Antonio Margarito’s team announced yesterday that he has been medically cleared to rematch Miguel Cotto on December 3rd, a fight originally looked into as far back as the former’s November loss last year to Manny Pacquiao.
Despite initial interest from both parties, injuries sustained by Margarito during his fight with Pacquiao forced him to delay any return fight and for a time there were even concerns that he would be forced to retire altogether.
As good as the first fight between Cotto and Margarito was however, the interest presented by a rematch in this case goes deeper than fans merely wanting to see a repeat performance.
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After handing Cotto his first career loss, Margarito next faced Shane Mosley, an aging veteran most expected him to beat. Shortly before the fight however Margarito was found to have loaded hand wraps, and was subsequently stopped by Mosley in nine rounds, the only stoppage loss in his career.
Immediately the hand wrap scandal threw doubt on Margarito’s victory over Cotto, and both have been eager for a rematch ever since.
Margarito to prove that his first victory wasn’t down to having fists the consistency of cement. Cotto to cast further doubt over the last fight, and to avenge one of his two career losses.
The reason a rematch has been so long coming is partly down to Margarito’s subsequent suspension.
Margarito’s liberal interpretation of the rules kept him on the shelf for a little over a year, and after a tune up fight in Mexico which he was quickly announced as the next opponent for Manny Pacquiao. Advertisement
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Cotto meanwhile had taken a beating from Pacquiao himself since then, and had gone on to move up in weight and capture the WBA light middleweight title from Yuri Foreman.
After plans for Margarito vs. Cotto II were shelved earlier this year due to Margarito’s injuries, Cotto also defended his title against Ricardo Mayorga in March, stopping him in the final round.
December 3rd then will probably find Margarito and Cotto several fights past their respective peaks, and it could be the case that whichever of them has deteriorated the most since their 2008 bout will be the loser.
Also perhaps of consequence, Margarito will be coming off a layoff of just over a year and is despite the medical clearance may still be recovering from injuries. Cotto on the other hand fought earlier this year.
Countering his recent inactivity however, and hand wraps aside, Margarito unarguably has a style very difficult for Cotto to handle, and while Margarito can still take a beating as well as he ever could, Cotto’s stamina and speed have only slowed of late due to a career of grueling fights.
Revenge and absolution storylines aside then the fight should make for a compelling one, and will be a difficult one to predict.
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