Cotto PROVED last night that Margarito didn't ruin him.

While Cotto got beaten up pretty badly he still proved he was a world class fighter. Miguel showed a lot of skills, landed over 170 punches, and he hurt Pacquiao going to the body. Cotto is incredably tough. Sure he got KD twice and was hurt an number of times but I think the 2nd KD especially was the result of being wreckless and bad footwork. Pacquiao landed over 330 punches and he still probally would not have gotten the kayo if Bayless didn't stop the fight.

Pacquiao's speed and foot movement won this fight. Kudos to both fighters. They made for a great night of boxing that will only help the sport we love.

**** Margarito his cheating ass robbed a champion out of what should have been an undefeated record coming into last night. Margarito won with plaster, Pacquiao won with heart, skills, and toughness.

 

I don't think there is any evidence that shows Cotto is any less of a fighter that he was pre-Margarito. He beat a very good Clottey, won a title belt and took a ton on punishment last night in nearly going the distance.

The biggest question after the Margarito fight was his durability. He proved that his durability is what is always is. He can be hurt but he recovers well, has a ton of heart, cuts easily but he can cope with it by fighting on the backfoot and switching is style into a boxer-counterpuncher.

He simply fought a better fighter last night. I think Cotto is still in his prime.

 

HBO was showing pictures of his infested wraps after he beat Cotto before the fight last night. His wraps were discolored. Pointing to greater speculation.

You can say what you want but if Margarito try to use the plaster to gain an advantage against a 37 year old Shane Mosley who was percived to be shot before the fight then he more than likely used it to gain an advantage against a 27 year old, undefeated champion who was a top 5 p4p fighter coming into the fight. I don't doubt he was loaded coming into that fight as well as the Cintron fights.

 

An actual boxing match. You should try it sometime.

 

Please he didn't have that elusiveness because Pacquiao is one of the faster welterweights of all time and Margarito is so damn slow.

Speed kills and when many of those power shots landed Cotto didn't see them. He saw most everything Margarito was throwing at him.

Cotto won 5 of the first 6 rounds against Margarito before his "workrate" kicked in. (or the plaster started to harden) Cotto was pretty successful early against Pacquiao as well he just got caught by great shots he didn't see coming and his feet were out of place for the 2nd kd. Cotto is just as good now as he was then. Mentally he is still there too because he tried to make adjustments in the fight. They were just made too late when he had already taken a lot of damage. Coming into the fight Cotto and most others thought he would be the bigger, stronger fighter and he should try to impose his will on Pac. Manny is just that much better than Margarito. The gap in skill is very obvious.