Margarito wants Canelo or Cotto next

By Boxing News - 08/14/2016 - Comments

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By Dan Ambrose: After beating Ramon “Inocente” Alvarez (23-5-2, 15 KOs) by a 10 round split decision, former IBF/WBA/WBO welterweight champion Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito (40-8, 27 KOs) called out Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto for fights. Margarito, 38, feels he rates a fight against one of these two stars despite the fact that he barely beat the 30-year-old Ramon Alvarez last night in their 10 round fight at the Baja California Center in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico.

Alvarez wants a rematch with Margarito because he feels he should have been given the decision. However, it doesn’t look like Margarito is particularly interested in giving the 5’8” Alvarez a second fight. Margarito knocked Alvarez down in the 8th round and won the fight by the scores 97-92, 97-92 for Margarito and 95-94 for Alvarez. Margarito appeared to win five to six rounds of the fight. His knockdown of Alvarez in the 8th was the clincher.

Alvarez rallied hard in the 9th and 10th rounds to make the final results close, but it wasn’t enough. The boxing fans at ringside were cheering Margarito all night long, and they seemed to be satisfied with the decision at the end of the fight.

“I want big fights, Cotto, Canelo, and not a rematch with Ramon,” said Margarito after the fight via Fightnews.com. “I am ready for big fights. Now I want to beat his brother Saul!”

This was only the 38-year-old Margarito’s second win since making his comeback earlier this year after being out of the ring for close to five years. Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez might not want to give Margarito a fight just yet or maybe not at all. Margarito really should look to put together a few more wins over contenders before he calls out Canelo and Cotto again, because this is far too early for a fight between him and one of those stars to take place. However, Cotto doesn’t seem to mind fighting rusty and old fighters, as he’s been in talks with 42-year-old Juan Manuel Marquez for a fight for some time.

Marquez hasn’t fought in two years since 2014. Cotto is willing to fight him despite the Mexican warrior being old and no longer fighting due to a knee problem. In comparison, Margarito’s situation is far better. He’s been active since March, and he at least was able to beat fringe level fighter Ramon Alvarez last night.

Never mind that Alvarez probably should have never been ranked in the top 15 in the first place due to his meager resume filled with weak opposition and no real names. It was the World Boxing Council’s decision to give Alvarez a #13 ranking with their organization above Terrell Gausha, who looks far better in my estimation.

“I thought that the decision was for me. I want a rematch. Margarito didn’t win. The knockdown was more of a slip than anything,” said Ramon Alvarez after the fight via fightnews.com.

The knockdown in round eight wasn’t a slap from Margarito. He hit Alvarez with three clubbing right hands that caused him to try and escape. While Alvarez was moving away, Margarito hit him with another clubbing shot that knocked him down. It reminded me of the knockdown by George Foreman of Joe Frazier in their fight in 1973. At one point, Frazier turned his back to Foreman and tried to flee and was knocked down with a clubbing right hand from the young 25-year-old Foreman. Alvarez did the same thing and he paid for it. He should have grabbed Margarito in a clinch to stop him from pummeling him, because he was really working over the hurt Alvarez.

Believe it or not, I think Canelo will definitely give Margarito fight. If Canelo doesn’t fight him in December, then I can see that match-up taking place in early 2017. I think that’s the kind of fighter that Canelo is turning into. Instead of him sticking with the best guys, he’s looking to take on winnable fights where he’s got all the advantages. Look at Canelo’s recent fights against welterweight Amir Khan, James Kirkland, and Alfredo Angulo.

Khan is a welterweight with a chin problem, and Kirkland and Angulo are slow fighters that are no longer relevant. They were both major players seven years ago in 2009, but by the time that Canelo fought, they were no longer relevant. Look at Canelo’s next opponent Liam Smith. He’s the WBO junior middleweight champion, but he’s seen by many to be far below the other top fighters in the 154lb division in terms of talent. Instead of Canelo fighting the more talented guys at 154 like the Charlo brothers, Erislandy Lara, Demetrius Andrade and Julian Williams, he’s facing Liam Smith.