That's one of the biggest questions I've ever had in a boxing fight. Cotto was in his prime and in the biggest and most significant fight of his career. He's winning on the cards. It's the 11th round. Margarito jogs to him and Cotto takes a knee. The ref stops the fight and Cotto throws away a fight he has in the bag if he just absorbs one more round of punishment. Am I not the only guy thinking all he has to do is to hang on for just 1 more round?
Did you see his face vs Margarito's? He was worn out and tired. Tony must have been on something because he had the energy of a toddler that night. Margo had a great chin and Cotto did his best at hitting it flush, but his shots were not working. He should have just outboxed but he was trying to brawl with a brawler and he paid dearly.
He was getting hit repeatedly with bricks on the face and body. That fight ruined his punch resistance forever, even Floyd Mayweather almost knocked him out. If he made it to another round, not only would he still have lost, he'd probably die.
I was surprised though after watching it again that Cotto chose to take the knee rather than just get pummeled for 3 more minutes and get the decision. You're right that Margarito may have been on something. Seems suspicious, could have been EPO.
Margarito threw near 1000 punches in that fight, even if it was a 5'11" Malinaggi throwing at Cotto that much punches he would have been done...Margarito Chin took everything Cotto threw at him Margarito fight night edge in Chin & Effective Pressure in the form of long range high punch output, were the result of physical advantages Margarito had over Cotto What won Margarito that fight: Margarito Size (147 Margarito vs 140 Cotto) Height 5'11" vs Cotto 5'7" Reach 73" vs Cotto 67" Margarito was a very solid Welterweight with no team protection or prospect phase, he fought his way into the game 100% & gave young Sergio Martinez a solid beating. His image had to be tarnished because he was becoming an obstacle for important people in boxing.
1) Margarito has always had excellent stamina and I doubt he was on something. Calzaghe also had excellent stamina. It doesn't mean you're on PEDs if you have good stamina. 2) Cotto was actually trying to outbox Margarito, and THAT was the mistake. He was repeating the strategy Martinez used on Margarito, which got him TKOed in the same manner. The only way to beat Margarito is to brawl with him and hit him with powershots continually, like the guys that beat him did (especially Mosley and that guy who got 2 DQ wins over Margarito).
Nothing to do with size, has to do with chin and will. Margarito's fought guys like Sergio and Clottey who are bigger. No one could even buzz this guy except Mosley. Pac only hurt him to the body.
He's thinking more like Joe Calzaghe, who fought cheaters like Jones and Hopkins. Calzaghe is one skilled, hard man. Cotto is a little soft.