There are unanswered questions for both fighters. Miguel has only lost once. That was a little over a year ago when Antonio Margarito beat him in what would eventually be looked at as a controversial outcome. Why? Well, Margarito would later beat “Sugar” Shane Mosley with illegal, hardened inserts in his hand-wraps. Makes you wonder if he wasn’t similarly outfitted when he beat Miguel. So, I’m wondering how good Miguel really is. Should he be currently undefeated? And even so, is he past his prime? He will be making a huge statement with a win over Manny Pacquiao.

As for Manny, I wonder if he’ll be able to take the punches from a bigger, arguably tougher fighter? Sure, he is quick and fierce. He’s like lightning in a bottle. But can he withstand the power of Miguel Cotto? Of course, if you look at the way Manny destroyed Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds, I don’t doubt he’ll be ready to knock Miguel out and prepare for what would be one of the most anticipated fights of all-time—Pacquiao vs. Mayweather—next year. Until then, I’m going to enjoy this one. It should be a great fight.

Source: HBO.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Countdown to Pacquiao-Cotto Begins Tonight

Let’s hope Paul Williams hasn’t read ESPN.com’s recap of the Joshua Clottey – Zab Judah fight. What does it say? That despite Judah’s loss he might be next in line for the recently lionized welterweight champ Antonio Margarito.

It seems that Clottey tore his bicep in the fifth round of that fight. That’s right, the Ghanian TORE HIS BICEP and still managed to be more powerful and look better than Judah. Zab’s claim of not being able to continue because of purported lost vision looks a lot more cowardly now.

No matter, despite his ridiculous display he still might get the coveted big money fight against Margarito. How many lives does this guy have? How many chances can he get? How can someone keep getting rewarded for be so unsuccessful?

Judah stands no chance of beating Margarito. He hasn’t beaten anyone of note in three years! Nevertheless he gives the fight an American, a recognizable name, and someone with a fan base. The fight would take place on November 1 and presumably be broadcast on HBO and not a pay-per-view. Now that I think about it, I wouldn’t mind seeing Margarito destroy Judah.

But the question still remains, who could Margarito have chosen? Clearly Margarito doesn’t want #3 Paul Williams yet. So who else could it be? A quick look a boxrec.com’s top welterweights gives few answers.

Here are those unavailable b/c a prior engagement:
2. Shane Mosley; 6. Andre Berto; 7. Jackson Bonsu.

Also unavailable:
4. Miguel Cotto; 5. Joshua Clottey.

Unattractive:
10. Kermit Cintron (Margarito KOd him in April) 12. Jesus Soto Karass (Is a Margarito sparring partner and shares the same trainer).

The remainders:
8. Sebastian Andres Lujan (Margarito TKOd him in 2005 but he looked good against Jose Luis Castillo on Wednesday)
9. Isaac Hlatswayo
11. Motoki Sasaki
13. Said Ouiali
14. Zab Judah
15. Alfonso Gomez

Given the need for a recognizable name the choice is essentially between Zab and The Contender alum Alfonso Gomez. I gotta admit that I’d rather see Judah.

Post from: EveryJoe

Zab Judah Loses Fight But May Win the War

Boxing promised us a welterweight fight for the ages and for 11 rounds Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito provided. Margarito charged relentlessly with defiant straightforward abandon while Cotto skillfully bobbed, weaved, counterpunched and scored with inspired boxing. Power punch after power punch from both fighters, bomb after bomb.

But in the 11th it was the Mexican, the Tijuana Tornado Antonio Margarito, who proved to have the greater will as the Puerto Rican Cotto quit on his feet, too battered, unwilling and unable to summon strength in the championship rounds.

Cotto’s corner ostensibly threw in the towel but Miguel’s sinking eyes and drooped shoulders had already betrayed his self-defeat and resignation; he had to decided to give away his title rather than defend it with his last breath. It was a disappointing conclusion to what had been a thrilling study in contrasts and a ceaselessly exciting fight. As good as the fight was it deserved to be and should have been better.

Margarito started out slow, just as he had in his defeat one year ago to Paul Williams, looking outsmarted and outclassed in the first. But by the second Antonio had picked up the pace only to have his whirlwind flurries picked off and evaded by Cotto’s quick defenses and then countered by skilled straights and hooks.

Superficially in this chase Margarito looked to be dictating the action, but it was Cotto who was really in charge. He looked at ease, confident, and in control. All the while, however, Margarito was taking Cotto’s best punches and he must have realized that the Puerto Rican could not hurt him. He was the stronger man and his adversary couldn’t run forever. He was going to tire out.

The tide of control began turning in the middle rounds. The script, however, had not changed. Margarito was still charging, throwing countless flurries, uppercuts, and hooks to the body while Cotto was dodging and countering. Only now more of Margarito’s flurries and uppercuts were landing. Cotto’s left eye was cut and he was leaking blood from his nose and mouth. His counters had less force and less accuracy.

Margarito was the turned ocean, he was getting more powerful and more forceful, while Cotto’s time had passed. Cotto needed to hang on, he needed to stand steadfast against the rushing force, and he needed to bring forth the powers that make great fighters transcendent, that turn great fights into legends.

That switch never happened for Miguel Cotto and one has to wonder if his spirit is gone, like his countryman Felix Trinidad’s was after his similar shrinking against Bernard Hopkins. Tito was just 28 then and he has never returned to greatness; Cotto is just 27. We hope Miguel quickly shakes off his demons and returns to the ring soon. A prolonged departure from meaningful competition could lead him down the Trinidad path and that would be a tragedy to the sport of boxing. Cotto is still a great fighter, but tonight he just ran into a ruthless buzzsaw.

After the fight Margarito joined the litany of fighters wishing to become Oscar De La Hoya’s “final” opponent on December 6 joining every lightweight through middleweight who has won on Showtime or HBO since Oscar dropped Steve Forbes in early May. Margarito’s hook is that it’s one for Mexican supremacy, a bookend for Oscar’s illustrious career whose greatness began with his June 1996 TKO of Mexico’s all-time best Julio Cesar Chavez.

Post from: EveryJoe

Margarito Outwills Cotto in Classic Welterweight Fight

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.

Post from: EveryJoe

What the Cotto-Margarito Hype Is Really About