A few thoughts on Cotto/Margarito

Margarito's punch output won't be as high. You can't punch when you're absorbing punches. There really isn't that big of a size difference between Cotto and Margarito. Cotto is only slightly shorter than Marg, he is stocky and very strong and times his shots quite well. Margarito doesn't time his shots for the most part. He just throws them aimlessly eventually some will land because his chin is granite. Cotto will make him second guess his decision to throw 1600 punches that is without question.

 

Watch the Ndou fight. That will tell you alot.

Shane Mosley was probably the one guy that Cotto fought recently who was known for taking a good punch. Not only took a good punch but was indomitable. And look what happened there. 37 years old and alot of people thought he won the decision. Had Mosley pressed Cotto harder late in the fight I think as well as others do that it would have been a clear victory for Mosley.

Don't be surprised if Cotto is shut down and knocked out here. His whole presence in the ring is based on suppression and Margarito is indomitable as well. If Margarito eats those punches without an issue Cotto is going to be facing a real tough night. This isn't a 37 year old Mosley. This is a brawler who is in his prime who loads up on punch after punch after punch and doesn't stop even if you throw back.

You can pretty much go through Cotto's list of opponents from Ndou up to Mosley and find flaws that work in favor of Cotto. A weakness in punch resistance like Judah or a passive trait which is suppressable like Branco. Those are just two examples. Since we have seen Quintana knocked out in one round by Paul Williams (who many suggest is not a huge puncher), we have seen guys like Abdulaev hurt before by Emmanuel Clottey (yes I am aware of the controversy), and we have seen the same happen to names like Randall Bailey.

Mind you these are all good fighters. But team Cotto chose them for a reason.

The one cat in a bag was Ricardo Torres who while smaller than Cotto, came with a big punch, an aggressive style and an indomitable spirit. And look what happened there. Cotto was spagetti legs all over the place.

While everyone picks opponents based on vunerabilities I can not and will not knock team Cotto for that. That is part of building a success. I accept that. What I don't accept from his fanbase is that Margarito is somehow part of that group that he can exploit. Team Cotto recognizes this as a real tough test for a reason. Margarito has none of those weaknesses.

He is an inevitable return to the caliber of Lovemore Ndou. He is a top notch brawler with an indomitable spirit, a great punch himself, a high workrate and a chin made of granite. He has all the natural tools to give Cotto one hell of a fight.

 

margarito struggled with clottey.

 

good analysis. I too am picking Margo here

 

Cotto struggled with opponents too. Does that mean they beat him? Nope.

 

Ummmm. Margarito has 4 inches on cotto. I wouldn't call that slightly bigger.

 

Indeed he did..

I think Cotto is going to fight smart and possibly even on his backfoot as Margo will be the aggressor, so I see Cotto landing some nice accurate counter-punches with Margo missing a lot of those untimed or wide punches, thus allowing Cotto to hit him.. They'll probably fight on the inside time to time as well and then I can see Cotto working on Margo's body.. I wouldn't be surprised if I see Cotto get rocked from an uppercut or a straight, but I just think Cotto will wear and break Margo down even though he'll be throwing less punches.. I could be wrong though, but I can't wait for this fight though.. Has FOTY written all over it...

 

IDK but i think that'd be an advantage for cotto...His wins are b/c of his unbelieveable body punching...Being smaller allows him to reach the body easier...How do you smarter boxing folks feel bout this?

 

It can be possible, but once again, it remains to be seen in 3 weeks.

 

The people I've seen picking Cotto do so on the basis of underrating Margarito's effectiveness to a criminal degree.

The idea that he throws nothing but wide, untimed punches is ridiculous. If that were the case he wouldn't be where he is today.

 

I'd like to see Margarito win but I think Cotto will win it by outboxing him over 12 rounds.

 

This fight is really 50/50. No matter who you pick here, there are things you can point to here: weaknesses that the other fighter can exploit. In all, all of this comes down to which fighter can do the best in shoring up his weaknesses while accentuating his strengths in preparation. May the best man win...

 

Like I said before, I will say it again. This will be one of those fights where you say "I can't believe I even thought Margo had a chance"..... Not sure if anyone caught it, but the Clot\Margo Cotto\Quint was on Showtime last night. I hope the Margo that showed up there doesn't show up in Vegas.