Margarito Shocks Most, But Not All


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Margarito Shocks Most, But Not All

By Bob Carroll, Doghouse Boxing (July 28, 2008) DoghouseBoxing.com (Photo © German Villasenor)

Stepping into the ring first is always an underdog’s first step in a fight. Last night, Antonio Margarito was the man in this situation. Margarito, a 3-1 underdog, never listened to those odds, and took full advantage of his ring experience in defeating the previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto.

Most people, including myself, predicted a Cotto victory, so when Cotto took a knee in the 11th round of the WBA welterweight championship, we were shocked. A couple of moments later, Miguel Cotto was no longer undefeated, suffering an 11th round stoppage at the hands of a 3-1 underdog. Who knew that this upset would happen? I'll give you an answer. Six of the seventeen writers that composed the latest ‘Doghouse Decides’ segment, picked Antonio Margarito to win this upset. One writer, Julian Kasdin, even picked a late round stoppage of Cotto by Margarito. Benny Henderson Jr. predicted also predicted a stoppage by Margarito, as he informed me over and over again via phone on Saturday night.

The difference in the fight as I see it is, Cotto abandoned his bread and butter early. Cotto forgot that he was a punishing body puncher and went contiuosly for Margaritos head, even as Margarito chased him around the ring. Cotto feverishly fought back, winning a majority of the rounds, but taking punishment as he won. I had Cotto up by two points going into the 11th round, but Cotto seemed resigned to throwing combinations and continually get backed against the ropes. Margarito took advantage of the oppurtunity to tee off again and again at the head of the cornered Cotto, and it finally paid off, in the middle of the 11th, as Cotto was forced to take a knee. Cotto was in unfamiliar territory, unable to battle back against a much more aggressive fighter in late rounds, and continued to get battered. The damage and lack of fight drained Cotto, so Cotto's corner threw in the towel and referee Kanny Bayless called a halt to the fight at the 2:05 mark of the 11th round.

Most of the boxing world is shocked by the victory of this 3-1 underdog Antonio Margarito, but we will have to give credit to the Doghouse wirters, Dimitri Verieouris, Rob Scott, Eugene Collins, and the boss Anthony Cocks for predicting a Margarito victory. We also have to give major props to Julian Kasdin for predicting a late round stoppage by the underdog Margarito.

One last guy who also predicted a win by Margarito, but who is a Dallas Cowboy fan and as a Philadelphia Eagle fan, I hate to give any credit to, ‘THE Big Dog’ Benny Henderson Jr. also predicted a victory by Margarito. Benny is one of the best friends I have ever had, but damn it pains me to give him credit!

Good job to the writers of Doghouse on the coverage of this classic fight, and to those who looked past the hype, to predict a Margarito victory.

For more on the Antonio Margarito victory and the world of boxing, listen to Fightin' Words Radio Show, Wednesday nights from 6-7pm EST on http://1490wwpr.com co-hosted by Doghouse Boxing Lead writer, Benny Henderson Jr., Doghouse Boxing's Bob Carroll and Butch.