner! Hope its a great fight, but if its on par with the 1st- Hellz Yeah!

WarCotto!

[freedom213]

Cotto said in an interview that he had the longest training camp of his career for his fight with Antonio (12 or 12+ weeks@2:18 in the video)



I'm sure he was physically prepared in that fight. He withstood a lot of punches. The only thing I think they didn't expect was Margarito withstanding so many flush shots himself. Cotto hit with him a lot of clean punches, SNAPPING punches and Margarito was never hurt or wobbled. Any other welter at the time would've crumbled with the type of punches Cotto was consistently landing. Margarito's chin was among the top two or three topics being discussed the following day. He looked damn near indestructible that night...

Let me clarify

I dont think Cotto or his camp prepared mentally for what was in store with Margarito. Margarito is slow and is like a bullseye on a shooting range but he is tough as nails, just keeps throwing punches and has a few more skills than many give him credit for. They never realized that Margarito would be able to endure as well as he did and as I have seen Cotto do in the past against other pressure opponents he thought he could ropadope, box on the back foot and still get the job done without getting hurt himself. Hopefully Cotto learned a good lesson, languishing on the ropes like that just gets you unnecessary punishment.

Things I think will be different this go round

Cotto is more acclimated to 154, used to the gloves, used to the weight, had time for his game to adjust to the differences

Tony will be even bigger but so will Cotto

Is Tony damaged goods cause that was the worst beating I have seen in a long while

Steward has improved Cotto's jab and his ring generalship

Wraps will be good

Both may have better trainers at this point



I hate to hang a prediction on whether Margs was loaded up that night but I have to stay consistent, the guy's own trainer admitted that he always wrapped Tony's hands the same way, I'll take that to mean inserts in place. Even with the mistakes Cotto made that night I think had Tony not had the inserts and plaster the outcome would have been a much less painful and disappointing experience for Cotto. Same thing goes this time around but I see Cotto squeezing out a tough UD