No comments been made since this post last week, shame given that it was the farewell of a modern legend. The fight itself showed flashes of what made Cotto so good in his prime but over the twelve rounds it was obvious that he's slipped considerably and is well and truly right in his decision to retire after that fight. He would have chewed Ali up if anywhere near his peak.
To me the first half of the Margarito fight you mention was probably as great as Cotto has ever been in his career, that was a special performance until he slowed down and had his face broken up. I never like to comment on the hand wraps thing because ultimately no-one knows for sure whether the handwraps were loaded or not, no matter how passionately you argue the case. At the end of the day Pacquiao tore his face to pieces as well but his hands weren't loaded up. The PED argument is also not qualified with any specific fact either so again I'd avoid pinpointing handwraps and PEDs as reasons Cotto lost those fights.
He was a brilliant fighter in his prime and is easily my favourite from my time watching the sport. Seems his relevance has diminished slowly over the last few years which is a shame considering how much he has contributed to the game by being in many great fights and tough battles. Margarito twice, Mosley, Torres, Judah, Clottey, all those fights were tough, tough fights that would have taken a significant chunk out of the soul of an ordinary fighter so it's a testimony to Cotto's substance that he was able to perform to a high level until last weekend after having so many miles on the clock courtesy of all those fights. Never, ever in a bad fight. He should be celebrated and I'm sure he is in his home country.
