Fight of the Year: Antonio Margarito Ko's Miguel Cotto!!!

"Portrait of a losing side, proof positive that you can't out-punch machinery. Proof also of something else: that no matter what the future brings, man's capacity to rise to the occasion will remain unaltered. His potential for tenacity and optimism continues, as always, to outfight, outpoint, and outlive any and all changes made by his society, for which three cheers and a unanimous decision rendered from the Twilight Zone."

- Rod Serling, 1963

Miguel Cotto found himself traveling into a dimension he had never once explored in his young boxing career. At some point in this monumental fight, Cotto realized that he was not fighting a man in the ring tonight, "he was fighting a robot, or to be exact, and android, definition: an automation resembling a human being" (Serling). His opponent, Antonio Margarito showed the world that there is no tougher man in the sport of boxing, than The Tijuana Tornado. 

Cotto dashed from the gates with an impressive first round, dominating with his stiff jab and following up with vicious combinations (punches that can and have knocked out many tough fighters in the past). The next four or five rounds followed suit - Cotto moved around the ring in circles putting on a display of boxing, landing clean hard shots as Margarito continued to give relentless chase.  

It was not overly apparent, but every round after the second, Margarito seemed to slowly gain momentum, as if someone in the boiler room finally decided to slowly start adding more and more coal to the fire. About half way through the seventh round, it was obvious that the fight was rapidly starting to head in a very different direction - the locomotive had finally reached full speed. Margarito's relentless pressure ultimately started catching up to Cotto, forcing him to trade punches in the middle of the ring. 

"And now we have our classic," said Max Kellerman.

From that point forward, Miguel Cotto had come to the realization that not even his best blow could inflict any damage on his unrelenting opponent and he did the only thing that was rational - turn to survival mode. Cotto resorted back to sticking and moving to avoid danger like he did so easily for the first couple of rounds, but this time Margarito was on another level, stalking Cotto and throwing non-stop punches until they finally started to do some damage.

In round eleven, Margarito continued to eat huge right hands and left hooks as he shadowed his opponent's every move until he finally found Cotto exaclty where he wanted him. Margarito cornered Cotto against the ropes and pummeled him from all directions. Even while taking a beating, Miguel managed to get off a 1-2 that may have KO'd most fighters, but not his opponent on this night. Margarito ate the stiff shots and fired one more upper cut, forcing Cotto to take a knee. 

Cotto rose to his feet only to be met by a charging bull, and once again dropped to a knee to avoid fruther damage. Cotto, face covered in blood, showed the toughness of true champion and once again climbed to his feet. But it was obvious he had enough. 

Miguel Angel Cotto's cornerman threw in the towel with a minute to go in the 11th round of the fight. A fight that crowned a new welterweight champion of the world and made us all proud to be fans of the sweet science that is boxing . 

More to come on Cotto vs. Margarito

Jeff Lacy Done With Boxing?

The former super-middleweight champion, Jeff Left Hook Lacy (24-1 (17 Ko's) has told The Tampa Tribune that he is done with the sport of boxing. After his lack-luster performance on ESPN Wednesday Night fights in which he barely survived a ten round decision over Epifanio Mendoza, we think he might be making the correct move.

"I'm retiring," said the 31 yr old. "There will be no fight between me and Jermain... I'm just retiring... I'm done."

"This business is dirty. That's all I have to say. This is a very dirty business. I would advise anyone who has kids not to ever let them fight in this business."  

Nothing yet on what caused this disdain for the sport he has been involved in for his entire life. Its seems all of this came as surprising news to everyone involved with the up-coming fight, including his trainer, Roger Bloodworth and co-promoters of the Talor -Lacy fight, Lou DiBella and Golden Boy Promotions.  "Put it this way, I've heard nothing from anyone in his camp indicating anything other than the fight's happening," said DiBella.

Whether or not Lacy is serious about retirement or just upset with his last fight, this route may be the best way to go. After showing so many flaws in his most recent fight, there is no reason why the former undisputed middle weight champ of the world, Jermain Taylor, wouldn't absolutely destroy him in the ring. Lacy's retirement would inevitably force Taylor into taking a tougher and all around better fight - a shot a vacant title against the British contender Carl Froch.

Apparently Lacy has never fully recovered from his overwhelming loss to Joe Calzaghe two years ago. Since that fight, he has been lucky to sneak away with three very close decisions, including a victory over Peter Manfredo that many felt was undeserved. It may be best to avoid this upcoming bout with Taylor and take some time to think things over, then return to the thing that he knows how to do best.

The Battle: Cotto - Margarito Weigh-In Results

It's on. This morning both fighters stepped to the scale at a cut 147 lbs. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that these two would be ready to go.

The Battle: Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito

The eve of boxing's biggest night of 2008 is rapidly approaching. Two warrior champions will step inside the squared-circle fueled not only by the desire to be the number one boxer in their weight class, but by the rivalry of bloodlines passed from their countryman that was animated long before either of them slipped their hands into a pair boxing gloves.

These two fistic combatants are giving us something that only happens once every so often in the sport of boxing.  Max Kellerman illustrates the significance of this bout -  "Today there is so much jockeying going on for the big money fights, that bouts between the great fighters - the ones even non-boxing fans want to see - take so long to develop that when we finally get to the bout, either one or both of the fighters are past their prime. A case in point is the 2007 De La Hoya - Mayweather match-up... But in Cotto-Margarito, we have two brilliant boxers who are at the top of their game." 

The welterweight champion of the world, Miguel Angel Cotto, has proven to everyone that he is not only the number one fighter in the division but also competing for the rank of best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. 

Cotto has welcomed all comers with a stone-cold demeanor and the actions in the ring to back it up. During his undefeated campaign, Cotto has engaged a slew of excellent fighters, including one-time world champions Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, and Ricardo Torres. 

The journey was not easy by any means. He found himself in trouble a few different times throughout his career, but showed the tough chin, desire and stability to come back from it with a decisive victory every time. And that is what makes him great.

Cotto may be the best all-around fighter in the game. His solid defense is tough to wear down, but he is willing to trade punches to land his own. He works the ring like a technician, using his jab to set up an unparalleled attack to both body and head. And most importantly, he is entertaining. 

Miguel Cotto does not waste his time trash talking before his fights - he is there for only one reason - to inflict as much carnage as possible on the man standing across from him. Come Saturday night, that man will inevitably be the toughest opponent he has ever faced. 

Antonio The Tijuana Tornado Margarito envelopes the heart and soul of a true Mexican fighter. He earned his nickname by demonstrating an extraterrestrial work-rate and a crazy come-forward style, while in the process delivering punches from all angles. 

Maragrito learned the game of boxing in a rough way. With his family struggling financially, he turned pro at fifteen years old and subsequently took three early devastating losses to veterans. There is no doubt that his tough on-the-job experience has molded him into the man that he is today. 

Like many Mexican fighters before him, he has never given into pain or fatigue. And since he has never once been stopped in his career by another man's punch,  he will always stand as a true test for his opponent to overcome.

Last but not least, he has the one punch that can equalize any fight - the left hook to the body.  Margarito exhibited the gut busting power of this punch (that has left many of his opponents pissin' blood for days) in his overwhelming KO victory over then IBF champion Kermit Cintron (video below). 

There is no better match in boxing than the pairing between these to superior athletes in the prime of their careers. A Puerto Rican boxer/puncher vs. a Mexican whirling dervish brawler - a clash of styles and nations. Forget Mayweather, forget De La Hoya - these two fighters had to wait behind the big shadows that the overpaid and over-reported fighters cast. It is their turn now. 

This is the fight that should be breaking all-time pay-per-view records and discussed on daytime television, but it won't be and wether that is sad or not is up to you. Regardless if you are a boxing fan or not, this is a must see fight - go to a freind's, pay ten bucks at a bar, or even drop the 49 doll hairs to sit on your oversize love seat and tune in. This will not disappoint. And although Daniel Day-Lewis' name is nowhere to be found on the undercard - we can promise you, There Will Be Blood.

Saturday July 26th on HBO PPV - 9:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm PT

Did Kelly Pavlik Knock Lockett Into an Early Retirement?

After coming to America only to have his hopes of becoming a world champion completely shattered by a power punching specter, the  31 yr old Gary Lockett has had some time to re-evaluate things.

It looks like Lockett's life flashed before his eyes during his last three rounds of boxing. "I am considering my future," said Lockett in an interview with BBC Sports. "I still have my faculties and I want to spend time with my family."

We knew Kelly Pavlik packed a serious punch, but apparently he hits so hard that it makes some people rework there life's plans. Lockett must have seen the light during his fight with The Ghost and at some point decided that he doesn't want to go through anything like that again.

We can't blame him for hanging it up - near death experiences usually result in unalterably changing a person's view on life (plus he finally got a decent payday). 

Well, he wasn't really going to die, but he probably felt like it, enough to leave the sport that he has fought professionally in for twelve years. 

"Every time he threw punches, it felt like he was making me pay"

- Gary Lockett

Wednesday Night Fight Recap: Jeff Lacy vs. Epifanio Mendoza

In what started off as a pretty entertaining super middleweight slugfest then quickly became just two men trying to catch their breath, Jeff Lacy took a majority decision from Epifanio Mendoza.

By about the fifth round both fighters had unloaded some big shots on their opponent, but in the process they also unloaded any energy they had brought to the table. The remaining five rounds brought the viewers a sluggish, boring poor of boxing skill and stamina.  

There has been some talks suggesting that Jermain Taylor, the former undisputed middleweight champ of the world,  was going to turn down a shot at a vacant title against Carl Froch, to take a supposedly more lucrative fight with Lacy.  Anyone who had a vested interest in that fight may as well kiss it goodbye.  

Lacy looked horrible in this slight victory, lunging in at his opponent with his head down and not once employing a consistent jab or any real skill.  Jermain would pick Lacy apart.  

Carl Froch, the WBC #1 contender and undefeated prospect, has always been the better fight for Jermain (not to mention a chance to win a vacant belt). But, because money seems to be the end all be all as usual, and because the little-known Froch won't bring enough of it to the table, it most likely won't happen. 

Hopefully the lack luster display Lacy just put on tonight was enough to change Jermain's mind.

Calzaghe Injured: Roy Jones Jr Fight Postponed

According to the BBC, Joe Calzaghe has put the impending light heavyweight championship match up with Roy Jones Jr on hold.

During training camp Joe suffered an injury to his right hand.  Like many fighters he has battled of hand injuries for most of his career, but has managed to fight through the ailments.  

No date has been rescheduled as of yet, but as of now the Pay-Per-View event at Madison Square Garden that was supposed to have taken place on September 20th, is off until further notice.

Have We Been a Little Hard on the Heavyweight Champ of the World??

Wladimir Klitschko has been under relentless fire following his last few title defenses. He has heard it from not only the media and general public, but from fighters all over the division -most recently and notably, from David Haye (someone who only has one bout in the division). And Although much of the criticism is warranted, it is possible that many have gone too far.

As the recognized heavyweight champion of the world, Klitschko lives his professional and personal life in the hottest spotlight of the boxing industry. To any boxing outsider, the division where Wlad stakes his claim is all they know and/or care about, and at the moment he is the face of that division, one that is filled with middle class big men. 

Wlad, as many have so blatantly noted, is not what we as the American public want from our heavyweight champion of the world. 

He is a man who displays a set of traits that we would associate more with what we hope our kid will grow up to be like one day, or even the guy you want your daughter to marry - but in boxing, he is the anti-heavyweight champion of the world. We apparently like our champions of a whole different breed.

Where Wlad spends his time going to school and achieving a PhD, we want someone like Evander Holyfield, who despite making over 250 million dollars mis-manages his funds so poorly he drives himself to the point of bankruptcy. Where Wlad understands his weakness, and skillfully does his best to protect his well-being at all times in the ring, we want someone like Rocky Marciano, who is willing to get his face beat in just to put the hurt on his opponent. Where Wladimir rarely loses his calm inside the ring or out, says the right thing at the right times, and devotes his time to charitable causes, we prefer a psycho like Mike Tyson, who eats opponents for breakfast (literally) inside the ring, and rapes and pillages villages outside of it.

We admit that Waldimir Klitschko is not exciting to watch by any means. However, he rarely gets credit for the things that he does correctly. He is a very skilled and technical boxer, he has never once backed down from or ducked any fighter in the division, he has never been one to pull pre-madonna stunts, which cannot be said for so many champions (Floyd) and he consistently works to unify the heavyweight title, something that most fighters seem to have forgotten about.

The problem lies within the fact that he is too smart and just plain too regular for his own good. He doesn't take risks, he stays in shape, he plays by the book, his prison record is clean, he keeps his mouth shut and he really gives all of us nothing to talk about because of it. Anything unexpected rarely happens with Wlad, so we begin to nitpick every flaw.

We are not saying you need to love the guy.  We are not even saying you have to agree with us in slightest (because at times we don't even know if we agree with ourselves on this subject). But, we must not drop all of the blame on the best fighter of a horrible division. 

If he is so bad, then someone needs to step up and knock him out and give us something else. Until then we have to accept what is reality - a champion that is 51 and 3 and has Ko'd over 80 % of the opponents he has faced, and for the most part isn't as bad as we all make him out to be (boring, but not as bad..).

If anyone is sick of the heavyweight division, try watching some fights below 200 lbs, where some of the best fights in years are taking place. Don't tell us boxing has lost it's punch, David Krikorian (see article), when all you are referring to is one division. Anyone who follows the sports will disagree with that unfounded claim.

Pic of the Week: Preemptive Fight Poster Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

click to enlarge

We got our hands on a fight poster that was premptively (and mistakenly) created for the rematch between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather.  The poster was already designed and illustrated before the Golden Boy even set foot in the ring with Steve Forbes. 

Hopefully this company learned their lesson from putting the ever-retiring Mayweather in one of their ads, and realized that maybe next time they should wait until after one of the fighters completes his prior engagements.