Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito: 15 Things You Need to Know

Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KO) puts his junior middleweight (154 lbs) world title on the line in a rematch of his amazing welterweight (147 lbs) battle against Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KO) on December 3.

The fight will be broadcast on HBO Pay-Per-View and will be worth every penny.

From the fierce rivalry between the two and their respective countries of Puerto Rico and Mexico to the scandal that clouds their first fight, this is must-see action.

Here are 15 things you should know before you watch the fight.

15. Puerto Rico vs Mexico Rivalry

Puerto Rico and Mexico have produced numerous great champions. These two have possibly produced the most world champions out of the entire worldwide Hispanic community.

This causes a deep rivalry to play out between the two popular Hispanic communities that plays out between their brightest and greatest stars

In 1982, Puerto Rican heavy hitter Wilfredo Gomez took on Mexican great Salvador Sanchez.

In 1999, Puerto Rican warrior Felix Trinidad faced Mexican superstar Oscar Re La Hoya.

In 2008, Puerto Rican body-snatcher Cotto went against Mexican standout Margarito.

The legend continues to Cotto-Margarito II.

14. Margarito Will Not Quit

Margarito's eye was closed shut against Manny Pacquiao last year. After the fight, it was found out that Margarito suffered a broken orbital bone. If Margarito can fight with a shut eye, he'll fight during anything.

Margarito will not quit. He would rather die in than ring than submit. Cotto better take notice.

13. Cotto's Junior Middleweight Belt and Ranking Is on the Line

Cotto has built up a ranking and position at junior middleweight since losing his WBO welterweight belt to Pacquiao in 2009.

Cotto's reputation at junior middleweight puts him above the likes of popular young Mexican Saul Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KO) and steadily rising Texan James Kirkland (30-1, 27 KO).

All roads lead to Cotto currently for any hungry kid at 154 with a decent following. If Margarito beats him, then he will gain Cotto's status at the division. To the winner, the spoils.

12. Cotto Has Better Record at Junior Middleweight

Cotto's record at junior middleweight is 2-0 with two knockouts. Margarito's record at junior middleweight is 1-1 with no knockouts.

Now to be fair, Margarito's first fight was coming off a year-long suspension for illegal handwraps against a young capable fighter he still managed to beat by unanimous decision.

His loss came from Pacquiao at a catchweight of 150 lbs. Pacquiao is considered by many to be best fighter pound-for-pound in the world, so a beating from Pacquiao doesn't count too much against him.

11. Both Men Have Lost to Many Pacquiao

Cotto was first to be pummeled by Pacquiao on November of 2009 in Las Vegas. He gave a good fight for the first two rounds until Pacquiao knocked him down in once in Rounds 3 and 4.

Cotto was repeatedly caught by Pacquiao's faster flurries in a brawl that eventually overcame Cotto in Round 12 when referee Kenny Bayless stepped in to save Cotto from more unnecessary damage.

Margarito got his chance in November of 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. Margarito fought Pacquiao at a catchweight of 150 lbs for the WBO 154 lb title, whereas Cotto had fought for a 147 lb title.

Pacquiao appeared able to weather the slow storm of  the bigger Margarito to cruise to a unanimous decision victory, raining a hail of over a thousand punches into Margarito's face.

Margarito's right eye required at least three surgeries before being ready to fight again. Though Margarito's past accomplishments remained questionable, his toughness was reinforced in a big way.

10. Cotto Believes Margarito Cheated with Plaster the First Time

Cotto has declared Margarito a cheater after it was found out that Margarito's gloves were filled with "Plaster of Paris," a substance that hardens when wet. The sweat from inside the glove would suffice.

Cotto carries around a picture Margarito's torn gauze the night of he beat Cotto. Cotto believes the gauze shouldn't have broke in the manner that it did.

Cotto believes Margarito is a cheater and plans to beat him to help further casts doubt on his first loss to the Mexican.

Does this mean Cotto will not be as fearful of Margarito's punches? Will Cotto try to walk through Margarito? Or will Cotto apply his superior boxing skills and not turn?

Cotto will most likely be respectful of Margarito's power in the opening rounds. Margarito will come forward, and Cotto will know if he is right.

9. Margarito Doesn't Care What Cotto Believes

Margarito says he can beat Cotto again and has nothing to prove. All of this may just be posturing by Margarito, but this overly cocky persona is bringing out a winning performance as the villain of the fight.

People like to have someone to root against almost as much, if not more than, as someone to root for. Margarito has proven he can sell tickets and create interests with his bad guy persona.

On December 3, boxing fans will find out if he can beat Cotto under the most fair of circumstances.

8. Cotto vs Margarito Will Be in New York at Madison Square Garden

Cotto is 8-0 in New York with four wins coming by way of knockout. Margarito has never fought as a professional in New York. New York is home to Cotto's heavy Puerto Rican fanbase.

This could play a factor in the fight. Location sometimes is everything, especially for fights that go the difference. Hometown decisions happen all the time in big fights.

7. New York Is Very Cautious of Margarito's Eye

The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) was willing to block the fight between Cotto and Margarito pending his eye was checked out by another ophthalmologist.

Though after much deliberation, the commission has approved the match, they also will likely be quick to want to stop the fight if Cotto targets the right eye and manages to cause any amount of damage to it. 

Wars aren't what they used to be; referees are encouraged to stop long exchanges early, as the ref could be potentially be witnessing the demise of a boxer.

6. Cotto vs Margarito HBO Face off Is the Best Ever

Cotto vs. Margarito produced a classic episode of HBO's Face Off with Max Kellerman.

HBO's Face Off series features two boxers in an intense rivalry facing each other in a dark room with cheers turned backwards and HBO's Max Kellerman acting as mediator and instigator.

Unlike most of the previous rivalries, Cotto and Margarito have an intense mutual and authentic hatred of one another.

The hatred gives off a putrid smell of flesh-boiling from being in the same room of each other. The disgust on Cotto's face is barely held in.

The bravado jumps from Margarito's demeanor to keep him from acting out his frustrations on Cotto's face too early. If anyone is not yet sold on the fight, they must watch the Face Off.

5. Cotto and Margarito Have Huge Fight Offers Upon Victory

Cotto and Margarito have both been offered good fights with some of the biggest money-makers in boxing should they win their battle against each other.

Shane Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KO) has said he wants the Cotto-Margarito II winner. Though he's looked unimpressive in his losses to Mayweather and Pacquiao, his name still attracts pay-per-view buyers.

Bob Arum has told Boxing Scene he'll offer Cotto the 25-year-old growing Mexican star and WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (44-0-1, 31 KO) if Cotto can beat Margarito.

Joshua Clottey (36-4, 21 KO) has challenged the Cotto-Margarito II winner after returning on the Manfredo-Chavez undercard with a sensational knock out Calvin Green (21-7-1, 13 KO) in two rounds.

Many other big matchups remain for the victor, whereas the loser will have fallen to depths too low to climb out of.

4. Margarito Has Not Knocked out Anyone Since His Mosley Fight

Antonio Margarito was caught with plaster in his gloves Jan. 24, 2009.  That night, Mosley decided to continue to fight the man and would proceed to effectively demolish Margarito in nine rounds.

This became the first stoppage loss of Margarito's career. He has won one fight by decision and lost another by decision, but has not scored a knockout since.

After grueling battles against the likes of Paul Williams (40-2, 27 KO), Miguel Cotto and a beatdown from Shane Mosley. Is Margarito finally done?

At age 33 and after two decades of knockdown drag-out fights, is Margarito incapable of finishing the best opponents out there like he did against Kermit Cintron (33-5-1, 28 KO) twice among others?

Or is the lack of plaster in recent fights showing in his inability to put his opponents away? He'll have his chance to answer these questions through his second battle with Cotto on December 3.

3. Margarito's Wife Michelle Is Hot

I think this is very pertinent information. Michelle Margarito is hot. What more do you need to know?

2. Cotto Says He Is Not Willing to Die in the Ring

During HBO's Face Off, Cotto told Max Kellerman that he thinks Margarito is "stupid" for being able and willing to die in the ring. Cotto has said he won't do the same.

Kellerman has suggested that against Margarito, that could be the difference. Whoever is willing to die in the ring may be the man with the heart to win.

Cotto showed much heart against a possibly plaster-glove-wrapped Margarito. Does Cotto have the same heart?

When Pacquiao knocked him down the second time, it could be seen that Cotto was losing his will. By Round 7, Cotto was on the bicycle running from the Pac-Man like was the law.

In the end, the only way to find out is watch the fight on HBO pay-per-view this Saturday December 3.

1. The First Battle Was Hell; This Will Be More

In case you forgot, let's go back to 2008.

July 26, 2008 marked the date two welterweight warriors would clash to add to the historic rivalry between the world's two greatest Hispanic countries, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

What transpired that night and the events that would be revealed later would spark a rivalry more personal than just country to country and flag against flag. This became a blood feud.

Margarito had become the Devilish imp that had threatened to destroy Cotto's face, career, life and family as they watched the head of their household being beaten live before their eyes into a pool of blood.

Margarito could have just been strong enough, brutal enough and great enough to dethrone Cotto, but he'll have to do so again to appease the skeptical crowd following his plaster incident.

Their first battle was fought evenly until the later rounds saw Margarito begin to get ahead with constant pressure and good inside-fighting.

Both fighters have had their good share of beatdowns since then, but who will have enough in the tank to pull off the career-defining victory?