By William Mackay: I don’t like the idea of 33-year-old Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KO’s) being given an immediate title shot against WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto with Margarito coming off of a brutal 12 round decision loss to Manny Pacquiao last November. For one, I don’t like the idea of fighters that once were fighting well being given a title shot when they just got whipped. They seems so wrong to let someone fight for a title right after they’ve been soundly beaten.

I mean come on, they should at least have to fight someone good and show that they’re back and not rewarded with a straight title shot coming off of a loss. That turns boxing into a popularity contest rather than an actual sport where you work hard, get pushed up the rankings and then get a much deserved title shot after you’ve earned it. Last time I checked, Margarito has lost two out of his last three fights. How in the world can Margarito be given a title shot after that kind of lousy record in his last three fights?

Margarito isn’t ranked in the top 15 by the WBA. How does the top contenders like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Erislandy Lara, Pawel Wolak, Ryan Rhodes, and Anthony Mundine feel about Margarito getting a title shot against Cotto when he’s coming off of a loss, has two defeats in his last three fights, and isn’t even ranked in the top 15 by the WBA. I know I wouldn’t be happy. But besides that, Margarito looks nothing like he once did in 2008 when he beat Cotto. Margarito has lost a lot of hand speed and fights like he’s fighting in slow motion.

I don’t care if his promoter Bob Arum wants to get a money fight with these two guys, Margarito should at least have to beat a top contender to get a title shot and not be rewarded coming off of a loss by giving him an undeserved shot at a belt. He should be ranked in the top 15 by the sanctioning body that he’s going after the title. It just seems like some kind of old timers fight between a fighter that is prematurely shot.