Why didnt Cotto go to the body??

[TyBuff]

Watching the fight I noticed that Cotto hardly went to the body on Margorito. Anybody have any ideas on why Cotto didnt go to the body like he usually does. I feel that that was a big mistake by not going to the body, he could have worn Margorito down some so that he wouldnt have taken as much punishment in the later rounds. Not saying that it would have changed the outcome, but I feel it would have served him better if he did some body work earlier in the fight so that Margorito wouldnt have as much energy in the later rounds.

[Taeth]

Trying going to the body when your backing up and somebody is throwing punches to your head consistently. Its not easy at all. Pretty much the only thing you can do is counter to the head.

[straight down the pike]

I agree cotto didn't want to go nowhere near him because if he did, that 11th round knockout would have came a whole lot sooner! He was trying to land a few shots and get out of there. Cotto fought as good as he could and i think for the first half of the fight that was the best he ever looked in my opinion. He proved he really can box. Everybody has a fighter they just can't beat and i think Toni is that fighter for him.

[straight down the pike]

He did lose his power by going backwards, but at the same time he is not big or strong enough to stand there and go blow for blow with him like he did in the Zab or Shane fight. His side to side movement is not that good for him to stay away from him. I guess He felt the only thing he can do was go backwards. He looked pretty good doing it, he would catch him a couple of times and get out he just don't have what it takes to beat Toni.

[RP33]

i see it where if you're going to work the body, you have to start early.. Cotto was landing FLUSH blows to Margarito's head, often, early in the fight.. as far as i'm concerned Cotto was probably convinced that he'd be able to take care of tony considering he was landing at will upstairs.. normally that's the case especially someone with decent power like cotto.. but margarito absorbed everything and just kept coming.. at which point it may have been too late to mount a body attack..

if there is a rematch you may see more body shots, but that will also open cotto up for more incoming punches.. so he'd have to choose his spots wisely.

[Taeth]

If you watch Cotto vs Ndou or Abdullaev He only went to the body when he was able to land a few upstairs without retaliation. The problem was that Margarito will take your punches then punch back everytime, and it is a BIG mistake to go to the body first when your on the ropes, an opponent will knock you out.

[pacfan]

Everyone likes to say why not this or that, but in boxing - in reality in the ring itself - only the fighters actually feel or know what he should or can do or not...

...just my 3cents worth, keep the extra penny...

[Jesse James]

Cotto couldn't get to the body because Tony was protecting it with his arms. Cotto himself said this.

[Kel]

He would have got hit more, if the chances were there I'm sure he would have landed some. I agree with the above post, unless your the one in the ring you just don't know but my guess would be that he never had the chance to land many without paying for it.

[C-Lo]

Cotto couldn't get to the body because Tony was protecting it with his arms. Cotto himself said this.

This was exactly what I was going to say. I haven't seen the fight a second time but while I was watching the first time I did notice Margarito kept his hands low. I think he knew that Cotto couldn't hurt him upstairs so he sacrificed his head in exchange for being able to protect the body. It was a good move for Margarito.

The main problem I felt Cotto had was he kept getting himself stuck on the ropes. He should've kept the fight in the middle of the ring. In retrospect, Margarito just wouldn't be denied so no matter how many game plans Cotto had, Margarito getting to him would just be an eventuality.

I still feel Cotto is a better fighter but Margarito may just have his number everytime they fight. Like Vernon Forrest was for Shane Mosley is what Margarito is for Miguel Cotto.

[TyBuff]

All the posts have good points, when I was watching the fight I was just surprised that Cotto didnt throw any shots to the body. I thought he could have when he was on the ropes, but like someone said you do it on the ropes and he risked getting KO'd sooner. Margo did a good job of taking the body shot away from Cotto. Was hoping for a different outcome but knew this was a good possibitie of happening.

[rene69]

It's hard to throw body shots while protecting yourself from a punching machine like Margarito.

[ArawakWarria]

Cotto couldn't get to the body because Tony was protecting it with his arms. Cotto himself said this.

I am so glad someone is actually taking a quote from a fighter rather than spewing their haterade all over the place. Marga's defence is much better than it appears, b/c he mostly blocks & slips.

For what it is worth, Cotto did go to the body, but when you are not successful, how often will you keep trying? Also, it is safe to say that Cotto's weakest point is the right side of his chin (i.e. left hook), and he did the best he could for as long as he could to protect that.

[Taeth]

If somebody is carrying their hands low you need to throw combinations up top which brings their hands up then slip underneath with a hook, and Cotto is amazing at doing this, however, he kept his combinations only to the head, and because he allowed Margarito to back him to the ropes so easily he wasn't able to slip the overhand right like he usually does and coutners with that left hook to the liver.

[Violent Demise]

If somebody is carrying their hands low you need to throw combinations up top which brings their hands up then slip underneath with a hook, and Cotto is amazing at doing this, however, he kept his combinations only to the head, and because he allowed Margarito to back him to the ropes so easily he wasn't able to slip the overhand right like he usually does and coutners with that left hook to the liver.

He did do that. But they had little to no affect on Margarito. Which is why Margarito still kept his arms low