Miguel Cotto has lost battles physically and emotionally throughout the years. A scarred warrior who refused to give up or give in, this is what he is made of. This has been his way in going through all the pain…one fight at a time, one step closer to redemption.

Losing has slowly become his ally. It was through losing battles that he found a way to win a war. His first loss to Antonio Margarito ended in controversy, and his beating against the hands of Manny Pacquiao was life-threatening.

But it was a process that he has to go through in order to be what he is now. The pains of losing his biggest battles are the ones that mold him to be a great fighter.

And now Miguel is reaping the fruits of his labor, his reward—Floyd Mayweather Jr.

This is his definitive battle, and this would be his ultimate redemption. This is the part where he is nearing the finish line, one last push and one last dash before raising his arms in victory.

However, everybody knows that this is not an easy battle. His battered face and inflicted wounds are now gone, but it still left a scar to remind him of those wars. Floyd’s masterful mind certainly knows that one punch could bring back old memories.

On Cotto’s second defeat, he had a hard time adjusting after he was hit by Pacquiao’s left hook that made him back-pedal for most of the fight.

His first loss came in a brutal fashion against Antonio Margarito that brought Cotto’s invincibility cloak down, whether if it as due to loaded hands or not. Everything created a different kind of muscle memory that becomes the ghost in the past that will always come to haunt him.

That is why his TKO victory against Margarito last year was very crucial on his career path. However, he was battling a fighter who is a shadow of his former self, after Pacquiao battered Margarito in a fight that resulted in a broken orbital bone.

This has become the most important fight for Miguel Cotto. This would define his legacy—how well he bounces back after all his adversities.

Miguel’s calm demeanor can be attributed to a duck who swims peacefully on a pond. Tranquil on the outside but its foot is struggling on the inside. However, no matter the struggle, a duck will always stay afloat because it’s accustomed to fighting back.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. might have chosen the wrong opponent. Miguel Cotto is tired of being bullied; he is tired of being underestimated. This is his time, and after all the struggles…he is now fighting back.

Article also posted on Bleacher Report

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We all heard about a story of a young Filipino fighter who fought his way up and won titles in return. The unprecedented eight different weight division titles were a feat no one could ever replicate in this lifetime.

Manny Pacquiao has done it, and he has paved the way for aspiring fighters. He made it possible─ from the slums to the bright city lights of Las Vegas.

Nonito Donaire, who had recently won his fourth weight division title against the sturdy Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., is certainly on the right track. The Filipino flash had his eyes set on winning titles all the way to the light-weight division.

Four years before, people would laugh at the thought of a fighter in the lower weight, knocking out bigger oppositions and collecting belts on his way up. Pacquiao did it and Nonito with his skills and knockout power had followed Manny’s footsteps and had so far been successful in his quest.

Four down and hopefully four more to go, which means after his acid test in the super bantamweight division, he will move up to featherweight, super featherweight, light weight and light welterweight which is 20 pounds bigger than his fighting weight now.

So Nonito would be on collision course with Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and a lot more hard-hitting fighters.

You would have to think about how will Nonito handle everything? How would he handle the bigger fighters without injuring his hands again? Questions will have to be answered with more questions…

Will Nonito make his own unprecedented eight? Yes and no.

Manny Pacquiao is an anomaly, a fighter that fought in the minimum weight who had an 8-inch wrist similar to Mike Tyson and Joe Louis. (Pacquiao’s wrist) It just goes to show why he carried that power all the way to super welterweight without getting his hands injured.

Donaire on the other hand, generates so much power and force on his size that the impact usually leaves his hands getting injured. It needs to be corrected, but he also needs to fight smarter.

In his fight with Vazquez, he could have dominated him easily, but he was so keen on giving everybody a good fight that he always looks for a knockout. It did come in the ninth round, but his left hand was already injured and bloodied.

Going back to the question…would he make his own eight division world titles? Yes, if he fights smarter and no, if he doesn’t.

However, Nonito doesn’t have to follow Pacquiao. He doesn’t need to create his own pressure. He is equally great and he already made his own legacy.

Muhammad Ali says it better: “I know where I’m going, and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.”

Nonito Donaire’s legacy will always be his…we don’t create directions for other people. They are free to choose their own paths.

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It was in the third round when Filipino Weng Haya felt he had a chance of winning against the defending WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido.

It was a perfectly-timed left hand that dropped Salido with seconds left before the round expired. Orlando beat the count but got tagged again by a left hand in the fourth round, his unsteady legs falling down to the canvass. Salido survived the round then surprisingly finished off the Filipino challenger in the eighth round via TKO.

When ordinary fighters could have buckled and waved the white flag, it really never crossed Salido’s mind, simply because it doesn’t exist in his vocabulary. This was always what he brings to the table—non-stop action. He never backs down and never quits.

Salido has never been a threat, never been part of the equation. When we talk about featherweights, we could only think of two kingpins that have ruled the division, Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Maybe it has something to do with his 11 losses, eight of which happened while he was between 15 and 21 years old. Or maybe it was the test that stained his career after testing positive for steroids while winning a unanimous decision against Roberto Guerrero. However, he maintained his innocence and immediately took another test at Labcorp which came back negative for any banned substance.

He lost his IBF belt before he even got to keep it. It has always been setbacks piling up one after another.

Winning against Juan Manuel Lopez last year was Salido’s essential moment. He fought against an undefeated fighter who belongs in the Top 10 pound for pound ranking. And after three decades of fighting, the 31-year-old Mexican fighter had finally arrived. The journey was long and bumpy, but he is close to the finish line. Still, one win doesn’t create a legacy.

Lopez needed a rematch, and Salido undoubtedly agreed to a March 3 fight. He needed that rematch more than ever. This time it’s not going to be about the belt…this is going to be a defining legacy after a stained reputation that proved to be futile.

Two knockdowns and Salido fought back with unsteady legs and sheer determination to win against Haya. He knows how crucial and how important the Lopez rematch is. Nobody can drag him down, not now and not on March 3.

Lopez should get ready because it’s really hard to win against an opponent who never quits.

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During a brief moment in Miguel Cotto’s victory last Saturday, he stared at Antonio Margarito after the bell sounded on his victory. He waited three years for that moment. Finally, all the doubt and anger brought him to where he wanted to be—at the center of the ring looking at his former tormentor.

Ever since his first defeat at the hands of Margarito in 2008, this had been the ghost of his past that haunted him for years.

Vindication, how sweet it is, and Miguel savored every bit of his victory as he looked upon Margarito’s almost-closed eye lid.

All the hard work and countless hours in the gym have paid off.

Miguel lost only once after his first fight with Antonio. He had wins against Michael Jennings, Joshua Clottey, Yuri Foreman and Ricardo Mayorga.

However, nothing compares to his victory last Saturday. This is what defines his legacy—the fighter that fought his way up after being pummeled down.

It was the perfect script, the perfect Cinderella story that ends happily ever after. It was a masterful performance against a slow-footed Margarito. And with Antonio’s surgically-repaired orbital bone, it was relatively easy to find the target.

As Miguel Cotto raised his hands in victory, it was a flashback to see Margarito. This must be how it feels to win against your bitter rival—cherishing every single breath of victory…while watching each hit inflict pain and frustration.

Three years Miguel waited, and there were no shortcuts but he handled the pain and frustration. He had been preparing for this battle, this war. It was his time, and it’s his victory now.

He withstood it all and fought his way back. This is how the story unfolds, and this is how Miguel wants everybody to remember him.

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Antonio Margarito has never been apologetic on all the controversies surrounding his career. He maintains his innocence when it comes to his hand wrapping incident.

His former trainer and father figure, Javier Capitello, was the culprit.

Capitello secretly inserted a plaster of Paris-like substance to his hardened knuckles without his knowledge. However, no one really bought this idea.

Even a disoriented fighter should know if there is something wrong or different on his hands.

Miguel Cotto strongly believes Margarito fought with loaded gloves in their 2008 fight. The blood bath ended with an 11th round TKO in favor of Margarito.

Going into their December 3 rematch, allow me to enumerate 15 interesting things you need to know about this matchup.

15. Super World Super Welterweight Championship
The fight between Cotto and Margarito is for the WBA Super World Super Welterweight championship.

The WBA honors champions who hold two or more championship belts in the same weight class. They call it the “Super Champion,” which is what Miguel Cotto is holding now after retaining his belt against Ricardo Mayorga last March.

The WBA honors two champions for each division, labeled by “regular champion” and “super champion.”

This is the new money-making scheme for the ABC belts. Two champions means two sanctioned fights for each division.

14. Antonio Margarito’s Record After His First Bout with Miguel Cotto
Since their 2008 controversial bout, Antonio Margarito has a record of 1-2.

He lost to faster and more technical opponents (Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley) and won against a fighter who has the same name as his trainer.

13. Miguel Cotto Was Offered a Rematch with Manny Pacquiao
After Miguel Cotto won his fourth championship belt in three different divisions against Yuri Foreman, Bob Arum promised he would be the front-runner for a rematch against Manny Pacquiao.

It never happened—instead, it was offered to Antonio Margarito in Dallas for Pacquiao’s unprecedented eighth division title.

12. Margarito’s Sparring Partners
Heading into the Pacquiao fight, Margarito has tapped four undefeated fighters to mimic Pacquiao. His main sparring partner was Karim Martinez, a light welterweight who, at that time, was only 3-0.

This included a win against a 0-1-0 fighter named Randolph Cole. No wonder Margarito was pummeled down in a gruesome 12-round beating against Manny.

11. Guaranteed Purse
Miguel Cotto will be receiving a guaranteed $5 million, plus a bigger percentage share on pay per view.

Margarito is only getting half of what Cotto is earning.

10. Rashad Holloway
Rashad Holloway is Manny Pacquiao’s mainstay sparring partner. He once sparred with Antonio Margarito and suffered a broken orbital bone while wearing head gear and heavy gloves.

Holloway openly accused Margarito of using loaded gloves as shown in the link provided. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lduFFJj2P6I

With a twist of fate, Margarito suffered the same injury when he fought Manny Pacquiao, which may have jeopardized his already tainted career.

9. Madison Square Garden
This will be Miguel Cotto’s sixth fight in Madison Square Garden but only Margarito’s second fight in the famed arena.

8. The NYSAC Controversy
The New York State Athletic Commission, or NYSAC, denied Margarito a boxing license on October 31 due to the damage on his eye suffered in the Pacquiao fight.

Margarito’s camp appealed and was given a license with barely a week to spare before the fight.

7. In Their First Encounter
In their first fight, Miguel Cotto was leading on almost all the judges’ scorecards before he was caught with two uppercuts from Margarito in the seventh round.

After the fight ended, two judges scored two rounds for Margarito while the other scored it even.

6. Miguel Cotto’s Record After Their Initial Bout
Since losing to Margarito in 2008, Cotto has been the busier fighter. He is 4-1 since then, his only loss coming to Manny Pacquiao.

He scored TKO wins over Ricardo Mayorga, Yuri Foreman and Michael Jennings and picked up a split decision over Joshua Clottey.

5. Broken Orbital Bone
With all the talks on Margarito’s broken orbital bone, it’s interesting to note Miguel Cotto has his own history of inflicting that very injury.

The fight was held in Madison Square Garden against the then-undefeated Paulie Malignaggi in June 2006. Cotto won the fight with a unanimous decision and Malignaggi suffered a fractured right orbital bone.

4. Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto II Tickets
The Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto II fight tickets were sold out with less than two weeks before the fight.

3. HBO 24/7 Episodes
There are only two episodes for Margarito-Cotto II available on HBO 24/7. If you want to download it click this link

2. Hand Wrap Controversy
During HBO’s “Face-off” with Max Kellerman, Cotto showed off pictures of Margarito’s hand wraps after their initial fight.

Antonio’s left hand wrap has a hole, and you can directly see Margarito’s knuckles.

It brings memories of the Billy Collins-Luis Resto fight that ended the career of the 22-year-old Collins, who sustained injuries due to plaster of Paris peppered with under-padded gloves.

Ironically, the fight was held also in Madison Square Garden in 1983.

1. Antonio Margarito’s Last Words to Miguel Cotto
During their HBO 24/7 Episode 2, Antonio Margarito had vulgar words for Cotto, which should only fuel the fire before they step in the ring.

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There are only two episodes on the Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto rematch but it was one of the best 24/7 I’ve seen so far.
Download now just click the link below to download….

Rapidshare

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It has been three agonizing years since Miguel Cotto tasted his first defeat. His cloak of invincibility disappeared as his body was battered and bloodied by the hands of Antonio Margarito. Later, his eyes flowed with blood as his father embraced and comforted him.

It wasn’t how Miguel hoped the fight would end, not after he was leading on all judges throughout the match. He fought a perfect game plan, with in and out movement, combinations and good footwork. However, a stubborn and resilient Margarito kept on coming; Antonio ate Cotto’s punches while giving some of his own. It was effective, and Cotto’s wall of Jericho started crumbling down.

Margarito came out the better man that night. However, there was a cloud of doubt about whether there was an illegal hand wrap that took place on that fight. It was not until when Margarito fought Shane Mosley that he was found putting a substance like a plaster of Paris or cement-like texture on his hands.

It was vindication for Cotto. With all his pains and struggles on his first defeat, everything seems to have slowly found its meaning.

However, what if he fought and died on the ring? Would it have ever given him justice if he was six feet under? Guilty or not guilty, there is no justification of having an unfair advantage for the sake of championships and accolades while risking your opponent’s life.

There is no license to kill, but Antonio still gets the opportunity to fight…

Three years—it’s been that long since Miguel Cotto waited to get a fight with Margarito. There was no need for him to prove anything; he fought Margarito gallantly and fairly. And yet it was a fight that he felt he had to do. There won’t be that familiar face encouraging and embracing him in times of victories and defeats, but Miguel knows his father will be there in spirit.

This is a fight he wanted, and this is the fight that would end speculations on his career.

For three years, Cotto waited for this opportunity to come, and this time he will be ready. This is a fight to the finish—a fight that could finally set him free and somehow move on.

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Manny Pacquiao won a majority decision against Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday night. However, the fight that dubbed as “the decision” still came out short on living up to its name. The fight still ended with a controversial conclusion and instead of ending with an answer to their two previous bouts it still ends up with many questions left unanswered.

Manny fought a controlled aggression and fought on Marquez’s game plan. Manny was fighting mainly on spurts while Marquez came out with a good battle plan. He was fighting Manny on a distance and once Manny goes in. Juanma counter punches his way out. It was a problem from their two previous bouts, and it seems Manny doesn’t have any solution to it.

He fought on a pace where a 38-year-old Marquez could easily cope with.

So I guess Marquez has already imprinted a clear blue print on how to defeat Pacquiao.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. who fought Marquez’s way back in 2009 with a clear unanimous decision, can clearly take advantaged on Pacquiao’s weaknesses.

Floyd, who is a master defensive artist and a good counter puncher, got the right tools to outpoint Manny. If Marquez can consistently land straight right hands to Pacquiao, then I don’t see Floyd having a problem in landing his own right hand.

The people and the world have been calling for a Floyd and Manny’s anticipated matchup. But for a million and one reasons all talks have been stalled because of differences on both camps. Maybe this time this would be an indication that this fight will really happen.

The ground work has already been laid down for Floyd and with a guaranteed $20 million or more; it’s a no-brainer.

Floyd can give Manny lots of problems. If Marquez is a jigsaw puzzle, then Floyd is a never-ending maze.

Many questioned Pacquiao’s win against Marquez. It was a close fight, and even though there were no knockdowns in the fight. It can still go either way. The difference is that Manny had the edge on power shots (117-100 according to CompuBox). However, I do think Marquez has done enough to win the fight.

Pacquiao escaped with a win. But I don’t think he can do a Houdini against Floyd. There is still enough room for improvement. The fighter with a good battle plan always goes to war confident and prepared. It’s time to go back to the drawing board.

When questions are left answered logically you look for good solutions. Marquez deserves a rematch with Pacquiao. However, with Marquez contemplating on retirement after his breaking loss with Pacquiao (http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170141-marquez-mulls-retirement-after-another-controversial-loss-to-pacquiao) it looks like the battle between Floyd and Manny is looming to happen.

Will it ever happen? Questions… questions… I hope this time; there would be a definite answer.

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They say it comes in threes… And now Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will slug it out for the third and final time.
Download now their HBO 24/7 initial episode in high definition

Link: https://rapidshare.com/files/2602957822/24.7.Pacquiao.Marquez.4.avi

ENJOY!

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They say it comes in threes… And now Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will slug it out for the third and final time.
Download now their HBO 24/7 initial episode in high definition

Episode 2: https://rapidshare.com/files/2253620928/24.7.Pacquiao.Marquez.2.avi

Episode 3: https://rapidshare.com/files/1655991174/24.7.Pacquiao.Marquez.3.avi

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