Final Prediction: MIGUEL COTTO vs. ANTONIO MARGARITO

True Kenneth, true.

 

Experts Weigh In: 13/15 Say Cotto Wins
By Robert Mladinich

It is impossible to not be excited about Saturday night’s welterweight showdown between Miguel Cotto, 32-0 (26 KOS), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, and Antonio Margarito, 36-5 (26 KOS), of Tijuana, Mexico.

The 27-year-old Cotto, who holds the WBA title, is not only one of the best fighters in the world, he is also one of the most exciting. He has already beaten a veritable who’s who of champions and contenders, but will face his toughest challenger against the taller and equally aggressive 30-year-old Margarito, the IBF titlist whose 5’11 height makes him four inches taller than Cotto.

(Margarito’s title is not on the line in this bout).

The fight is being held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View. There has been a tremendous buzz on the streets and among boxing insiders about this terrific matchup, which will undoubtedly be a candidate for Fight of the Year, maybe even Fight of the Decade.

Here’s what a random list of 15 boxing insiders had to say:

Nick Charles, ShoBox commentator: “I’d love to see both guys get off the floor, but I think this fight will be more tactical than most people expect. I don’t know if Cotto is going to want to take too many chances with this guy. It’s so easy to root for both of these guys, but I have to go with Cotto winning a close and competitive decision.â€￾ Cotto W 12.

Steve Farhood, ShoBox commentator: “I like Cotto. I think Margarito will make him look better than ever. Every opponent Cotto has faced is placed in the role of a boxer. Not Margarito. He’ll push, and Cotto will shine. Cotto is a far better boxer. If he can outbox Shane Mosley, he’ll certainly do the same to Margarito. With all that said, given Margarito’s strength and determination, this can’t be anything less than a great fight.â€￾ Cotto W 12.

Gerry Cooney, former heavyweight title challenger: “Cotto is still on his way up, while Margarito might be on his way down. It’s really hard to beat Cotto unless you swarm him, but it’s tough to do that against him. Margarito’s good, but I think Cotto is a little younger and a little fresher and should stop Margarito around the eighth or ninth round.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Iran Barkley, former multi-division champion: “Top Rank has put Cotto in a lot of tough fights, so he is really experienced at a young age. There is going to be a lot of give and take, but Cotto will stop Margarito. For such a young guy, he’s already seen a lot and is a great fighter.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Bobby Cassidy Sr., perennial light heavyweight contender in the 1970s: “I like Margarito by KO. He’s a really vicious fighter, who reminds me of a young Roberto Duran. What he did to Kermit Cintron (twice) was unbelievable. Cotto could outbox him, but Margarito is such a workman and he’s very busy inside. Margarito is a 2 1⁄2 -1 underdog. That’s unbelievable to me. I say he stops Cotto in the middle rounds.â€￾ Margarito by stoppage.

James Moore, Irish junior middleweight prospect: “Joshua Clottey did really well against Margarito for about four rounds until he injured himself. He showed that he can be outboxed. I think that there will be a lot of big bombs thrown, but Cotto will score a knockout around the eighth round.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage

Don Elbaum, boxing promoter, manager, dinosaur: “Wow, what a fight! Both guys will look like a million dollars for as long as it lasts. The word great is so overused today, but Cotto is a great fighter. He would be great in any era. He might stop Margarito in the first round or with 11 seconds left in the fight, but I think he will stop him. Then I’d love to see Cotto vs. De La Hoya in Yankee Stadium before it closes. They’d sell that place out.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York: “It’s a great fight that I can’t wait to see. It will be tough for Cotto for a while, but I expect him to wear Margarito down and stop him around the seventh round.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Sean Sullivan, Editor-in-Chief of Boxing Digest magazine: “Cotto has more tools at his disposal than Margarito does. He can turn the fight from a brawl to a boxing match whenever he wants. Cotto has shown ability to battle back from adversity, but Margarito is the biggest opponent he has ever faced. Cotto is at the top of his game, and just does not seem ready to be beaten.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Teddy B. Blackburn: “It is hard to see Cotto getting beat at this stage of his career. He’s too strong and aggressive for almost anyone. I expect him to steamroll Margarito and stop him around 2:30 of the third round.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage

Jack Hirsch, British Boxing News: “Margarito should be able to withstand Cotto’s attack and outlast him. He is too big and strong for Cotto, and should score a late round stoppage.â€￾ Margarito by stoppage.

Calvin Brock, former heavyweight title challenger: “Margarito takes a good punch, but Cotto has faster hands and can box when he has to. Margarito is much more straightforward and one-dimensional. Cotto is the total package, so he should win a decision.â€￾ Cotto W 12.

Mike Silver, noted boxing historian: “Margarito is a tough guy, but Cotto has shown spurts of greatness on many occasions. His great body attack is unique among fighters today. Margarito is very good, but Cotto is better. He will show that again in this fight by stopping Cotto in the late rounds.â€￾ Cotto by stoppage.

Randy Gordon, former New York State boxing commissioner: “The greatness of Cotto will come out in this fight. His hand speed, accurate combinations and combination punching will rise to a new level. He’ll get hit and he might get hurt, but he will win a decision in a hard fought and competitive battle.â€￾ Cotto W 12.

Bob Mladinich, TSS: “I can’t imagine a better matchup at any fight. Both of these guys generate excitement. A solid argument could be made for either guy, but it is hard not to lean toward Cotto. He just seems to do everything well. He is a literal fighting machine and has an iron will to boot. He is truly a fighter for the ages.â€￾ Cotto W 12.

Totals: 15

Cotto: 13

Margarito: 2

Cotto by decision: 5

Cotto by stoppage: 8

Margarito by decision: 0

Margarito by stoppage:
artie:

 

dsimon writes:

The size difference is scary thats all I can say. Nobody seems to say much about it, but I would b lying if I said it didn't concern me.

 

Cotto is a middleweight

- StingerKarl

 

I feel that Margarito looks like a middle here..

Hopefully Cotto's shots will stil have effect on this big ass mexican

 

:shit: "Stoppage"... idiots always go over the top with stoppage picks, especially in high profile fights.

 

::

I am one of the "idiots" :dunno: I think I pick by stoppage in every fight::

 

Lok please no,..

I was talking about the 'expert panel' that Hex pasted,..

Lok please,...

 

I think for me.. it's about if Cotto's shots can hurt Marg.. and I Think they can

 

Lok please,..

 

i hope cotto knocks your mexican lover out..

will you still jerk off to him if he gets knocked out?

 

"I'm Such a FAIRWEATHER Fan that After NUTHUGGING Margarita for SEVERAL Years, I IMMEDIATELY Pick him to LOSE N the Biggest Fight of his Life...Oh, but I'm MASKING My DOUBT about Margarita's Chances by "PreDICKting" he'll Get ROBBED"- Kauki



REED:boohoo:

 

Dsimon writes:

Margy is one big ass Mexican!! Both of these guys are so lean its crazy! Lok do boxers really want to look like Jockey's? seriously these guys don't only have a limit of body fat, but muscle as well.

 

Not Only That....

Peeps R PRETENDING that Cotto WON'T Fire Back as Maragarita Attempts to Enforce his WORKRATE on him...

WHEN has Cotto EVER just LAID BACK & Absorbed Shot After Shot w/Out RETALIATING???...

MORESO, Peeps R PRETENDING that Margarita is just Gonna WALK THRU Cotto's Shots & Keep Firing his Own...That's NOT Gonna Happen....No Way N HELL...

Sorry, but Margarita DIDN'T Do that Against Clottey UNTIL Clottey Hurt his Hand AND, Margarita DIDN'T Do that Until he was Waaaaaaaaaay BEHIND Against Williams, who DOESN'T Put as Much CONSISTENT Force N his Shots as Cotto does...


REED:cheer:

 

If Margarito can't start fast, he is not going to have much of a chance. He has to make Cotto fight when Cotto doesn't want to.

I happen to think that he can start fast and he can turn Cotto into more of the "boxer" that Mosley turned him into in the last 4 rounds of their fight. I don't think Cotto wins a fight like that.

I think Cotto has to come forward early and land to the body to discourage Margarito and take the steam out of his shots. In doing that, I think he will open himself up to Margaritos busier hands.

For being such a pressure fighter, Cotto does like to take 10-15 second breaks. It is during those times where Margarito needs to try and win this fight. I don't trust Cotto in the 10-12th rounds after a 2-sided grueling fight.

 

I have to admit, it has me worried. I didnt expect the size difference to be that much. But Cotto is still superior in almost every other aspect.

 

Yeah Cotto clearly has the better workrate,chin and stamina. ::

 

The Ricardo Torres fight when he about got KO'ed?

 

MIGUEL COTTO: 41
ILLUMINATI: Cotto by TKO 10
Jake: Cotto by UD
Hex-One: Cotto by TKO 11
whiskey: Cotto by UD
Barristan: Cotto by KO ??
Xplosive: Cotto by TKO 11
mexican wedding shirt: Cotto by UD
REEDsART: Cotto by TKO 9
V10: Cotto by TKO 11
holler: Cotto by UD
Baron: Cotto by UD
IronDanLaw: Cotto by UD
jaws1216: Cotto by Decision
Rubio MHS: Cotto by Decision
Roll With The Punches: Cotto by UD
panchyprsss: Cotto by SD
G o d f a t h e r: Cotto by UD
Andrew: Cotto by KO 3
TKO: Cotto by KO 6
Rainmaker: Cotto by KO 9
LOK: Cotto by KO 5 (Margarito will retire afterwards)
Erratic: Cotto by UD
bigdawg: Cotto by Decision
boxingnotboxers: Cotto by UD
Hitman: Cotto by Decision
jarhead: Cotto by TKO 9
Antwuan Maxx: Cotto by UD or late round KO
Pascals Wager: Cotto by DEC
suiteness: Cotto by DEC
adamiw: Cotto by KO 12
Tysonfan4ever: Cotto TKO 8
TFK: Cotto by DQ in the 10th (Low Blows)
Maverick: Cotto UD
Beyond The Grave: Cotto UD
Bob N. Weave: Cotto UD
LATIN KING: Cotto by UD
dsimon3387: Cotto by UD
puerto rock: Cotto by UD
meetthefeebles: Cotto by UD
Massacure: Cotto by ??
Azazel: Cotto by ??


ANTONIO MARGARITO: 16
Caligula II: Margarito by TKO 8
bpg: Margarito by TKO 2
Double L: Margarito by ??
joony: Margarito by KO ??
Victory: Margarito by ??
Ron King: Margarito by TKO 11
BigJohn619/Matchup Analyzer: Margarito KO 12
El Terriblee: Margarito KO 12
TexMex: Margarito KO 3
Octopus: Margarito by Decision
who?: Margarito by TKO 11
valdosta: Margarito by TKO 11
KaukipRrr: Margarito hopping he makes it to 12 rounds..so he can be robbed
salaco: Margarito by TKO 10
az cat: Margarito by TKO 10
Victory: Margarito by Decision

 

Ricardo Torres Hits AS HARD as Margarita w/SINGLE Shots, VAL...Moreso, Torres has BETTER Handspeed than Margarita AND he COUNTERPUNCHED Prior to CATCHING Cotto...

The Torres Fight has NATHAN to Do w/Cotto-Margarita...& by MIDNIGHT, U'll KNOW this...


REED:hammert:

 

"Why don't Cotto and Hatton just face off at their natural weight. 190? " -Mr. Roboto

 

You called Cotto a "bum" when he fought Malignaggi (or Malagnia as you put it.)

Your prediction: "Malagnia will knock this BUM out!"

:boohoo:

 

Hey REED just in case Margarito wins



http://www.d-fwmall.com/computer_service.htm

 

IMO LOK is the only guy that fits what Kauki/Double have said taht Floyd fans are picking Cotto/hoping he wins so they can excuse Mayweather failure to fight Margarito..."look what Cotto did to him..."


Lok probably honestly believe Cotto will win..but exaggerate with all the Cotto will eat Margarito asshole...fuck his ass..etc...etc...BECAUSE HE STIlLL has some hate for COTTO...and consider COTTO a threat to MAYWEATHER....it's psychology...

 

Margarito KO 9..............:hammert:

 

and?? who cares?

at the time I felt Cotto was over-rated and Maagnia was under-rated..

i have since become a fan..

only a little bitch like you would even care..

I can't wait until this fight is over and hopefully your bitch ass will leave like you said in your drama-queen good bye a while back

 

Margarito TKO3. I just have a feeling the fight will be over early, maybe even early than 3. It could easily be the other way but with 90% of people picking Cotto, it could go wrong fast.

 

Torres sucks, and no I don't even think he hits harder than Margarito. His handspeed isn't much either. You asked when Cotto didn;t punch back. Well when Torres hurt him he bashed Cotto around the ring. Cotto didn;t show very smart survival skills and that is something that could matter tonight. Margarito is more than capable of hurting Cotto.

 

AgREED...

Cotto is my pick for the fight, but it would be hard to argue that his chin is an especial strength of his. The fact that Margarito has plenty of scope to hurt Cotto is one of the reasons why this fight has been widely anticipated for so long.

MTF

 

Yeah, he was hurt, but making weight might have something to do with it. We'll see tonight.