Fight of the Week #22: Cotto v. Margarito I & II

Absolutely buzzing for this

Let's hope it gets are boy @PhillyPhan69 back

Cotto vs Margarito 1
1. Cotto 10-9 (Cotto 10-9)
2. Cotto 20-18 (Cotto 10-9) CLOSE
3. Cotto 30-27 (Cotto 10-9)
4. Cotto 40-36 (Cotto 10-9) CLOSE
5. Cotto 50-45 (Cotto 10-9)
6. Cotto 60-54 (Cotto 10-9) CLOSE
7. Cotto 69-64 (Margarito 10-9)
8. Cotto 79-73 (Cotto 10-9)
9. Cotto 88-83 (Margarito 10-9) CLOSE
10. Cotto

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(Margarito 10-9) CLOSE

Cotto vs Margarito 2

1. Cotto 10-9 (Cotto 10-9)
2. Cotto 20-18 (Cotto 10-9)
3. Cotto 30-27 (Cotto 10-9)
4. Cotto 40-36 (Cotto 10-9)
5. Cotto 50-45 (Cotto 10-9)
6. Cotto 60-54 (Cotto 10-9)
7. Cotto 70-63 (Cotto 10-9)
8. Cotto 79-73 (Margarito 10-9)
9. Cotto

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(Margarito 10-9)

 

As for the Hand Wrap controversy I think that Margarito is definitely guilty, I've flip flopped on it abit but there is no doubt he had wraps for the Mosley fight.

I think the wraps hardened over the fight as he was taking Tony's offence well and then all of a sudden he wasn't and his face was being badly damaged by every punch.

Not to mention they weren't having any effect like that in the rematch and never scored a KO after the whole scandal. And he was actually banned for it

 

Just finished the first bout. First time watching this bout in full. I'm not a fan or expert on either Magarito or Cotto.

Hand wraps debacle. From what I know of, and what I've just seen, I think Magarito is guilty. Magarito, when he landed a flush shot, seemed to stun or shock Cotto stiff. Very unusual for a volume puncher, and obviously suspicious in retrospect. You can see this as early as the first round, from an uppercut (around 1.35).

However, my unpopular opinion is that Magarito would have beat Cotto anyway, without plaster. You can't plaster a chin, and Magarito's pressure made Cotto succumb. Cotto was not a good enough pure boxer, or an extremely durable brawler, to really deal with Maragrito effectively. Good new for Magarito.
Cotto boxed foolishly in this bout IMO. He had some good boxing, but he felt Margito's power early, and decided to consistently exchange instead, which lead to the stoppage.

notes

Magarito stuns Cotto first round.

Everytime Cotto threw a jab, Margarito countered with a right screw shot to the body. Didn't necessarily slip the jab, though.

Cotto was daunted and had his will tested as early as round 2 IMO.

Cotto looking hurt and slightly gassing early as round 3. Movement was already struggling.

Cotto's shift left is awesome. Very slick.

The momentum of the bout clearly changed after round 4. Margarito got much closer; the pressure was much more consistent. Cotto still won rounds tho.

Max Kellerman is an ass.

 

Yay! It’s back! Bigup @mrkoolkevin for bringing this back and I echo @George Crowcroft in that I hope @PhillyPhan69 returns to score a few.

In keeping with the spirit of the series I won’t give my thoughts until I’be rewatched these but am excited to watch the first one again - what a tremendous fight that was.

 

Just watched the first fight, first time I'd ever seen it and I didn't know who won the fight. I probably gave Margarito too many rounds, but to me Cotto was in an impossible situation, trying to box while going backward against a much bigger/taller opponent who pressured him the whole way and jogged toward him whenever he (Cotto) got a short break. Margarito was hitting him with punches to the arms, body, chest, head, just wherever. A lot of the rounds were close and Margarito didn't do a great job of cutting the ring, but it looked like Margarito was wearing Cotto down and it was just a matter of time.

I had given Cotto only rounds 1 and 3 with the 4th EVEN. I had Margarito leading 98-93 going into the 11th round. I probably favor the aggressor too much, but I'm not a judge!

EDIT: I don't know anything about the hand wrap controversy that I've read about in this thread. Does anybody know any details such as how it could happen in Nevada? I would think that a NSAC official watched the wrapping of Margarito's hands? If not, is there a story about why there was not an official present?

 

I was being a bit hyperbolic with Cotto. Exchanging was not in his best interest, and I found he did it much too much, but the plaster in the ocassion unfairly affected Cotto's momentum. I know it is an unpopular opinion that Margarito would beat Cotto anyway.

And I just dislike Kellerman as a commentator.

 

Just scored the second fight. AM didn't look as strong or aggressive in this one. Cotto was able to push him back this time, I don't remember Cotto being able to do that in the first fight. I had MC leading after 9 by 88-83 or 7-2 in rounds for Cotto. I gave AM rounds 3 and 6, the others for MC.

 

Fight I
10-9 C
10-9 M
10-9 C
10-9 C
10-9 C
10-10 E
10-9 M
10-9 C
10-9 C
10-9 M
97-94 Cotto , Notes : landing the better shots utilizing his movement. Margarito's cutting off the ring, work rate , constant pressure on Cotto on the ropes with big shots, strength gets the KO

Fight 2
Cotto 89-83, Round 9 Even
Notes: Cotto on his toes entire fight, landing clean shots, staying in middle of ring, lateral movement both ways. Margarito completely different this fight, not cutting off ring, chasing him down, cut early, looking a lot slower, didn't find any rhythm..

 

Fight 1:
After 10 rounds I had Margarito up 97-93. I thought the first half of the fight Cotto was successful in the way he kept Margarito moving and made himself harder to hit but as the fight wore on Margarito’s aggression started to affect Cotto and he couldn’t keep him off. I remember scoring this more favourably to Cotto when I watched it before but I thought Margarito took some rounds through effective aggression, not just because he was coming forward all the time.

Top fight with rounds 2 and 7 being the standouts for action.