GARY TODD’S COTTO v MARGARITO PRE-FIGHT REPORT

Posted on | July 4, 2008 | No Comments

“The Belter at Welter”

The bell rings, the ring is buckling with the weight of way too many well wishers, media hopefuls trying to get a break, and the usual hanger on’s, hustling their way in to anything that might come their way.

Cotto is oblivious, emotionless and has his eyes set on his loved ones, motioning them to the ring, lifting them up, kissing them.

It’s a tremendous sight.

Look across to the other side of the ring, and you’ll see a much different picture. Cotto has just battered his opponent, and it shows. The other fighter looks much older now, as he smiles to everyone in his immediate world. He’s smiling but its not a happy smile. He’s apologizing with his eyes.

This has been a typical scenario for Miguel Cotto [ 32 wins with 26 ko’s ] since his debut fight in 2001. It’s a family business, and business is good. Wherever Cotto goes, you can be sure his father, Miguel Snr, uncle, Evangelista, and brother, Jose, are never far behind him. They are a tight nit, formidable unit who live and breathe boxing.

Antonio Margarito has been fighting all his life. From the streets of Tijuana, to the small working class fight halls of the amateurs, where side bets and taquila was much more important than the kids in the red and the blue.

Margarito was no mug, and he caught on real fast. You cant buy food with trophies ! After an 18 – 3 career in the amateurs, Margarito turned pro in 1994, as a lanky 16 year old, fighting mostly in Mexico, then across the border to California. It was a battle inside and outside of the ring with Margarito going up and down the weights, trying to settle into his life as a boxer. After good wins over Cesar Valdez, Miguel Angel Gonzales, and David Kamau, he moved up the welterweight ladder, hammering the faded Frankie Randall over four rounds, to earn a shot at his first world title. After 28 fights and thousands of miles on the road, Margarito had made the bigtime. It was July, 2001.

Up for grabs was the WBO welterweight title, and his opponent was the tough southpaw, Daniel Santos. The fight was a nightmare for Margarito and Santos, as after all the training , the sparring in the gym, the roadwork, the fight was stopped due to a head clash in the first round, with both fighters gushing with blood. Santos would come again, and so would Margarito.

In March, the following year , Margarito got another chance and fought with heart and soul, to beat Antonio Diaz, for the WBO title.

Margarito was a name in the welterweight division, and he stepped up to defend his title, beating Danny Perez, Andrew” six heads” Lewis, and Hercules Kyvelos, before moving up in weight to fight Santos again. The fight with Santos was another shocker, with the fight being stopped in the championship rounds, due to another head clash. Santos won on points to take the 154 belt home.

This loss was a turning point in his career. He went back to welter and got his old title back in 2005, before “icing” the big punching, much touted, Kermit Cintron in that same year. After disposing Manuel Gomez, he punched his way into the record books, fighting Joshua Clottey in a fight in which he threw over 1600 punches over the 12 rounds. With big fights and superstar paydays just around the corner, next up was the lanky slick punching, Paul Williams [ 32-0 ].

This was always going to be a hard fight. Williams could fight and he been waiting all his life for that night. In the fight he outboxed Margarito and fought with ring smarts, Margarito had never seen before, thus losing his title over 12 rounds.

True to form, he came back again, and battered the jaded Golden Johnson in one round, on Cotto’s undercard. He was out to make a statement to the man from Caguas, Puerto Rico, and 5 months later, he did, punching the liver out of Kermit Cintron to snatch his IBF welterweight title.

Next up was meant to be, Joshua Clottey, but Margarito refused to fight him , and gave up his title, as he wanted his date with Cotto.

For me, this has to be a money decision for Margarito. Cotto has plenty, and has stated he wont be training any harder for Margarito, than he has for any of his other opponents. I believe him, and I don’t think he has to.

Margarito is a good fighter who has been on the fringe of the contender ladder for years. He deserved his shots and he has made the most of what he has as a fighter, which is his height and reach, and his ability to throw punches from all angles on the inside. Will this be enough to beat Cotto? I don’t see it. Margarito has to start quickly and establish his fast jab. Everything must come from the jab. Cotto is a slow starter but seems to get stronger as he grinds his opponents down. He has been down, but has always got up to finish the job.
[ Ricardo Torres ]

Some may say Margarito is coming into this fight as a natural welterweight, and they would be right, but you have to remember, Cotto walks around, and has been fighting at 147lbs, on fight night, forever, so im sure it wont be a factor in this fight. Some may say this fight will be about who can take each other’s body shots better, and they could be right, but for me, this fight will be who gets through with the jab.

For Margarito, it’s another, if not his last throw of the dice, and he knows it. For Cotto, it’s another opponent in his business of boxing. He will fight his fight, the way he has always done, giving his fans and Bob Arum, fits, along the way, but in the end, he will grind out a hard fought win over the 12 rounds. “This Battle” should definitely be a “Belter at Welter”

Gary Todd has been involved in all aspects of the sport of boxing for over 25 years , and he is an international author, with his book on world champion’s workouts. “Workouts From Boxings Greatest Champs” He is a proud member of the Boxing writers association of America.