Cotto's decision to change trainers..

[Eaner0919]

Cotto was winning the first fight by boxing. If he has the stamina to do it for 12 rounds then this Cuban coach was not a bad choice.

actually he wasn't. He might have been winning the early rounds but in the end the judges had it in Margarito's favor

[ShoulderRoll]

actually he wasn't. He might have been winning the early rounds...

That's what I meant: should have said that the moments when Cotto was winning the first fight it was by boxing. I realize that by the end of the fight he was losing on the cards.

Going forward against Margarito and that chin would seem like a disastrous game plan for Miguel. Much better to try and win by points.

[Eaner0919]

That's what I meant: should have said that the moments when Cotto was winning the first fight it was by boxing. I realize that by the end of the fight he was losing on the cards.

Going forward against Margarito and that chin would seem like a disastrous game plan for Miguel. Much better to try and win by points.

here is what I don't get

he boxed the entire time he never wavered from his gameplan

anyone ever think that the pressure Margarito put on him the whole night was simply too much to overcome?

pressure fighting has it's place in boxing. You do it well it can nullify hand speed footwork etc

I know it's popular to say that when Cotto boxed he won but he was getting pressure and landed on from round 2 on. Margarito was already landing heavy shots essentially from the 2nd round until the stoppage

also

for this that show pictures of Cotto all bloodied and screaming "LOOK AT WHAT THE PLASTER DID" look at the first 9 rounds

they were essentially swelled up the same way. When Cotto's nose busted it's only natural that his eyes would swell after

I know it wasn't you but tired of hearing about how well Cotto did when Margarito simply did his job better

[TintaBoricua]

Why would Cotto get an amateur cuban trainer for his biggest pro-fight to avenge the most significant loss of his career? It's not looking too good for him. When I watch 24/7 all I see is Cotto throwing many fast straight punches which is usually all you need to do to win and amateur fight. Plus how will this coach help him in a 12th round fight..Amateurs usually just got 3 or 4 rounds. Bad decision by Cotto

I don't think so. It's not like the guy is thinking... "This is an amateur fight."

From what we've seen, he looks like he's certainly in control of what's going in training camp and pushing Cotto a lot, certainly more than Steward does and Joe Santiago...

You never know... Cotto seems very comfortable and has good history with that trainer. It's not like he needs someone to dissect the technical ability of Margarito anyway, he just needs to lay off the ropes and clinch - just pray that his conditioning is on par or he will feel t he wrath of a 153 lbs Margarito.

Margarito isn't a mystery. He is EASY to hit and score against. He is easy to tee off on...EXTREMELY easy. The reason why many people succumb to him (and why he's able to get away with that) is because his chin is very, very solid. He becomes so easy to hit that people spend all their energy going upstairs and the following happens: #1: they spend all their stamina in the first half thinking that sooner or later he'll get hurt or dropped and #2: their stamina gets spent even quicker as Margarito is digging and digging and digging

Margarito isn't hard to figure out. You just need to box in the center and not freak out. If you let him get near you or you give into temptation and start firing off at will upstairs...even though it doesn't look like it, you're going to get murked in the long run. You might look good for 3,4,maybe 5 rounds...after that, Margarito cranks it up and that's when people fold.

I laughed when he was drawing "scientific" pictures on the paper next to his laptop. Um, did you guys know you're fighting Margarito? I don't think there's a science to figure out the Margarito puzzle.

He was studying Cotto's conditioning and his progress and modifying the exercise plans accordingly.

I would take one solid uppercut or left hook to the body than 5 landing arm punches any day

I would too, but wouldn't most people get carried away into attempting ANOTHER left hook, and ANOTHER, and ANOTHER...?

I think of power punches, and I think of throwing an over-committed punch and getting touched by a bad body shot.

[.::|ULTIMATE|::.]

I also think it was a big mistake and it is going to cost Cotto big.

[ShoulderRoll]

Cotto did box the entire time and Margarito did overcome that by applying constant pressure. But the question of the plaster in the wraps still hangs in the air.

Who knows if Margo can really be that effective without cheating? It's not like he has looked spectacular in the 3 fights when we know for sure he was clean. He lost two of them and won by decision against a relative nobody.

[JmH Reborn]

I thought he trained Pascal?

i thought is was Solis?

[freedom213]

here is what I don't get

he boxed the entire time he never wavered from his gameplan

anyone ever think that the pressure Margarito put on him the whole night was simply too much to overcome?

pressure fighting has it's place in boxing. You do it well it can nullify hand speed footwork etc

I know it's popular to say that when Cotto boxed he won but he was getting pressure and landed on from round 2 on. Margarito was already landing heavy shots essentially from the 2nd round until the stoppage

also

for this that show pictures of Cotto all bloodied and screaming "LOOK AT WHAT THE PLASTER DID" look at the first 9 rounds

they were essentially swelled up the same way. When Cotto's nose busted it's only natural that his eyes would swell after

I know it wasn't you but tired of hearing about how well Cotto did when Margarito simply did his job better

you make some partially valid points but I have seen that fight at least 10 times and watched it again last night in HD, what surprised me was Cotto did better even in the rounds Margs won than I had remembered, even in the tenth round up until the end of the round whee Margs hurt Cotto, Cotto had won that round and wasn't just boxing but doing a lot of damage.

Bottom line

it's obvious Margs take punishment better than well any current fighter out there. Outside of Shane Mosely no one has won a war of attrition against this guy and I see no one being able to do that at least not at 147. Margs has to make it that kinda fight to win.

Can Cotto fight a bit smarter strategic fight(stay off the ropes avoid body shots and turn Margarito)

Margarito likely needs to have another blood and guts fight of his life to win

Cotto Needs to avoid that type of fight or hurt Margs early and get some respect

[King of Sting]

it almost seems like they conceded that they will be retreating most of the night

unless you're JMM or Mayweather retreating is not conducive to being very offensive minded

if I were Cotto I would try and push Tony off the block. Tony was overwhelmed when Mosley and Manny stood their ground and used their speed to their advantage

Mosley had that one-shot stopping power and Dumbquiao is lightning quick and has stamina for days. Cotto has neither. But, I get what you're saying.

Cotto will have to do a lil bit of both(mix up combo punching w/ clinching), but, I really think he should work the clinch early to save his legs and lungs for what will probably be another grueling night of fighting. What do you think ?

[Cubanborn87]

i thought is was Solis?

both, also that dominican kid that won a gold medal that is now a pro whatever his name is felix diaz or something