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.

[Spicoli]

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WARGARITO....??... .......Absolutely, with out a doubt!!!....Good one Oh and he will chief.

[CutMeMick]

I like to keep myself busy and not think about the fight that's at hand so that the day flys by.
So here it is...
Gotta get up early and work out Sat. morning for about 1 hr, then I gotta clean my house. Hit the store to buy some appetizers and liquor for my guests, hit the shower and get ready.

By this time it's only 10:00 am and I still have about 8 hrs. to go crazy..

[TitoFan]

It's late on the night before the fight. I should be asleep, but I'm too hyped. I figure I'll go to sleep pretty soon, but I had to get my saddo-fix first. I just saw "Countdown" again. Great show... two great champions. Good job by HBO on this one. I've seen some "countdowns" to fights that probably shouldn't have had them (networks tendency to overdo a good thing)... but this one was right on. Just saw Cotto-Mosley again, too.

Well... about this time tomorrow night I should be hoarse and completely worn out. And I'm not even fighting!

[El Kabong]

Cotto-Mosley and Margarito-Cintron.....those fights really set this fight up nicely but can be decieving. #1 Cintron has no heart, he's a quitter and Cotto isn't #2 Mosley isn't a big guy like Toni #3 Cotto doesn't really land the cross as much as the hook and his punches are short and sharp and Cintron's punches were long and deliberate and sometimes fighters take those better #4 Mosley has never been KO'd so the fact that Cotto didn't KO him but DEFINENTLY hurt him is telling.


I am hyped about the fight...I have my Coors and I'm going to cook some but I won't start out too early so I can remember the fight

[Gandalf]

I get anxious before big fights. Its the anticipation and the fact that you really dont know who will win. Its morning or early afternoon when fights are shown here so I dont need to endure the long wait until evening like so many do. But the days before the fight I do get edgy. But generally I can just wake up, have some breakfast and Im ready to watch!!

I like both of these fighters but you've got to pick one. Got to be Cotto by decision.

[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?