Something I thought about when looking back on the Cotto/Margarito Face off

[TintaBoricua]

You all know how I give credit where credit is due and I strive to look at things objectively. I say this because most likely I'll have my PR posters get on my case for this, but whatever...it is what it is.

In the Cotto-Margarito face-off, there comes a point where Max is addressing Margarito and telling him that he proved something in the Pacquiao fight; that he was still a tough fighter who never gave up no matter how bleak the situation looked. He gives Margarito credit for hanging in there, despite taking an inordinate amount of punishment.

Max then turns to Cotto and asks him the following: (click video already at the time mark)



Cotto gives his answer and criticizes Margarito, saying more or less that his stubborness is what caused him to receive serious injuries (or worse). He goes on to say, "My health is the most important thing in my life..."

In between the lines, what he's saying is "If you're getting beat up badly (sustaining serious injury) and have no shot anymore, give it up."

If that's the case, why the hell did he take unnecessary punishment from rounds 8-12 in the Pacquiao fight (which was when Pacquiao had the shift stick in 5)? You could say he was still TRYING to make it sort of a fight, but after round 9 (when Cotto's wife left the arena), there was no other way to look at it. Cotto should've then, according to that logic, have his corner stop the fight.

But he didn't quit or have his corner stop it, which goes to show you that it's just one big bluff what he's saying in the interview. It LOOKS like he came off as weak in the interview (and I'm sure he DOES worry about his health) but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Cotto isn't getting stopped in rematch and won't quit unless...something like what happened to Margarito in the Pacquiao fight happens to HIM (to Cotto).

Feel free to agree/disagree/comment, etc.

I look forward to reading your posts.

[x3_bazooka_x3]

You all know how I give credit where credit is due and I strive to look at things objectively. I say this because most likely I'll have my PR posters get on my case for this, but whatever...it is what it is.

In the Cotto-Margarito face-off, there comes a point where Max is addressing Margarito and telling him that he proved something in the Pacquiao fight; that he was still a tough fighter who never gave up no matter how bleak the situation looked. He gives Margarito credit for hanging in there, despite taking an inordinate amount of punishment.

Max then turns to Cotto and asks him the following: (click video already at the time mark)



Cotto gives his answer and criticizes Margarito, saying more or less that his stubborness is what caused him to receive serious injuries (or worse). He goes on to say, "My health is the most important thing in my life..."

In between the lines, what he's saying is "If you're getting beat up badly (sustaining serious injury) and have no shot anymore, give it up."

If that's the case, why the hell did he take unnecessary punishment from rounds 8-12 in the Pacquiao fight (which was when Pacquiao had the shift stick in 5)? You could say he was still TRYING to make it sort of a fight, but after round 9 (when Cotto's wife left the arena), there was no other way to look at it. Cotto should've then, according to that logic, have his corner stop the fight.

But he didn't quit or have his corner stop it, which goes to show you that it's just one big bluff what he's saying in the interview. It LOOKS like he came off as weak in the interview (and I'm sure he DOES worry about his health) but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Cotto isn't getting stopped in rematch and won't quit unless...something like what happened to Margarito in the Pacquiao fight happens to HIM (to Cotto).

Feel free to agree/disagree/comment, etc.

I look forward to reading your posts.

He quit in that fight to, I do disagree I understand your point but you dont have to take a knee to quit, your corner doesnt need to throw in the towel neither, once you back off and start to stay away and do nothing to make it a fight once you stop trying you have quit, Cotto and his trainer were basically trying to save face, they knew the ref would eventually stop the fight

[bojangles1987]

It was just poorly worded on Cotto's part. I get what he's saying, but when the overwhelming majority of boxers would say something like Margarito said, saying what Cotto said looks bad.

If Cotto has to quit in this fight, it will be because he truly has no choice. I don't blame him for the first fight, and don't understand why anyone would.

[| THE KING |]

I get what Cotto is saying.. but this is boxing.. and some fighters (ie.. Marg) are willing to die in that ring. Is Cotto? Cotto is one of my favorite fighters along with Tony.. but he needs to be ready for WARRR.

[gauze]

i think cotto knows that margarito's face is gonna explode in this fight. he's just trying to tell margo that you COULD die in this fight without saying it outright. just trying to get him to think about the consequences of taking a vicious beating and leaving a family behind

[shawowski]

Cotto is gonna get cremated in this fight. As soon as he ends up in the trenches he will collect his paycheck and exit the ring. Marg is still hungry. I hope cotto shines but i cant see it happening

[sugersean15]

i got cotto winning it fo sho

[TintaBoricua]

He quit in that fight to, I do disagree I understand your point but you dont have to take a knee to quit, your corner doesnt need to throw in the towel neither, once you back off and start to stay away and do nothing to make it a fight once you stop trying you have quit, Cotto and his trainer were basically trying to save face, they knew the ref would eventually stop the fight

Pretty much. After the 11th round when Cotto goes to the corner, right before sitting down, he asks his trainer (Joe Santiago), "¿Falta uno? Falta uno, ¿verdad?"

Translation: "One more? One more round left?"

As if to say, "This'll be over soon..."

The punishment he took in the ninth round was unnecessary. Fight should've been stopped there...

It was just poorly worded on Cotto's part. I get what he's saying, but when the overwhelming majority of boxers would say something like Margarito said, saying what Cotto said looks bad.

If Cotto has to quit in this fight, it will be because he truly has no choice. I don't blame him for the first fight, and don't understand why anyone would.

I don't either. Cotto fought his heart out in that fight. Some people here were saying after the fight that Cotto DEPRIVED them of a highlight reel knockout. I mean, seriously? It's not like he quit on a whim...

I can't recall another fight in the last five years where a fighter backs up from one corner to the other and goes to a knee, his face a bloody mess. Cotto was DONE in that fight. Any objective fan would notice that. He gave a remarkable effort but not enough to beat Margarito that night.

[Deeznuts]

Well at the end of his career he will be asked if the loss of vision was worth the mils he raked in. Cotto did sound kind of suspect but he was just telling the truth

[TintaBoricua]

Well at the end of his career he will be asked if the loss of vision was worth the mils he raked in. Cotto did sound kind of suspect but he was just telling the truth

Of course he is. I'm not hating on him.

I'm just making the observation. I agree with what he said. Not even 1/4 of his fans will be around after he's long retired from the sport, so it's kind of dumb (to some degree) to please the fans AT ALL COSTS.

Sure, you should show courage under fire and he's certainly done so, but to stay in there against Margarito when he couldn't lift his arms up would've been suicidal.