Margarito - No longer indestructable
First off, huge respect for Shane Mosley today, he really turned back the clock and did what I didn't think was possible, he took Margarito out plain and simple.
So what happens now for Tony, hand wrap controversy aside.
Tony's greatest strength was his belief in his chin, his strength and his work rate - that no matter how hard and how often you hit him, he could walk through you and take you out. Look at how often Cotto hit him with huge shots and they just had no effect.
Maybe, Shane benefited tonight from Cotto's work - you just can't keep taking shots like Tony takes and expect to stay healthy. Look at Mayorga - early in his career you couldn't knock him out with a sledgehammer, but over time his chin eroded to the point where he's getting buzzed and KO'd regularly.
So tonight Tony's faith in his chin was unswerving, but he paid a big price - you could almost see the disbelief in his face when he was on the canvas and his legs wouldn't repsond. "WTF? This has never happened before!"
If he is to continue in the sport at the top level he must protect his chin. But Tony may be like another great Mexican fighter, Pipino Cuevas - once the belief in the chin is gone they just aren't the same
"I take good care of my people. I like to inflict permanent psychological damage."
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