Who wins Cotto-Margarito II? The experts decide - Next

Freddie Roach, trainer of Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Miguel Cotto W 12 Antonio Margarito: I like Miguel Cotto because he's had two fights in his comeback since he took a beating from Manny Pacquiao. Antonio Margarito has sort of taken two beatings in a row, but Cotto has looked better and better in his comebacks.

I feel that Margarito hasn't had a chance to get his feet under him again, and I think that he'll be a little gunshy, even though he looks a little cocky and confident on [HBO's] 24/7. But when he doesn't have a head gear on and when he doesn't have those little gloves on, I think that it will be different.

I think that Cotto will out-score him and out-point him and I think that Cotto will be smart enough not to get caught on the ropes this fight like he did in their last fight. That's where the fight changed on him and he got caught on the ropes and the uppercuts and the body shots took their toll. I think that it could be a decision or a late stoppage.

But I think that Cotto's got to have a plan to out-box this guy, because that's what worked the last time. Cotto out-boxed him for the first six rounds and used his handspeed and combinations and was beating him easily. And then, when he went to the ropes, though, that was the wrong gameplan.

Ciff Rold, BoxingScene.com
  
Antonio Margarito TKO 10 Miguel Cotto: Don't count this corner as buying into the "wraps did it" theory of the first fight.  Antonio Margarito walked through hell, and ate a wave of shots, to get the win. 

Above welterweight, the size advantage for Margarito will be more distinct and Miguel Cotto's confidence could be shot if he lands bombs again early and Margarito is still there.

Cotto has never figured out how to integrate his offense and defense; he's still always on one or the other. It's his achilles heel against offensive fighters who keep coming and take advantage of the transitions.

Looking for Margarito to slowly break down Cotto again for the stoppage.

Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING
   
Miguel Cotto UD 12 Antonio Margarito: I think Antonio Margarito has declined to a greater degree than Miguel Cotto, who remains an elite fighter.

I also wonder what role Margarito's injured eye will play; I won't be shocked if it somehow plays a role in an early stoppage. I predict that Cotto will win a clear unanimous decision.

Tim Smith, New York Daily News

Miguel Cotto W 12 Antonio Margarito:  I'm not really sure what Antonio Margarito has left after getting smacked around pretty good by Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao the last couple of years. It's been a while since he's been competitive at the top end of the sport.

Miguel Cotto has recovered from that beating he took from Margarito. The fact that he now really believes it was caused by loaded hand wraps gives Cotto extra motivation to put a smack down on Margarito.

Ryan Songalia, RingTV.com
 
Miguel Cotto W 12 Antonio Margarito: I'm going with Miguel Cotto, and the reason is simple: New York isn't exactly sure about whether Antonio Margarito should even be fighting. The commission, with all of it's pre-fight licensing drama, made this an easier pick for me.

Neither man is the same fighter he was when they first met, but of the two, I would say that Margarito, with his two destructive losses to Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley, has taken the worse of the damage.

So I'm going with Cotto by a decision, banking on the idea that what we thought about Cotto before the first Margarito fight is still true, and will materialize under different circumstances.

Photos by Chris Cozzone, Fightwire Images

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Inc.

The experts favor Miguel Cotto to get his revenge, 12-5, over Antonio Margarito.