New York- Miguel Cotto did not want to make any excuses as to why he lost a first fight to Antonio Margarito in 2008. He eventually changed his mind and called his victor a criminal. When asked why the change of mind, he said it was an overwhelming evidence. Maybe, just maybe he needed to think that so that he could get back in the ring and face the man who brutalized him three years ago. A racous crowd of over 21 thousand fans at the Madison Sqaure Garden was behind their beloved Puerto Rican champion who promised to exact his revenge. He was able to do just that in nine breathtaking rounds. The eye of Antonio Margarito did not hold up. Referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout after nine frames on the advice of the ringside physician. Miguel Cotto deserved the win as he boxed beautifully and attacked the weak link, an eye of a Mexican warrior who was willing to die in the ring. Margarito was visibly unhappy that the fight got stopped. “They are trying to protect him here,”he said. But what they really were trying to protect was the completely shut eye of Margarito.
“He means nothing to me ,”said Cotto after he had his hand raised in victory. When asked if he felt the difference between punches today and three years ago, vindicated Cotto said :”I am still waiting.”
Among loud boos Antonio Margarito entered the ring with a new hair dew. Even though his hair was braided, he looked just as menacing as ever. The crowd of 21,239 cheered for Cotto. It was war time...
Just like in their first fight Miguel Cotto boxed beautifully in the first round, unleashing fluid combinations.Margarito pressed forward but was ineffective . Cotto boxed beautifully in the second but Mexican warrior landed a body shot to close the round. With a cut on his right eye Margarito went for broke and created a round of fierce combat not soon to be forgotten. Margarito upped the pressure in the fourth round, whith his right eye closing. Cotto got nicked up as well. It was all Cotto so far but Tijuanna Tornado was getting closer to deliver his damage. Despite getting hammered Margarito trapped Cotto on the ropes several times and unleashed his patented body attack in the fifth. Cotto’s mouth was now bleeding. Miguel Cotto went back to boxing in the sixth, but he knew he was in a real fight. Puerto Rican champion had a much better round in the seventh boxing and moving. The right eyes of Margarito was closed after seven but he was allowed to fight. Cotto continued to pot shot in the eighth. Margarito attacked, but he was not getting the better of the exchanges.
Doctors looked really close at Margarito eye between rounds eight and nine, but they allowed it to go on treating fans to another exciting stanza.
They finally stopped the massacare after round nine as the eye of Antonio Margarito was completely shot. All three judges had Cotto winning fight eight rounds to one at the time of the stopage.
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