How does one prepare for THE fight?

[TitoFan]

Well... it's THE fight for me. Being a (very nationalistic) Puerto Rican, born and bred... it would be impossible for me to treat this as just any other fight. I can honestly say I can understand the British fans that have traveled halfway around the world to see Hatton fight in Las Vegas. There's a thread here about nationalism in boxing and, frankly, I'm just as guilty of it as anybody else.

That being said... I'm nervous as all hell. I've read all the pre-fight analyses, and all the opinions... PLUS, I've seen both fight numerous times. When you break it down by category, Cotto has the edge on some things, while Margarito has the edge in others. It's going to come down to a battle of wills.

Anyway, I'm watching the fight at my house. I've got brothers, brother-in-laws, and friends coming over. There will be ample amounts of beer and rum. There will be food. There will be plastic chairs (the type that take abuse and won't break). The TV will be placed out in the terrace, for my wife would divorce me if I tried to watch this inside. Luckily, the terrace is roofed and roomy.

My family and I have been trading E-mails for two weeks now, just talking about the upcoming fight. As is customary with us, we've got the prediction (with round number for KO's) thing going. No prizes... just a pride thing. I myself put down a prediction of Cotto in the 11th.

At fight time, I'll be pacing and looking like I should be fitted for a straight jacket. The females in the group will probably sit off to one side, in case Cotto scores an early knockdown and the terrace erupts. (When Tito knocked down Vargas in the 1st round of their fight, chairs went flying and with all the high-fives and chest-bumping, I missed the rest of the round and had to watch it on replays later).

I've kiddingly suggested to my sister-in-law that she should stand by with tranquilizer darts, should the celebrations get out of hand...... she's probably taking me seriously.

In short, it's a huge event. It would be huge enough if it was just a championship fight with a Puerto Rican involved. But when you add the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry factor, it's almost too much excitement to bear.

[LEGION]

I'll be pacing all day and probably using Saddo's to keep me in one place as much as possible.

Getting some chain mail gloves tonight so I don't eat my nails tomorrow. Will be wound tighter than a coiled snake about to strike and will drive my girlfriend absolutely crazy tomorrow.

A friend is coming in from Michigan tomorrow with his wife, so we'll be yelling at each other{he's a cotto fan} and I'll have to kick him out of my house or lock him up in my snake room till he realizes his error. It's going to get ugly in my house tomorrow and I'll lose 10 pounds by the time it's over. I have slept fitfully the last couple of days and I won't sleep at all tonight; so I hope this is a good fight and worth the declining health I'm facing

Wargarito!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TitoFan]

I'll be pacing all day and probably using Saddo's to keep me in one place as much as possible.

Getting some chain mail gloves tonight so I don't eat my nails tomorrow. Will be wound tighter than a coiled snake about to strike and will drive my girlfriend absolutely crazy tomorrow.

A friend is coming in from Michigan tomorrow with his wife, so we'll be yelling at each other{he's a cotto fan} and I'll have to kick him out of my house or lock him up in my snake room till he realizes his error. It's going to get ugly in my house tomorrow and I'll lose 10 pounds by the time it's over. I have slept fitfully the last couple of days and I won't sleep at all tonight; so I hope this is a good fight and worth the declining health I'm facing

Wargarito!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LMFAO! You're on the wrong side, but I like your fanaticism. Boxing needs more crazy fans like us.

[Youngblood]

I'm preparing by practicing 'the toss'. There is going to be a pile of drunk teens whom I intend to toss out of the way of the tv.

[killersheep]

Buying decent Liquor is a start



Some Cuban Cigars that accidently fell over the border into my house



And some of BC's finest greenery.

I let my guests feed me and I pay for the PPV and booze and such.

Plus I've been watching lots of Margarito and Cotto vids of course.

[amat]

Usually don't indulge at all, just let the anticipation build up til afterwards where I am so pent up that the whole fight is ilke a 48 minute rush of adrenaline. I remember when Buffer announced the first score of Mayweather-De La Hoya, it was the De La Hoya score, I downed the entire cup of red bull and vodka I had in front of me and was pretty much instantly buzzed for the readings of the second and third cards. I was full blown drunk for the post fight interviews.

Tomorrow, I'll be alone watching most likely a computer screen so I'll have something a little different ready for post fight

[TitoFan]

I don't know if I'm doing this correctly, but here goes:

[LEGION]

My friend coming from out of town will be downing drinks. I don't drink so I'm going to have even more fun tormenting him. I'm going to stick his case of beer in one of my cobra's cages

[Youngblood]

What's this costing everyone? Is it universal? I am paying $50 plus tax here in Canada. Gonna see if I can get some guys from my club to show up, cuz meh...not having people around you for it that understand what it is all about may be a bummer. It is also appearing to run from 9 PM EST until 1:30 am? This is through Shaw, so...dunno why so long. After fight stuff?

[killersheep]

Oh yeah gotta get my sportsbook ready too, If anyone wants to get in you can still start with $12,500 bidding will be open until 4 o'clock PST
(GMT-7)

Youngblood I think it's $50 here too. Less than ODLH/Mayweather at least.

[Mar]

We generally bar-b-q...replay FNF's, watch the looped pre-fight show then showtime i've actually had more people say they were coming for this fight than i have for any other recently. The hardest thing is to stay sober enough to pay real close attention by the main event.

[Onix]

It all begins the day before the "Big Day" let me give you guys the run down...

9:30pm-1:45am - This time is spent wisely drinking as many Coronas, Heinekens, New Castles, or whatever your drink of choice may be, in an effort to passout as soon as possible and get this retarded day before the "Day" over with. However it usually ends in a argument with someone who knows nothing about what they are talking about and jumping in their face as if you were about to go twelve rounds.

1:45am-just before sunrise - Realizing that you didnt drink enough to pass out you sit and wonder how exaclty your fighter is actually gonna dismantle the other guy. KO? TKO? Cuts? Decision? Then of course you get up and have to review every youTube or taped fight to make sure you can email this information to the FanCLub and give him that last second adjustment that he desperaltely needed to win the fight; only to remember you didnt include your name so he wont be thanking you afterward druing the post fight interview...damn!

Sunrise to 8:30am - You slept, but the sheer excitment made that a short adventure. But you did dream of your guy running down the beach shirtless with a light sweat coming off his....errrrrr I mean how bad ass the fight was gonna be, ya thats what it was.


8:30am-4:45pm - This is another retarded set of hours that you really cant do anything about they are usually filled with getting the BBQ set up, filling the cooler up with ice beer, etc. Bringing the best TV in the house (whoch is usually in your room) into the living room our outdoor area for more space. Making sure you order the fight 5 times just to be sure (this is followed by arguing with the cable company about 30 days later about why they would think that you're stupid enough to order the fight 5 times...but thats another story.)

4:45pm-5:45pm - This actually to me is a very peaceful time its filled with serene moments of tranquility and intense meditation. As you visualize and plan for the events that will take place. You may or may not shower and get ready for your visitors to come by. Personally, you can imagine me getting ready kind of like the scene out of Saturday Night Fever, before John T. goes to the club, getting ready with the Bee Gees in the background kinda doing alittle Tango Hustle as I comb my hair....Al Pacino!! (Lets see who knows the movie that well)

6:00pm-9:00 - It gets hazy here, but usually theres yelling screaming nail biting, punches to the air, and you always tell someone to "shut the 'f' up" and "sit the 'f' down". Tears, sweat, beer, and cigerette smoke between the fights. Furniture might break a baby might be crying in the background and your wife may not give you a bj for about a week cuz you spilled beer on the couches again.

9:01-the rest of the following week- Cry or Brag.

thats it in a nutshell.

[amat]

I hope you have a healthy amount of tissues Onix

[Onix]

I hope you have a healthy amount of tissues Onix

Only for my tears of Joy...

[Onix]

Throwing this thread back up there. Its fun and light hearted...we all need that to ease the tension while we wait.