BODY SHOT: Antonio Margarito Outsmarts Miguel Cotto — and the Rest of Us
July 27, 2008
Boxing history’s most dramatic knockouts are those that come without a single punch. It is the picture of Joe Frazier on his stool in Manila as trainer Eddie Futch tells him “Sit down, son. No one will ever forget what you did here today.” It is Roberto Duran waving off Sugar Ray Leonard while exclaiming “No mas”. And it was yesterday as an utterly spent and exhausted Miguel Cotto dropped down to one knee after being backed into a corner in the 11th round by a relentless Antonio Margarito before his trainer and uncle, Evangelista Cotto waved the white towel. No Aaron Pryoresque barrage would be necessary to finish off Cotto – only the mere thought of one. Announcer Max Kellerman immediately pronounced the fight “A modern day classic” while Jim Lampley called it “An epic fight with an epic conclusion”. While HBO announcers are known to embellish from time to time, it ain’t hyperbole if it’s the truth. And if you are upset that you missed the bout, all I can say is: “I told you so”.
While many thought the fight might become a modern day Hagler-Hearns, it became more Ali-Frazier — a classic battle of skill vs. will. For 11 rounds Antonio Margarito walked straight through a barrage of brutal left hooks, left jabs, uppercuts, and overhand rights from Cotto. Despite Cotto’s superior hand-speed, the determined Margarito kept pushing forward while pressing the action. Cotto’s precision punches dominated the early going while Margarito shook Cotto in round seven with thundering uppercuts and left hooks. By the end of the 10th round Margarito rocked Cotto one more time who was subsequently saved by the bell. Margarito dropped him one more time in the following round before Cotto finally submitted.
Kellerman said how the fight went “from an exhibition of skill to an exhibition will”. After the fight promoter Bob Arum added: “I just thought he (Margarito) became like an express train that couldn’t be stopped… Cotto was hitting him with tremendous punches and they were having no effect at all. Finally, the express train ran him over.”
Because of Margarito’s constant pressure and indomitable spirit, Arum’s post-fight commentary will likely go down as the lasting impression of this fight. And while the “will over skill” narrative is absolutely correct, celebrating Margarito’s brawn — but not his brains — tells only half the story. Last night, Margarito was far more than “a brawler”. In order to beat a more highly-skilled opponent he perfectly executed a calculated game plan while Cotto lacked any real fight strategy.
How Antonio Margarito Outsmarted Cotto — and The Rest of Us:
Miguel Cotto wasn’t merely “outfought” – he was “out-thought”. Upon close inspection, Margarito didn’t really knock him out in round 11, but figuratively floored him in round 2 – a close round with Cotto landing 35 punches to Margarito’s 33. Interestingly, virtually all of Cotto’s punches were head shots, while Margarito exclusively worked Cotto’s body with repeated powerful right-left-right hook combinations to Cotto’s kidneys and liver. After the round, HBO naturally showed the sexier super slow-motion replays of Cotto clean left hooks to Margarito’s chin. This pattern coninued through the 6th round, and while Cotto was ahead on the scorecard battle, it was Margarito who was winning the war. Margarito said afterwards: “that was the game plan, to come out early strong and to wear him down and knock him out. I got him with body shots, and then I hit him in the head, and then I knocked him out.”
Like Frazier in his first fight with Ali, Margarito body shots were slowly, viciously, and methodically zapping Cotto of his legs, his stamina, and his will. By the latter rounds Cotto was understandably dropping his hands too low out of sheer exhaustion and/or a subconscious effort to protect his battered body. By this time, Margarito shifted his focus to Cotto’s exposed head. This is the power of body shots early and often. This is what won Margarito the fight just as much as his determination. This is why Cotto fell to one knee with no final punch required.
Where Miguel Cotto Went Wrong:
Miguel Cotto fought this fight with a championship heart, but an amateur strategy. Firstly, there were too many direct exchanges with Margarito that eliminated Cotto’s skill advantage. Even after Cotto won the third round, his trainer warned “there is no reason to be on the inside”. Cotto did not heed his trainers warnings until Margarito’s 7th round uppercuts sent a much clearer message. Suddenly, Cotto went from confrontational slugger, to a boxer who slipped in left jabs and left hooks in between rides on his bicycle. Had he started this strategy after the third round, this may have been a completely different article. While Cotto’s choice to go mano-a-mano can be understood, the next point cannot.
Margarito’s greatest strategic success proved to be Cotto’s greatest strategic failure. Most inexplicably, Cotto — a devastating body puncher himself — abandoned his signature left hooks to the body, and didn’t throw more than one body combination in any given round. Cotto’s game plan helped Margarito — and his well-known granite chin – to have extra reserves for the latter rounds. It was like a great pitcher going into a playoff game and deciding he could win the game without using his curve-ball. It most likely came as result of Cotto’s arrogance derived from never having experienced defeat. Cotto inflicted the type of punishment that would have knocked out almost any other fighter — except Margarito. And now Cotto has learned a valuable lesson that Margarito recently learned from previous losses: superior skill — without a superior strategy — will only take you so far at the elite championship level.
How will Cotto respond to his first defeat?
Unfortunately in boxing, the answer is just as much psychological as it is physical. Making a few tactical adjustment might work in bowling, but not boxing. Kellerman explained: “Antonio Margarito just broke Miguel Cotto. Once he’s gone to that place where he fell at the knee of another man where so many have fallen before him… the question is; ‘can he come back from that place’”…
As we will soon find out whether Cotto can recover from “that place”, Antonio Margarito may soon find himself in a place of riches as a possible Oscar De La Hoya match-up looks promising. After being ducked by top contenders for so many years, it is hard to imagine a more deserving jackpot candidate. And if Oscar says “no”, there is not one single fan who witnessed yesterday’s event that would not sign up for the encore. While Cotto and Margarito spend the next couple of weeks healing, they have ensured that in the absence of a now-retired Floyd Mayweather and a sunsetting career of De La Hoya, the welterweight division is alive and well.
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Boxing End Notes:
1) D-Wil Nails Prediction: He said: “Margarito in an upset!… Cotto’s is great… but he’s never faced a fighter who can consistently unleash a barrage of punches at him… As far as punishment is concerned, wouldn’t the fighter’s styles say, all things being equal, Margarito will mete out more punishment to Cotto as the fight goes on than the reverse?… By the 8th round, Cotto had faced more power punches from AM than he had from anyone in any previous fight. While Margarito’s main source of defense was his chin, it was still strong enough to take the fight, and give the prophetic D-Wil some boxing bragging rights for some time.
2) HBO’s Max Kellerman called a great fight in terms of his anticipation of the fight’s ebbs and flows. After Cotto wins Round 3, Max asks:“Can Cotto sustain this pace”. During the 6th round Max warns: “what we have so far is a classic performance by Miguel Cotto, but the fight does give you the sense — especially when Cotto drops his hands as he did at the end of the last round to avoid punches — that it could turn on a dime…” and “I think Cotto is actually dominating this round, BUT Margarito is really making him pay a price this round with those body shots.” Moments before Margarito hurts Cotto with biggest blows in the 7th, Max says: “this is the first round that I feel that Mis fighting on even terms with Cotto.”
3) My Scorecard: I had Cotto winning rounds 1, 3, 5, 6, and 9 and Margarito taking the others for a 5-5 even split in rounds prior to the knockout in round 11. Rounds 2 (Marg) and 9 (Cotto) were the most difficult to score.
Picture: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Related Boxing Stories:
- Cotto vs. Margarito: 10 Reasons Why You Must Watch This Fight! (July 25, 2008)
- Is HBO Boxing, Larry Merchant, Racially Biased? (July 7, 2008)
- Tainted Legacy: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Quits Boxing (June 7, 2008)
- Will Oscar De La Hoya Do The Right Thing? (May 4, 2008)
- Joe Calzaghe Beats Hopkins… or did Bernard Beat Himself? (April 20, 2008)
- Cotto and Tarver Win, But Undercards Steal the Show (April 14, 2008)
Comments
18 Responses to “BODY SHOT: Antonio Margarito Outsmarts Miguel Cotto — and the Rest of Us”
Got something to say?
I knew Cotto had the fight. He went in strong but, didn’t finish it. Antonio is no challage to Miguel Cotto if he is on his “A” game like he always is. Dont worry Antonio, Cotto will be back for a rematch and it won’t end up the same. Its not gonna be another victory like Cintron. Get ready Margarito. “Get ready.”
Reinaldo, Cotto was on his A game, but he could NOT phase Margarito. There was NOTHING Cotto could have done differently to win that fight. People say he could have went to body more, but he couldnt. After that 2nd round Cotto knew he couldn’t go inside and trade shots with Margarito. His best bet was to do what he did, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.
even thow cotto did not win he did show balls by fighting margarito and that says alot so in your face floyd
Why slurp white boy Max Killerman?
Cotto lead with his head and paid the price. The only promise guaranteed brown boys in this sport. It is Judas who gives this promise, Miguel should have boxed smartly and avoided damage….the payoff would have been much greater.
Modi - I like how you broke down the fight. As I was watching, I thought Cotto was getting the better punches of the exchanges but in reality AM was breaking him down to the body. Cotto’s plan was to hit and move (sound familiar) which he was doing a good job of. I never saw AM back up once…he was the aggressor the whole fight. Cotto boxed more and slugged but AM was just to tough. Very good fight.
I’ll probably add more later, but a few thoughts:
*Great fight. Margarito was in a zone, and earned that victory. Gave the performance of his life.
*As Cotto began to fade, two things popped in my mind:
1) That lack of confidence in his corner, as highlighted in the ‘Countdown’, showed as no adjustments were made
2) Thinking back to the Gomez fight, I remember Cotto deviating somewhat from his normal ‘cyborg destroyer’ style and showing more ‘flair’. I wonder if the ease of that fight, combined with Shane not truly pressing the attack in the last rounds of that fight, gave him too much confidence.
*Cotto boxed beautifully, but not necessarily as effectively as he could have.
This is where I disagree with you, MODI. IMO, Cotto should have come forward more often, especially early in the fight. He won almost every exchange when he did, and he is comfortable doing so.
Much like Mosley did against ODLH in the first fight, it would have have the duel effect of breaking Margo’s “march forward and punch” routine that was building momentum and it would have highlighted to the judges the skill differential.
As both the Clottey (even later in the fight) and Williams fight showed, you can hit Margo exploding in and out. And this tends to frustrate Margo, making him even wilder and easier to hit.
*Cotto wasted waaaay too much of his legs moving as far away as he did. He needed to do a better job of controlling distance. Should have boxed while moving away, instead of moving then setting (and allowing Margo to plant also) Could have used more tricks like spinning Margo or clutching to save strength.
Roy Jones always said that once he put those early rounds in the bank, he’d basically go into an alternate round strategy: win one them take the next one off. That’s what Cotto should have done.
*If there was EVER a fight for Cotto to unveil his never-shy-about-using “Sack Destroyer” punch, this would have been the time.
*Why Cotto never invested in the body. even later in the fight, will go down as the biggest mystery in this fight. Could have help slow the attack, while giving margo something to think about.
*I thought Cotto was up AT LEAST 2 points going into the 11th. Sure the tide was turning in the war, but I thought Cotto had won most of the ‘battles’ (i.e. - rounds)
Smelled like a classic Arum situation, which I still maintain that for Top Rank, the best (and paid -oops, I mean ‘prayed’ for) outcome was a Margarito decision.
*Cotto can win a rematch, IF he can ever come back from this.
*I’m even more convinced that PBF beats both of these guys. He’d frustrate the hell out of Margo with those jabs to the stomach, his movement, and his shoulder rolls and parrying on the ropes.
And Cotto would probably walk into something, Hatton style, against PBF. Way too hittable.
*Max Kellerman was on point the entire fight. Why people still hate on the guy is beyond me.
*HBO could have done without the super slo mo stuff at the end. The man just fought a war, arguably was winning the fight, and tasted his first defeat.
No need to show his kids and wife like that.
Show him some respect (though he could have stayed for the post fight interview - but I understand that also).
That’s the type of sh!t they would do to PBF, RJJ, or a Tyson.
*I’m worried about a certain poster here. He had so much invested in certain fighters and the machismo of their style. I fear that after watching Cotto box (or as he calls it, RUN) and then seeing him ‘QUIT’, probably send him into the abyss.
(no names necessary for this blind item)
Did Sweet Jones just advise Cotto to deliver a low blow?
That ain’t trill homie, not at all.
If that’s not ringside reporting, I don’t know what is. Kudos!!
Big Man,
I’m not condoning it.
But Cotto DOES have a history of it (Corley fight), especially when he’s in trouble (see the Torres and Judah fights). And here’s what Cotto said about his rep for low blows before the Mosley fight:
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Cotto apologized to Judah for the low blows, but has made no guarantees the same won’t happen to Mosley. “This is a fight, this is professional fighting,” he said. “You do what you have to do to win, and so things that happen in the ring are going to happen. Whatever it takes to get a win, I’ll do.”
Link: http://www.nypost.com/seven/11072007/sports/mosleys_dad_jabs_at_cotto_510543.htm
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All I’m saying is that for a guy with that mindset who had no problem previously engaging in that tactic, this fight seemed like as good a time as any to use it.
Big Man,
Damn, I just caught the ‘trill’ thing. Made me chuckle. True indeed.
Was just listening to Port Arthur’s finest today on David Banner’s new cd. Chad Butler is missed (though I’ve had this nickname before he used it).
Sweet Jones, how did you have Cotto up at least 2 points… do you remember how you scored the first 10? …
Yeah, Cotto won the exchanges, but it seemed to come at a long-term price. And there is also the negative psychological effect of watching someone walk right through your very best punches
About PBF, I think that he definitely beats margarito by frustrating him with a much smarter fight ala Paul Williams, but am not so sure about Cotto. As you know styles make fights and just because Cotto loses to Margo doesn’t translate that he would to PBF. The fight that i still want to see is Cotto-PBF.
If Cotto can psychologically recover — a big if — I believe that he could win the rematch if he fights smarter. But DAMN, work the body!!!
– bruhman, Kellerman called a great fight — plain and simple. The difference between him and merchant is like night and day.
– I try Temple… I try…
Nothing like reading this board. Modi, allow me to talk some real boxing. My uncle fought professionally in PR so let’s talk REAL BOXING and not media analysis via speculation. You were on the right track and I give you great credit.
Let’s talk simplicity and skills. The fighter who punches harder dictates who moves forward. This is a common rule and is A #1. Fighters who punch harder can either fight straight up and chase, or fight circularly in order to lure the quicker opponent into thinking he is following him, when he isn’t.
The fundamental issue Cotto had with Margarito is he simply doesn’t punch hard enough. That being said, Cotto refused to exchange body shots with Margarito, because investing in body shots leaves you wide open for counters to your own body and head. Cotto wasn’t looking for that type of fight. Defensively, neither Cotto nor Margarito are A+. Cotto has more pure boxing skill, but against a stone chinned man like Margarito, it doesn’t matter how good your skills are. If you can’t keep your man off you, you must hit the pavement and run or you sit there and fend him off with your weaponry. Cotto doesn’t hit hard enough. If you have fought someone, one would know that it takes a great amount of determination to keep hitting someone you can’t hurt. Cotto had that determination, but not the conditioning. Could Miguel had done anything differently? Sure, he could have trained harder…lol. I don’t think Cotto has the genetics/conditioning level to beat Margarito. Margarito would simply walk him down and take him apart again. Cotto can’t stand his ground because he would get blown away. He doesn’t punch hard enough to back up Margarito consistently over 12 rounds. The “sweet science” is about punching not running. All the “sweet science” idiots who talk about “defensive fighting” don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about for the most part. Defensive fighting equals running and had Cotto run, he makes the fight a total goddamned bore. Cotto wouldn’t do that, because that’s not his style. A chickendick like AVOID GAYFEATHER would have ran and ran and ran all night long.
This fight brings me back to Tito and Oscar in 1999. If Oscar had half the BALLS Miguel had, he would have been knocked out the same. Tito was bearing in and coming after Oscar after round 8. Oscar did the UNTHINKABLE. He ran like a PUSSY. Had Miguel Cotto ran like that, he finishes the fight on his feet and possibly gets a draw. Go figure.
I hate to bring this up, but I must. This is why the only people who actually think Miguel Cotto was anywhere near the skill of Felix “Tito” Trinidad is smoking a helluva lot of drugs. Felix “Tito” Trinidad was a perfect boxing machine at 147. Here was a guy blessed with blazing hand speed, bone crushing power in both fists, durability and heart. Here was a guy who ended careers and put fighters in hospital emergency rooms. I was actually chuckling after the fight, because I am SURE thousands of Tito fans in PR were smiling at the Cotto fans who had the BALLS to announce Cotto would wind up the greatest Puerto Rican fighter in the island’s history.
As for the GAYFEATHER fans, there must be a HUGE sigh of relief coming from them. GAYFEATHER already ducked Margarito, and now the guy EVERYONE wanted to fight him was destroyed by a bigger, stronger Margarito. Now GAYFEATHER can sit in retirement and not have to risk his undefeated record.
Sorry I have not commented earlier but I have no internet at the crib right now.
Anyway a couple of things. First it seemed that Cotto actually put on a boxing clinic. He circled away from Margarito’s power and was landing the cleaner and what appeared to be the harder shots. It looked like he got fatiqued at the end, but I swear it seemed to me that he outboxed Margarito and one of the few things he did wrong was not being able to take the return fire from him. Seriously, Margarito took a ton of leather and looked like he could go a few more rounds. I’m not sure why Cotto couldn’t take his punches at all, but he definitely started looking a little small out there the longer the fight went. Also, it looked to me that Margarito invested more in body shots and it paid off later in the fight. I don’t think a rematch is necessary. Looked like Cotto used a similar strategy that Clottey did, but Clottey is bigger than him and size mattered in this case. Oh, and if HBO decides to go with Kellerman I am all for it.
Now you all see why AVOID GAYFEATHER ducked Margarito for 8 million big ones. Cotto, who is a more vicious puncher than AVOID is, couldn’t dent Margarito. Margarito would sneer at GAYFEATHER’S punches. AVOID would be in full and total spring mode, because unlike the physically superior Paul Williams, he doesn’t have the size to keep that monster off him. That fight would be a total disaster to watch.
Jimmy,
Nope. I see even more reason for Margarito to get beat by Mayweather. Are you freakin’ serious? Dude did Mayweather fuck your wife or something? Your shit is getting old. Turn. The. Page.
Besides you hit on the reason. 8 million big ones opposed to how many against ODLH. Also, how much do you think he can get if he fights Margarito now?
AWB- You GAYFEATHER fans might want to suck his dick, but that’s YOUR problem, man. Has nothing to do with basic boxing and realistic situations. In your BLINDED by nationalistic pride point of view, you think GAYFEATHER has the physical tools to beat Margarito? LMFAO!!!! Cotto punches measurably harder than Williams and Gayfeather, and couldn’t make Margarito budge. GAYFEATHER isn’t going to do anything different than Cotto would. He would take the same punches, because Margarito will let GAYFEATHER pepper him with 10 punches to connect 3 or 4 body shots. Gayfeather will be winning on points up until the late rounds and then get totally hammered by the Tijuana Tornado. If you understand boxing principles, you would see the picture as clear as a sunny day. Gayfeather’s vaunted “defense” is about not getting nailed in the jawbone by an opponent’s best punch. Margarito, like most killer Mexican fighters, target the body and don’t worry about the head until your gas has been expended. Gayfeather’s defense will protect his face all night, but the body will be quite a different story. You need POWER to beat a guy like Margarito. You need the type of power that will slow down his pursuit and make him be more tactical. GAYFEATHER has power to beat up little 140lb guys like Hatton. Doing it against a savage like Margarito is a totally different theory. GAYFEATHER couldn’t and wouldn’t try to take out a SCRUB like Baldomir. How is he supposed to take on a guy stronger, bigger and more conditioned than him? You think Gayfeather’s power can slow down Margarito? If you think that, you’re fucking stupid, son. Plain and simple! Shows you that this fight taught you nothing. Cotto would kick the shit out of Gayfeather like Margarito did Cotto. That’s why Gayfeather is sitting in retirement rather than come out and defend the title like the champion YOU AND HIM think he is.
Paul Williams beat Margarito on points, only because he is physically superior, and even then, Margarito wore him down. If that were a 15 round fight like they had back in the day, Margarito beats him. Guaranteed Williams leaves 147 soon rather than give Margarito a rematch.
This fight is proof positive you GAYFEATHER fans would believe ANYTHING rather than the truth. Let’s see…He ducked Margarito because of money. What will be the excuse to not come out of retirement to fight THE BEST WELTERWEIGHT in the division now that the Oscar fight went down the toilet?
One more thing. To the asshole SWEET JONES. Cotto fought face first. And although he was moving around entirely too much, Cotto knew he didn’t have the pop to take down Margarito. Despite knowing this, he still took on the challenge, gave the fans a great fight, and fell on his sword after he expended himself trying to beat Margarito. THAT’S what REAL CHAMPIONS do. THAT’S the type of boxing fans want to see. Nobody wants to hear pussy reasons as to why fighters fight the way Wright, Hopkins and GAYFEATHER fight. If the fight game is too vicious, go sell fruits on the street corner. Boxing is for MEN. Cotto and Margarito fought like men. The better man won.
When did the American boxing fans turn into such pussies?
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