Cotto vs. Margarito 2: Cotto Will Find Revenge with Early-Round Knockout

Generally speaking, it's not a good idea to pick a knockout in a boxing match unless you're talking about heavyweights. Sure, they happen, but not very often. It's just what happens. The fighters aren't as big or strong. As a result, the punches aren't as hard. 

It makes sense. However, there are times when rivalry goes beyond rational thought. This is one of those times. 

Antonio Margarito doesn't have a clean past. As ESPN reported, he was caught cheating in a fight against Shane Mosley in 2009. Then, as Lance Pugmire and Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times reported, there was plenty of reason to think that the cheating started before then.

As it happens, the man who Margarito fought immediately before Mosley was Miguel Angel Cotto. That night, he won via TKO. Who is he fighting this Saturday?

If you guessed Cotto, you win the grand prize.

The bad blood is there. Who wouldn't feel bad blood if they felt cheated? Cotto now has his chance to avenge the first loss of his career. 

As a result, this fight will be similar, but dramatically different. Yes, we'll see a knockout. However, this time, Cotto will be the man standing on top.

I can't imagine that a day has gone by since the 2008 loss that Cotto hasn't thought about this. If he genuinely feels cheated, he'll be coming out early and looking for blood. 

My best guess is that he'll get that blood. However, if he doesn't, it wouldn't surprise me if Margarito caught Cotto off guard and won with a knockout himself.

Still, that's not what I am predicting. 

Look for Cotto to come out hard and build an early lead. When he gets it, Cotto won't back off and accept the points win. He'll look for blood. He will get that blood.

Prediction: Cotto by knockout, fifth round.