Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
‘Junito’ outclasses ‘Tony’ in one-sided affair
WBN Editor
Miguel Angel Cotto not only retained his WBA
light-middleweight title in Madison Square Garden tonight, but the Puerto Rican
exercised a three-year demon that had cast a shadow over his glittering career
by defeating Antonio Margarito.
The 31 year-old was beaten for the first time in his career
by the Mexican in 2008 in what has since transpired to be a contentious and
questioned stoppage loss after Margarito was found with illegal substances in
his wraps in his next fight with Shane Mosley.
Margarito, 33, was almost denied a license to box in the
first place because of an eye injury suffered against Manny Pacquaio in his
last bout and Cotto immediately targeted the right side of the challenger’s
face and the swelling was gradual from the second round.
Cotto produced a wonderful display of boxing from the first
bell as he danced around Margarito and racked up the rounds by hitting him with
superb combinations to which the ‘Tornado’ has no answer.
By the eighth round of a one-side pummelling, the ringside
doctors were constantly monitoring Margarito’s damaged eye and had seen enough
after another two rounds of stunning boxing by Cotto, who seemed to connect
with Margarito at will.
The win puts a three-year revenge mission to bed for Cotto
who may now move on to challenge one of the top pound for pound fighters in the
world with whispers at ringside of a possible bout with Floyd Mayweather in
2012.
For Margarito, I don’t think the eye was healed enough from
the Pacquiao fight last November and a subsequent cataract operation six months
ago and he should now retire before he does his eye any further damage.
.