Boxing Scribe Vivek Wallace brings his Left-Hook Lounge mailbag to FightHype.com, answering questions for fans and giving his own unique perspective on all the latest current events in boxing. This week, check out his response to fans as they discuss this Saturday’s rematch between Miguel Cotto and Cotto Margarito, the likelihood of Saul Alvarez getting his wish to face Floyd Mayweather in May, and much more.
Charles H. (Brooklyn, NY): I read your previous take on the Cotto/Margarito fight and it seems you lean strongly toward Antonio Margarito based on some sort of psychological edge. I beg to differ and think that Cotto has less wear and tear on him and will enter the ring the fresher man. Would you disagree that Cotto has a chance to stop Margarito in their rematch?
Vivek W. (FH): Under normal conditions, I would not only disagree, but strongly disagree that Cotto has any shot at actually stopping Margarito. That being said, although I lean towards Margarito in this rematch for the same reasons I did in the initial showdown, (which I’ll get into in a moment), I really think the true X-Factor this time will be the fact that we have zero idea how Margarito’s recovering orbital bone will respond. I found light humor in his trainer, Garcia, saying in HBO’s 24/7 piece that he told the sparring partners to go at Margarito’s eye and it has responded well, so he’s not concerned. Uhhhhh…..it should respond well…..he had on facial protective gear that doesn’t allow flush shots and these men were using sparring gloves, which generally contain extra padding to help cushion the punches even more.
What happens when Cotto’s thunderous hooks start to land? What happens when Margarito’s eye sustains the effects of direct power? To his credit, the eye was severely damaged and sensitive against Pacquiao, yet he kept coming forward. So, he may have the ‘cajones’ to take a licking and keep ticking, but knowing the troubles Top Rank went through just to get him licensed in the first place, how much damage do you really think the medical staff will let him suffer if Cotto’s hook finds a home? Yes, I think the beating Margarito gave Cotto before will have residual effect, and if Margarito starts to land early and often, I do believe Cotto could lose confidence. He was bleeding from both nostrils and slightly cut above the eyelash as early as the 3rd round before. That kind of pain doesn’t totally fade away.
I can see Cotto winning if he’s disciplined enough to stick to a fundamental boxing script, refraining from the close quarter shootouts that left him wounded before. That scenario aside, the only way I see him actually stopping Margarito is based on damage to the eye. No other scenario do I see Cotto stopping Margarito in this fight. And I say that on the record.
