I was writing this with the intention of posting it on the front page, but I don't really like how it came out. Can't quite get the piece right, so I just said fuck it, and figured I'd post it up here for everyone to discuss the topic of whether or not Cotto should fight Margarito. NOTE: This isn't about whether or not Margarito should be able to fight again, or your dislike of Margarito. This is completely about Cotto and whether or not he should go after a rematch. Miguel Cotto should stay away from Antonio Margarito by Gary Anderson After Miguel Cotto defeated Yuri Foreman in Yankee Stadium recently (and even before), there was talk of him facing Antonio Margarito, the first to defeat Cotto. Margarito's win over Cotto has been called into question by many in the boxing community, due to his being caught with loaded gloves prior to his fight with Shane Mosley. Mosley went on to convincingly defeat Margarito after new wraps were used. Now that Cotto is making a comeback after his one sided destruction at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, and Margarito has served his one year suspension, and is now trying to get his license back, there are some that would say that Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito should fight again, this time on even ground and see who's the better man. I would suggest, however, that this is not a good idea for Miguel. He's got almost nothing to gain from this fight at all. Since defeating Cotto, Margarito has not looked that good. He suffered a TKO loss to Shane Mosley in the very next fight after Cotto, and after serving his suspension, he's only fought some guy named Roberto Garcia for a vacant light middleweight title, and went the full 10 rounds to a decision win. Margarito no longer has the air of danger that he may have once had. Back when there were those who seriously thought that he would defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr. Back when people felt that Floyd intentionally avoided fighting Margarito. Now it's a case of a guy who perhaps was loading his gloves for a long time, and now that he's not suddenly seems human again. Cotto, ever since losing to Margarito in brutal fashion, just hasn't seemed the same. He's got a TKO victory over an easy touch in Michael Jennings, and then got a split decision over Joshua Clottey, before getting dominated by Manny Pacquiao. He's been mentioned in the same sentence as the words "He's done" and "Shot fighter". Defeating Yuri Foreman doesn't do a whole lot to get rid of that idea, because Foreman, while he was a gutsy fighter who refused to quit despite a torn meniscus, was not an offensively talented fighter. He wasn't someone who would test Cotto's chin or push him to see what he has left. Foreman was what he was. A pretty good fighter who didn't pose much risk. A matchup against Margarito, on paper, perhaps seems interesting. There's the whole "revenge" plot going, plus the "can Margarito beat him without loaded gloves?" angle as well. However, it doesn't do anything for Cotto. If Cotto fights Margarito and beats him, it's not going to carry the same weight, because Margarito is absolutely not the same fighter as before. There will be questions as to whether his power was in his loaded gloves rather than his fists, and people will chalk it up to beating a guy who's shot and done and perhaps was never that good in the first place. And if he LOSES? That would be terrible for Cotto, because there goes his whole excuse for losing the fight in the first place. At this moment he can confidently chalk up his loss to Margarito to the possibility of loaded gloves. And I'd venture a guess that a good number of the boxing public agrees with that sentiment. But if Cotto goes out there and gets dominated and stopped, or even convincingly defeated by decision, there goes that reason, and we start questioning whether or not Cotto was done before the Margarito fight. Cotto is in a lose lose situation. He should stay as far away from Margarito as possible. Call it what you want, Cotto not letting Margarito make another dime off his name. Call it him being offended at what Margarito did and not wanting to support that. Whatever it takes, Cotto should stay away. He should stay away from Manny as well, because that's just more bad news waiting to happen.
We essentially had this topic only recently. I hold the same viewpoint. I would cringe at seeing Margarito back on the world-stage, making money.
Everyone read it but based on the hatred we have for the cheater it's difficult, if not impossible, not to immediately answer no. I see no reason why Cotto should want a re. Even if Marg didn't have the plaster in for their fight, it is generally assumed that he did. As such, Cotto basically gets a pass for that loss anyway.
I don't believe you can artificially separate this issue from the discussion. It is as entwined within it as anything else.
I understand that, but I don't know what's so difficult of answering whether or not Miguel Cotto should try to avenge his loss? I'm fairly ambivalent about Margarito. I don't have any say so over his career (and neither do any of us) so whether or not I think he should fight or not is irrelevant. Whether or not he should ever get another dime to fight doesn't matter, as far as what I think. I'm simply asking if you are Miguel Cotto, do you go for the rematch or do you, as I feel (and Genius said as well) that it's a no win situation.
There is not much pay-off in it for Cotto from a career perspective. Maybe it would do handsome numbers on PPV, I really could not say, but it's not the safest fight at 154lbs, & should he lose, he can essentially bid goodbye to any future paydays, because a loss would end his already-fading career. He has, what, two fights left, maybe one --- if he sticks to his word about retiring by year's end. I guess you could say he has pride on the line for motivation. It will be up to Cotto whether or not that counts for anything.
I know Cotto wants a rematch. He has stated that a few times in the past, but honestly if I were him, I will not: Margacheato is too much of a risk for little reward at this point of Cotto's career. After that beating and Pacquiao's he cannot afford a third one without permanent damage. Sure, Cotto can still outbox him silly for 12 rounds like he was doing during the first five rounds, but he is no longer the boxer he was before that brutal beating. Cotto should take the Arum offer for an easy pay against Chavez Jr.
No, he has EVERYTHING to lose suppose Margarito is carefully supervised and it is proven he is completely clean, no cheating and he STILL beats Cotto up??? what then??? it'd be even MORE damaging to Cotto's legacy
I don't think Margarito cheated vs. Cotto, but I also don't think he's the same fighter he was in 2008. Still, for what he attempted vs. Mosley, I hope to never see Margarito in anything big ever again. Too bad that scumbag Arum doesn't see it the same way.
It is crystal clear that Marg was loaded against Cotto. Look how the fight unfolded....it went from Cotto outclassing to Miguel looking like he flew facefirst through a windshield in just a couple rounds. Margorito should be banned for life............if not go to prison
Agreed, i don't really see much difference between Resto's and Margarito's case, yet Resto had to go to prison, and was banned for life, and Margarito can continue after a little suspension. I do find that a bit strange.
