WBA world light-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto retained his belt and earned revenge against “The Tijuana Tornado” Antonio Margarito by a 10th round TKO in their rematch before an electric crowd of 21,239 Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) pulverized, and outclassed, Margarito (38-8, 27 KOs) for nine rounds before the ring doctor mercifully intervened and saved the evil Mexican from absorbing further damage to his right-eye.
In an uncharacteristic gesture that exhibited his absolute disdain for Margarito, the likable and humble Cotto walked to the challenger’s corner and stared down his battered foe when the fight was halted.
"I wanted him to see me savoring my victory," Cotto, 31, told SI.com. "With the one eye he had open."
Margarito hadn’t fought since last November when he was violently thrashed by legendary prizefighter Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao and had his right eye socket shattered in a fitting showcase of ring justice.
The sinister Mexican had surgery mere days after the 36-minute pounding he endured in “The Lone Star State.”
This past spring in Salt Lake City, Margarito also required cataract surgery and had an artificial lens placed in his eye by Dr. Alan Crandall.
The New York State Athletic Commission forced Margarito to submit to a thorough examination of his right eye by a doctor of their selection before it would vote on his application for a boxing license.
Ultimately, Gotham’s suits approved the right for Margarito to get beautifully bludgeoned by Cotto.
Understandably, yet somewhat chillingly, the Puerto Rican icon promised in advance he would consistently target Margarito’s wounded eye.
"I will take advantage of his eye, the way he took advantage with the plaster," said Cotto, referencing their notorious first encounter.
In their initial prizefight in July 2008, the despicable Margarito (38-7-0-1, 27 KOs) controversially beat Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) with a savage 11th round TKO.
Roughly seven months after his epic battle with Cotto, Margarito had his boxing license justifiably revoked by the California State Athletic Commission in February 2009 after it was discovered that he attempted to scrap former three-division titlist "Sugar" Shane Mosley with a plaster-like substance inside of his hand wraps.
Fortunately, "Margacheato" was caught and proven to be a cowardly charlatan by officials at the Staples Center in Los Angeles before the match began and he had the opportunity to seriously injure Mosley (46-7-1-1, 39 KOs) with his cement fists.
Cotto, who was a visibly different prizefighter after Margarito hit him a few hundred times with cinder blocks, lost his second fight as a professional by a brutal 12th round TKO to Pacquiao(54-3-2, 38 KOs) in November 2009.
"I felt extra motivation," said Cotto, who connected on 210 of 493 punches (43 percent) compared to 147 of 700 for Margarito (22 percent). "I was vindicated. You can see my face now and how I got out of ring in 2008. Draw your own conclusions."
Although an utter scumbag, Margarito, who needed 12 stitches this time to close his eye, does deserve credit for his incredible determination and unwavering refusal to quit.
Roger “Pitt” Perron is a respected boxing trainer from Brockton (Mass.) who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training.
Perron was pleased with the outcome and stated, “I’m glad Cotto beat his a$$.”
“The cheater (Margarito) got what he deserved,” said Perron, 75, who worked with Marvelous Marvin Hagler. “I hear that he is all done fighting. Good riddance. He’s a piece of Sh&#!”
Margarito may be “all done fighting.”
However, Cotto, who has now recorded five victories against one defeat since the corrupt bout nearly four years ago, is certainly not finished.
Besides Margarito, the only other thing Miguel Cotto “finished” this weekend is a glittering resume that warrants future induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York.
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