Cotto vs. Margarito 2: Why Boxing Needs This to Be an Instant Classic

The sport of boxing needs the second Cotto vs. Margarito bout to be an instant classic because there has not been enough memorable fights to raise the popularity of the sport in recent years.

While boxing fans anxiously wait a possible Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao bout, there has to be a fight that gets people into the sport before that fight happens (if it does).

Antonio Margarito and Miguel Angel Cotto don't like each other and there has been some bad blood between these two fighters leading up to this second fight.

The chances that this fight could end early are probably pretty high. Both these guys are going to want to devastate the other quickly due to their strong dislike for one another.

This strategy, however, has its benefits and disadvantages. 

Trying to go for the knockout too early can open yourself up to mistakes, which your opponent can punish and really hurt your chances of being able to last into the later rounds.

The fight stands little chance of being a prolonged battle that we will remember for a long time. Boxing needs a Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown more than ever with the lack of historic fights the past 10 years.

The popularity of the sport is weak and the mainstream public for the most part cares very little about boxing.

The sport needs a fight that will make casual fans come to the sport and watch with great interest, and a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would do that.

Cotto vs. Margarito could be a good fight, but it won't be the instant classic boxing needs moving forward.