Yes, Cotto had a big lead, boxed well, but also Margarito had begun to get to him and he was taking punishment that he had avoided in the first half of the fight. I don't think that Margarito could have caught up in the time remaining, unless Cotto suddenly folded, and he was still spry enough to box his way out of difficulties. If it had been a 15 rd fight, I think Margarito would have won, assuming his eye wouldn't stop the fight.
I've seen worse eyes where the fight wasn't stopped. Do you remember the grotesque swelling of the whole forehead and eye of Hasim Raheem from the Holyfield fight.(like the "Elephant Man") That fight wasn't stopped until the 9th or 10th. Should have been stopped about the 5-6th. Basilio's eye was not only shut for about 5-6 rds but swollen like a black golf ball. And against a killer like Robinson.
Margarito could still see from that eye, and Smoger himself would not have stopped the fight. He was pushed by the doc. It could be that because of past trauma, Margarito's eye is sensitive to swelling more than normal. I broke my nose in a cricket match, it was badly set, had to be rebroken and re-set. Ever after, the slightest touch caused it to swell. Had to give up boxing.
I've seen worse eyes where the fight wasn't stopped. Do you remember the grotesque swelling of the whole forehead and eye of Hasim Raheem from the Holyfield fight.(like the "Elephant Man") That fight wasn't stopped until the 9th or 10th. Should have been stopped about the 5-6th. Basilio's eye was not only shut for about 5-6 rds but swollen like a black golf ball. And against a killer like Robinson.
Margarito could still see from that eye, and Smoger himself would not have stopped the fight. He was pushed by the doc. It could be that because of past trauma, Margarito's eye is sensitive to swelling more than normal. I broke my nose in a cricket match, it was badly set, had to be rebroken and re-set. Ever after, the slightest touch caused it to swell. Had to give up boxing.
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