The first fight Cotto won the first 6 rounds in a similar fashion to this fight however the shots Margarito did land seem to have more to say in the first fight. This is what slowed Cotto down enough for Marg to take control of the fight and take the win. It seems in this fight Margarito didnt really hurt Cotto at all apart from maybe once with the upper cuts, which let Cotto control the fight comfortably until the stoppage. Is this along with the photos Cotto keeps pointing too enough evidence to say Margarito wore plastered wraps in the Cotto fight and possibly many more. Also If he really didnt know about it in the Mosley fight, is there reason to suggest Marg has been wearing them for a long portion of his professional career thus him not noticing the weight difference?
I believe he had plaster wraps in the first bout, whether he knew about them is another story. Does last night highlight the difference between the two bouts? No. Just because Cotto wasn't stopped in similar fashion, or that he took less visual damage last night does not prove anything, IMO. Cotto got his gameplan near enough spot on last night. His movement was excellent, very fluid. Although he was circling to his left, he did not just circle to the left, he employed really good lateral movement, left and right...less predictable. He clinched when needed, slowed Margarito's assault down by sticking his head on Margarito's chest, and then either throwing a shot, or pushing Margarito away. Really good tactics, along the lines of what I was looking/hoping for. So my answer to the question is, no.
no, i dont think it does. what i do think it proves is that margarito is not the same fighter he was around the time of the first cotto fight, and that miguel cotto can box, use his head and fight the right kind of fight this time around. anyway, well done to miguel cotto, he's a decent guy and a credit to boxing. this victory must mean a lot to him.
It doesn't prove it. But the fact that Margarito's punches didn't slow down Cotto this time, while last time they heavily slowed and cut (everywhere) a younger, fresher Cotto, is circumstantial evidence.
