Payback For "The Battle"

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We see cheating in all sports and it can even be found in boxing. It is not common as there are pre fight checks so boxers can't cheat. This fight was a massive fight and so much on the line as it was for the WBA welterweight title and the bout took place on July 26, 2008, at the MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada.

The fight was between Miguel Cotto from Puerto Rico and Antonio Margarito from Mexico. Billed by promoters as "The Battle" both fighters had decent records with Cotto unbeaten in 32 fights and 26 knockouts, Magarito had been beaten 5 times in 36 fights with 26 knockouts.

Cotto was technically better and he possessed a faster hand speed so he would be the first to the punch and was the favorite. The promoter decided to bring Cotto to Las Vegas to introduce him to a new audience and take advantage of the Margarito Mexiacan fan base.

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Cotto down and lucky to come out of this in one piece.

What was shocking about this fight was the damage that was showing up on Cotto's face after what seemed like every punch thrown. Eventually Cotto was retired from the fight in the 11th round and couldn't carry on. He was a bloody mess and this was his first loss in his career. After this fight Cotto lost his confidence and his next fight. His dad who was part of his training team also died so this was a dark time for Cotto.

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The "loaded" hand bandages after the Cotto fight.

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Part of the hand wrap from the Mosely fight showing proof that he had plaster of Paris mixed with the bandages.

18 Months later Margarito was fighting Shane Mosely when just before the fight a trainer noticed something wrong with the bandages of Margarito's hand wraps. It turned out his wraps were actually plaster of paris the stuff that is used for when you put a cast on a broken bone.. I think everyone was suspicious after the Cotto fight and knew there was something not quite right. Cotto cut up too easily and after this fight closer inspections are now required of all hand wraps.This makes sense to what happened to Cotto and he was lucky he wasn't killed in the ring. Margarito lost to Mosely in that fight as he had his secret weapon exposed.

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Cotto asked for a rematch and this time it was personal. He wanted revenge for what had happened to him and he needed to prove it to himself that he was the better fighter. Cotto took him apart piece by piece and the referee had to stop the fight late on as Magarito couldn't see through his right eye anymore. The only person disappointed was Cotto as he was still closing his other eye for him.