Rematches are common in the world of boxing.
Regardless, some cases become something personal for the boxers involved, especially when the loser considers the result unfair, be it by a mistake from the judges or cheating from his opponent.
The rematch between Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto and Mexico's Antonio Margarito, to take place on Dec. 3 in New York, is an excellent example.
Beyond the battle for the welterweight title held by Cotto, it is the animosity involved in the fight despite the two being in their 30s with diminishing skills that is garnerning most of the attention.
In this particular case, the Puerto Rican is sure that in the first fight in 2008, which he lost in the 11th round via technical knockout, Margarito cheated. It was the first professional defeat in the Puerto Rican’s career.
The suspicion arises from the controversy in the match after Margarito's trainer, Javier Capetillo, was caught trying to add clay to the wrapping of the boxer's glove before a fight against Shane Mosley.
That incident has led Cotto, despite accepting the defeat "like a man," to continue to make derogatory comments about his opponent.
According to Cotto, Margarito is "a criminal for using a weapon" and "an embarrassment to the world of boxing and Mexico."
In the lead-up to the fight, Cotto has constantly shown a photograph on his cell phone which seems to show the Mexican wearing suspicious wrapping during his fight against Cotto.
Margarito, for his part, is not bothered by Cotto's behavior, and has instead resorted to mocking the derogatory treatment and the abilities of the Puerto Rican fighter.
"I don't know why he keeps saying I'm a criminal or a bad person. I am not going around hitting my family," said the Mexican, alluding to the scuffle that led to the breakup between Cotto and Evangelista, his uncle and former trainer.
"He talks because it's the only thing he knows how to do. He talks because he has a mouth and nothing else," he added.
As impressive as they are, these verbal jabs almost didn't happen. Margarito's license to fight in New York was only given a week ago, as he was forced to show that his right eye was in proper condition to fight.
The Mexican's orbital bone was fractured in the manhandling received at the hands of Manny Pacquiao more than a year ago in November 2010, adding another controversy to the fight as many believe Margarito is putting his health and life at risk by returning to the ring.
In that sense, Margarito has contested that Cotto "can hit his eye all he wants. It's not going to do anything. He hits like a girl. My brother-in-law has a stronger punch and he's a flyweight."
Cotto, aside from insisting that he does not have a strategy geared towards Margarito's eye, declared that he is dumbfounded that Margarito would risk fighting with his injury.
"My health comes first," he said. "I would never be someone's puppet to endanger my health."
