Cotto vs. Margarito II: Result Sheds Light on Champ's Cheating Accusations

Junior middleweight champ Miguel Cotto's 10th-round TKO of Antonio Margarito not only served as an ice-cold dish of revenge for the Puerto Rican, but also as critical support for just how legitimate Cotto's cheating accusations have been.

Before Saturday night, the two boxers had first met inside the ring back in July 2008, the result was a 11th-round TKO win for Margarito.

Cotto was badly beaten during the fight and when Margarito was caught trying to enter the ring against Shane Mosley with hardened hand wraps the accusations hit the fan.

Cotto has since accused Margarito of putting his life in danger and being a "criminal in the sport."

It's safe to say that Margarito was fighting without plastered hand wraps Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, but is that why he lost?

It's a fair question, given that just over three years ago he was on the other end of a similar beating. 

No one knows for sure outside of the Margarito camp if he, in fact, did cheat during the July 2008 bout, but Saturday night's result certainly builds the case that he did.

However, this quote courtesy of a Dan Rafael piece on ESPN.com suggests Cotto has moved on after defeating his bitter rival.

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"He's still a very strong fighter, but I am way better than he is, I am very happy to finally get it over with. I did my work. I won the fight. Thanks to the crowd here. I love you." - Miguel Cotto

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Will Cotto continue to cry out for justice now that he has won?

Of course, he would be wasting his time now that he has proven he is a better fighter, but he cannot be content to let Margarito get away with such an accused violation of the human code. 

Margarito fell flat last night, and he was doomed from the beginning, because his dark secret that has been with him for nearly four years is slowly coming into the light.