Miguel Cotto has made a career out of breaking opponents down. Killing the body until the head dies, and pressuring opponents into retreat and eventually, defeat. This time, the tables were turned on him.

Antonio Margarito finished a fight for the ages with a barrage of punches in the 11th round, making Cotto take a knee twice, essentially making him quit, to become the new welterweight champion of the world.

Despite being a 2-to-1 underdog, Margarito fought right with Cotto for most of the fight. While Cotto put a few rounds in the bank early with his superior hand speed and boxing skill, Margarito overwhelmed him with volume and a granite chin. By the seventh round, Margarito had gained the confidence to walk through everything Cotto threw at him, and took control of the fight.

From the seventh round on, Cotto would have his moments, but make no mistake about it, Margarito was in control. Seemingly invincible, Margarito began to land more and more meaningful punches, with Cotto basically going into retreat mode for the last few rounds. Cotto fought well enough in the 10th round, and may have been on his way to winning the round, before getting rocked in the final seconds. Margarito came out in the 11th with knockout on his mind and relentlessly attacked Cotto.

Cotto took a knee midway through the round, but you could see in his eyes that he was not finishing the round. He tried to run for a few seconds, but again took a knee without even being hit. At that point, his uncle and trainer, Evangelista Cotto climbed the ring apron to waive the white towel of surrender.

Cotto had made a living beating fighters into submission with aggression and a high tolerance for punishment. This night, however, new welterweight king Antonio Margarito used Cotto’s own recipe against him.

While I am still partial to the Israel Vazquez – Rafael Marquez rubber match earlier this year as Fight of the Year, Cotto-Margarito has certainly made a great case for being the best boxing match of 2008. Another viewing after this has set in may be required to fairly judge just which fight was the best. Either way, boxing fans were treated to a great action fight in the best division in boxing.

Floyd who?

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