Cotto vs. Margarito: Why Rematch Is a Can't-Miss Event

Although Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito may not have the name recognition of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather among casual boxing fans, their rematch on Saturday night is certain to be a compelling and entertaining fight.

Cotto will defend his WBA (super) light middleweight title against Margarito at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. When the two met in 2008, Margarito came out on top thanks to a late flurry, so there is certainly some history between the two combatants.

This particular fight hasn't gotten the same publicity as those involving Pacquiao or Mayweather, but the entertainment value will speak for itself. Here are three reasons why Cotto vs. Margarito II will be a can't-miss boxing event.

Incredible Pace

Boxing fans certainly know that the pace of a match can either make or break the fight. Matchups that look promising on paper have certainly been ruined in the past by becoming clutch-and-grab fests. When it comes to Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito, though, that isn't a concern whatsoever.

In the first meeting between the two fighters, the pace of the match was excellent, and remained that way until Margarito scored a knockout victory in the 11th round. Cotto controlled the early stages of the fight, but Margarito made a furious comeback which made the action exciting and meaningful.

There is no reason to believe that it won't happen again on Saturday as both men likely feel as though they have something to prove. Cotto has bounced back well since losing to Margarito, but will certainly want to even the score, while Margarito needs a win to stabilize himself. Either way, I expect both combatants to come out firing in what should be a fast-paced match.

Revenge Factor

When Cotto and Margarito first met in the ring back in 2008, Cotto was a dominant hot shot who had beaten all comers to that point. Not only was Cotto undefeated, but he was considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. That certainly shone through early in the fight.

Cotto dominated Margarito in the early going and seemed to be well on his way to yet another decisive victory. Cotto got much more than he bargained for, however, as Margarito showed his mettle by storming back and evening the fight. Margarito had even surpassed Cotto on the scorecards of the two of the judges before knocking him out in the 11th round.

While Cotto is still considered to be one of the best fighters there is, he lost much of his mystique thanks to that loss to Margarito. Cotto was essentially being billed as boxing's next big thing, and although he continues to deliver with impressive wins, Margarito humanized him. Because of that, Cotto will surely be out to prove that the loss was simply a fluke.

Cotto vs. Margarito I

If you still need to be convinced to order this fight, simply search Cotto vs. Margarito I and watch the bout from start to finish. If that isn't enough to make you want to see them go at it again, then it's fair to say that you aren't a true boxing fan. Everything about the first fight was fantastic, and it will be interesting to see if the fighters can live up to it in the rematch.

Everyone loves to see a good comeback, and that is precisely what Cotto vs. Margarito I provided. Margarito was down big early in the fight to the heavily-favored Cotto, but he certainly didn't go quietly. Margarito threw punches with reckless abandon throughout the middle and latter stages of the fight, and it eventually paid off with a knockout.

Rest assured that Cotto and his camp will have a much different strategy this time around. In fact, it could lead to an even more exciting fight as Cotto will likely be told not to rest on his laurels as he seemed to two and a half years ago. If Cotto keeps his foot on the gas and Margarito brings the same intensity he did last time, this fight could be one for the ages.

You can watch this fight by ordering it through HBO PPV, or by watching Top Rank Promotions' online stream.