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Misc Boxing/MMA Boxing Archive Preview: Cotto/Gomez & Cintron/Margarito
Written by Scott Swerbinsky

Scott Swerbinsky
HBO boxing has a great doubleheader on tap for boxing fans tonight. There are two excellent welterweight showdowns, one featuring the number two pound for pound fighter in the world, Miguel Cotto, defending his belts against Alfonso Gomez.  And the first fight is likely to be better than the main event.  Antonio Margarito takes on Kermit Cintron in a rematch of the only blemish on Cintron's record.  The winner is likely to be next for Cotto.  My cuz previews the fights for us. I can't remember the last time a fight on the undercard had me more excited than the main event. Tonight in Atlantic City, that is the case.

HBO boxing has a great doubleheader on tap for boxing fans tonight. There are two excellent welterweight showdowns, one featuring the number two pound for pound fighter in the world.

In the main event Miguel Cotto (31-0 25 KO) will step in with Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2 8 KO). The 147 pound showdown will feature two fighters with similar styles. Both guys like to work the body and normally throw a good number of punches. They expect to wear down their opponent and test their will and heart. The fact that both fighters like to stay busy should make for an exciting fight.

The biggest difference between the two fighters is power. Cotto has a lot of it, and Gomez really doesn't. The fact that Cotto can end any fight with any punch is reason he is considered the second best fighter in the world behind Floyd Mayweather Jr. The body assaults that Cotto has unleashed in the past are downright scary. In the fight that most fans will remember for Gomez, he did destroy Arturo Gatti but he's known as a human punching bag.

I look for Miguel Cotto to start fast as he always does. His overall skill level should be just too much for Alfonso Gomez. It won't be easy for the first few rounds as Gomez has a huge heart and will look to trade. If he can hang in there and weather the early storm, Gomez might stand a chance. The question regarding Cotto has always been that he is easy to hit.  That being said, I expect the power shots to add up with Cotto winning by a knockout in the seventh or eighth round.

The showdown I am really excited for is another battle in the 147 pound division. It is a rematch of two exciting fighters that have a lot to prove. The winner also will look to have some huge fights on the horizon, possibly with Miguel Cotto is everything goes according to plan in his fight.

Antonio Margarito (35-5 25 KO) and Kermit Cintron (29-1 27 KO) will go at it again in what I look for to be a fight of the year candidate. They met back in 2005 in a fight where Margarito simply destroyed Cintron. He took his will to fight that evening in a 5th round TKO. That is the only blemish on Kermit's record and he is looking for revenge.

Kermit Cintron has the most to prove in this fight. He has seemed to call out every fighter in the world in the last few months. If tonight's fight goes anything like he last fight with Margarito, we may never see him get a decent fight again. Cintron needs to back up his talk in the ring if he wants to be taken seriously. He does possess one punch knockout power but it will probably have to be his stamina that wins this fight tonight.

Antonio Margarito is one of the busiest fighters when he steps into the squared circle. He likes to wear down his opposition with body work and punches in flurries. He has good power and an excellent chin. With a win against Cintron, he should be in line for a big payday. His only loss in the last three years was to Paul Williams back in July of 2007. The reason he lost that fight was because of a very slow start. I don't expect to see that tonight when he battles Cintron. He has the upper hand mentally going in and should look to capitalize early and often and look to make Cintron quit again.

HBO's doubleheader has me excited to be a boxing fan. Tonight's fights should be action packed and very fast paced. The card consists of some of the best fighters in the world and could easily have two fight of the year candidates come out of it. I wouldn't want to miss either fight this evening and recommend to everyone out there to tune in.

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