Cotto says Margarito is a shadow of his former self

By Boxing News - 12/08/2010 - Comments

Image: Cotto says Margarito is a shadow of his former selfBy Jason Kim: World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KO’s) is set for a big money rematch against Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KO’s) possibly in June of 2011, depending on how well Margarito’s facial injuries heal from his recent beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in November. Cotto already fought Margarito in 2008, and lost the fight, suffering a horrible beating in the process of being stopped in the 11th round.

Cotto’s fortunes have gone up and down since then, beating a couple of lesser fighters in Joshua Clottey and Michael Jennings, but then taking a severe beating at the hands of Pacquiao. After taking seven months off to heal from that beating, Cotto came back to beat one of Top Rank’s stable fighters Yuri Foreman, who fought with torn cartilage in one of his legs until his injured leg gave out.

Cotto then easily beat the one-legged Foreman. Cotto is now feeling good about himself from that win, giving a lot of credit to his new trainer Emanuel Steward instead of looking at the delibitated state that his opponent was in. Now, Cotto plans on fighting Margarito again in a money fight. The sad thing about this fight, besides the fact that both Cotto and Margarito look almost shot, is that the winner of the fight will likely get matched up once again with Pacquiao. I can’t think of a worse idea than seeing Pacquiao beat up one of those fighters again, but they all fight in Bob Arum’s stable, so it’s inevitable because his stable doesn’t have a lot of well known fighters around the welterweight level.

In an article at elnuevodia, Cotto said “I have always looked for the big challenges. We will see what this upcoming months bring for us…Margarito is only a shadow of himself after he was caught in the [Shane= Mosley fight, but I am there to do my job and I will obtain the victory. ”

Cotto needs to look in the mirror when he talks about Margarito being a shadow of himself, because Cotto hasn’t looked the same since his loss to Margarito. And his loss to Pacquiao couldn’t have helped matters any.

About a potential rematch with Pacquiao, Cotto says “I am positive it will be a great fight and that the fans will see the difference in my corner with Steward. I have analyzed Manny a lot more.”

I kind of doubt it. I don’t think there will be one bit of difference in a rematch between Cotto and Pacquiao, other than maybe Pacquiao ending the fight much sooner next time. Cotto doesn’t stand a chance and by the time he fights Pacquiao again, if he ever does, Cotto will be even more deteriorated from his rematch with Margarito.



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