Cotto vs. Margarito 2: Margarito Must Retire After Embarrassing Loss

Antonio Margarito's career has been marred by controversy. He has been found guilty of loading his hands to try and score a knockout. But on Saturday night against Miguel Cotto, we hopefully witnessed the end of his boxing career. 

It's no secret that Margarito has had eye problems since that beating he suffered at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last year. In fact, there was some doubt leading up to this fight that the New York Athletic Commission would license him because of his right eye. 

Margarito ended up getting the license, but he probably wishes that he hadn't because his eye got torn to shreds again. But more important that that, he looked more like a fighter just trying to hold on to what was once a storied career than one who can actually be competitive. 

As Kieran Mulvaney of ESPN.com wrote, Cotto basically treated Margarito like his little plaything for 10 rounds before deciding to finish the fight. 

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From the opening bell at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, it was clear that this time would be different. Cotto moved constantly, but -- with the exception of a period in the fourth and fifth rounds when it looked as if a 3-year-old play was about to be reenacted -- he did not allow Margarito to drive him backward, was not pinned against the ropes, was not open to uppercuts.

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Margarito has not made any concrete decisions about his future, and because this is boxing, he will likely keep fighting until he is not cleared to do so, but for the sake of his health, future and our wallets, it is only right for him to walk away now. 

No one is going to pay Margarito big money just to be a punching bag anymore, and even if they do, fans won't be willing to dish out $55 to watch a pay-per-view to see it. 

After 46 professional fights over 17 years and a few controversies along the way, Margarito's time as a boxer is over. If he is unable to believe it, someone has to step in to tell him that what he is doing is an embarrassment to him and the sport of boxing.