Of all the national rivalries in boxing, few generate as much passion as Mexico versus Puerto Rico, and this awe-inspiring fight took its place among the rivalry's greatest bouts. From the moment the welterweight title fight was signed until the moment Cotto took a knee for the second time under a heavy assault in the 11th round -- with his uncle and trainer, Evangelista Cotto, throwing in the towel to finish it -- the fight surpassed the considerable expectations heaped upon it. "That is a modern boxing classic," HBO's Max Kellerman gushed at the fight's conclusion. Although Margarito landed shots early, the faster Cotto stayed in control and outboxed him in a fast-paced fight. But the granite-chinned Margarito, with his relentless pressure, walked Cotto down, seemingly turning the tide in the sixth round. Bleeding from his mouth and nose, Cotto was beginning to fade until finally taking that second knee under a hail of blows for his first defeat. With both eyes swollen, Margarito was smiling nonetheless after winning one of the most anticipated, and subsequently best, fights of the year. "An epic fight with an epic conclusion," HBO's Jim Lampley said moments after the stoppage. "The first loss of Cotto's career and another triumph for Mexico in the ongoing war with Puerto Rico." It was the sort of fight that makes putting up with all the political nonsense in boxing tolerable -- because every now and then you get to watch something truly special.
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