Cotto vs Margarito 2: Grudge Match with Cotto Will Define Margarito's Legacy

Mexican star boxer Antonio Margarito may have a career record of 38-7 with 27 knockouts, but his legacy was marred when he was found to have a substance resembling "Plaster of Paris" in his hand wraps against Shane Mosley in Jan. 2009.

The incident not only had him and his trainer Javier Capetillo banned from boxing for a year, it had many people questioning whether he used illegal hand wraps in his other fights.

These people included Miguel Cotto, who lost his ranking as the No. 1 welterweight in the world when he lost to Margarito in July 2008 via TKO in the 11th round.

Cotto had never directly said he thought Margarito cheated in their first fight, but before this fight he's making his stance clear, calling Margarito a "criminal."

That's why this fight means so much for Margarito, not only to prove who is the better fighter of the two, but to prove he's a great boxer, illegal hand wraps or not.

Said Margarito, via The New York Post:

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“I’m just hoping we can have a neutral ref and neutral judges that see it’s just us two up there. If it goes 12 rounds and there’s a decision, I just hope they don’t give anybody any home advantages."

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There is the potential of Cotto getting the edge if it comes to a close decision based on Margarito's past. Cotto has also fought at Madison Square Garden many times throughout his career and is sure to be the favorite among fans in the arena.

Margarito is also coming off a brutal fight with Manny Pacquiao in Nov. 2010, in which his orbital bone was crushed and he had to replace a cataract with an artificial lens.

The 33-year-old said he considered retirement after the fight, but consulted with doctors and now says he's 100 percent.

To put it simply, Margarito has a mountain to climb in this fight. He not only has to beat an accomplished fighter in Cotto coming off eye surgery, he knows his legacy won't be the same if he doesn't come out victorious.

Then again, he dug his own grave.

Now he has to get out of it.