FRANK RIVERA
On December 3rd two warriors are going to enter Madison Square Garden to fight for the WBA Super Welterweight Title. Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito are not just fighting for the title, but also for honor, respect, vengeance and retribution. Top Rank is promoting this fight as “Two sworn enemies” that will collide for the second time which should be a brutal war. Their first encounter was just that a “WAR” a battle between two of the top welterweights in the division. This time around the fight is going to be a war between the two, but both men are far from where they once stood. Both of their careers may be on the line this time as they prepare to do battle.
Predicting a winner in this fight is very difficult. My heart tells me to pick Cotto. My mind tells me Margarito is coming into the fight to prove his loaded hand wraps had nothing to do with his first victory over Cotto. Cotto is looking to avenge his first professional career loss. Margarito’s boxing license was suspended for one year because he was caught with illegal handwraps during his 2009 loss to Shane Mosley. He is also coming off a unanimous decision loss to Manny Pacquiao which was one year ago and the fight which he suffered a serious eye injury. Cotto is coming off a impressive 11 round TKO victory over Ricardo Mayorga in March of 2011.
Antonio Margarito is a relentless pressure fighter that has a granite chin that allows him to keep going forward. He also has the size advantage over Cotto, but Margarito has one disadvantage that he did not have in their first fight, his right eye. Cotto is considered one of the best body punchers in boxing.
From the opening bell we should see fireworks from these two combatants. I see this fight unfolding in a similar fashion as the first fight with Cotto out boxing Margarito early on. Cotto’s ability to box, his speed, his movement and working the body will be a key factor in the fight. The right eye will be the biggest question mark in the fight that could end up possibly changing the outcome. There is no question that Cotto will target the right eye with his jabs and sooner or later try to land powerful left hooks. The eye will be tested as the fight moves into the middle rounds as the ring doctor will be keeping a vigilant eye on the condition of Margarito’s right eye from receiving any new unnecessary damage. Margarito loves to trade and is willing to get hit with a few punches to throw some power punches of his own. This mentality could end up hurting Margarito since he is a one dimensional boxer that only likes to move forward.
My prediction is Cotto avenging his loss by winning a unanimous decision over Margarito. Margarito’s injured eye may become the major deciding factor in this fight since NY State Athletic Commission made Margarito take an eye exam this week before granting his NY Boxing Liscense.
Cotto vs Margarito II is for the WBA World Welterweight Championship presented by HBO Boxing LIVE only on pay-per-view.
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