What the Cotto-Margarito Hype Is Really About

Maybe somewhere somehow you’ve read something about Saturday’s Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito welterweight title fight. About how it’s the going to be the greatest fight of all time, about how if there’s one fight you should watch this year this should be it, about how this is the fight to bring casual fans in, about how the action will be scintillating and non-stop, about how if you can’t get excited about this fight then you’ll never be excited about any fight ever. Ever, ever, ever.

Am I excited? Yes. Do I think it’s going to be a great fight? Of course. Non-stop brawl. But the excessive hype from fight fans and scribes feels disingenuous, desperate, and based in the misconceived notion that boxing needs resuscitated. I don’t react well to guilt trips and spending $50 on this fight has become a “must do” for anyone who truly loves and appreciates boxing.

I’m going to buy the fight but I’m under no illusions that the welterweight competitors are equivalent to Leonard-Hearns, Leonard-Duran, or even Whitaker-De La Hoya. Margarito lost just one year ago to Paul Williams for heavens sake.

What fight would have been an equal to those transcendent bouts?

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto. That’s really the fight everyone wanted to see at 147. It’s the elephant in the room, it’s the answer, it’s the “fight for the ages” that we all want so bad. It’s also the reason this event is being hyped up to levels not exactly commensurate to its historical value.

If Cotto can prove he’s a draw to the general public and a relevant sports figure then maybe, just maybe we’ll get a real fight for the ages. Maybe Floyd will un-retire like Leonard before him and save the day again.