In what is the most anticipated fight card of the year (at least in the United States), the controversial rematch between WBA junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito takes place at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden in New York. After nearly getting the boot from New York last week, this much talked about event ended up where it always belonged.
That just happens to be in front of a large throng of Cotto?s Puerto Rican partisans, who just don?t want revenge and retribution but the head of Margarito, who handed Cotto his first professional loss back in July of 2008 in a fight that will forever be shrouded in suspicion and doubt.
Many- including Cotto himself- will go to their graves believing the same confiscated padding that was discovered prior to Margarito?s next bout against Shane Mosley was utilized to dangerous extent months earlier at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, when Margarito wore down Cotto, bloodied him up and forced his surrender in the 11th round.
It may have forever altered Cotto?s career, which was perfect up to that point. For Margarito, what transpired since then has forever tainted his.
Much has changed since 2008. The reality is when they first hooked up, they were considered two of the very best welterweights on the planet and thought to be in their physical primes. Cotto was ranked in numerous pound-for-pound listings and Margarito was believed to be among the most feared and avoided prizefighters in the world. As we look ahead to the night of December 3rd, both are now faded versions of themselves who have gone through rough terrain, putting irretrievable miles on their odometers. Both were beaten conclusively by Manny Pacquiao and even in subsequent victories, neither had looked nearly as dominant as they had before.
