Justice vs. Redemption! Big-fight preview

If this weekend’s double-header of rematches had a theme it would be Justice vs. Redemption

If this weekend’s double-header of rematches had a theme it would be Justice vs. Redemption.

Both pairings feature fighters in search of justice for what they feel were unfair losses against opponents who seek to clear their names with definitive victories.

The Golden Child of Golden Boy, Abner Mares (22-0-1, 13 KOs) is the first fighter that the powerhouse promotional firm has led from professional debut to world title win. However, what should have been his crowning moment of glory, was instead shrouded in controversy as his IBF title win over Joseph King Kong Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) featured literally dozens of unpenalized low-blows.

Similarly, Tijuana, Mexico’s Antonio Margarito’s signature win over Caguas, Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) in 2008 has been marked with an unofficial asterisk since he was caught with illegal handwraps shortly before his disastrous 2009 title loss against Shane Mosley. Knocked out for the first time in his career, Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) would be banned from the sport for a year and marked as a pariah, one who had gambled with the lives of his opponents.

Both Mares and Margarito will try to erase the marks on their reputations by repeating their performances in Saturday’s rematches, and attempt to definitively assert their dominance over their rivals. Both Margarito, and Mares who told Jim Gray not to “ruin his moment,” during a post-fight interview have been indignant about their perceived offenses from day one, and hope that repeat victories will silence their critics.

Ghana’s Agbeko (right), as brave as he is talented, gave Mares all he could handle after a slow start in the final of Showtime’s Bantamweight tournament

In the opposite corners will be two fighters hoping to attain justice by balancing out the scales. Ghana’s Agbeko, as brave as he is talented, gave Mares all he could handle after a slow start in the final of Showtime’s Bantamweight tournament. Despite King Kong’s best efforts, referee Russell Mora’s abysmal performance would ensure the loss of his title to Mares.

In July of 2008, Miguel Cotto boxed beautifully for the first half of the fight that was supposed to vaunt him to the top of most pound-for-pound lists. He used lateral movement and underrated handspeed to outclass Margarito for six rounds, which he won convincingly despite a few tense moments along the ropes. Suddenly, the momentum of the fight shifted and Margarito’s punches, while lacking visible snap, left obvious damage on Cotto’s face. By the time a white towel sailed into the ring to save him in the 11th round, the Puerto Rican star’s face was an unrecognizable mass of pulp and he was visibly wincing at every exchange.

Both Agbeko and Cotto will enter the ring on Saturday hoping to prove that their previous losses to Mares and Margarito respectively were anomalies. Agbeko has already avenged his other big loss in a brilliant performance against Colombia’s Yohnny Perez, where Cotto has initiated a Marco Antonio Barrera-like transformation from brawler to conservative technician under the tutelage of two world-class trainers.

Fighting for the first time under Cuba’s Pedro Luis Diaz, WBA Light Middleweight Champion Cotto will most likely try to outbox Margarito again, while showing better defensive posture and staying of the ropes. Margarito doesn’t seem to have any desire to adjust his style and will look to pursue Cotto with improved stamina and relentless pressure while blocking out the jeers of what will surely be a partisan crowd of more than 20,000 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Mares of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif will hope to press a (legal) body attack against Accra, Ghana’s Agbeko who would be well served to avoid the slow start that cost him many early rounds in the first fight and press Mares from the beginning with his varied, rangy attack when they face off at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Both fights this Saturday promise to be action-packed wars, and whether justice is served for Cotto and Agbeko or redemption is gained by Mares and Margarito both fights promise to bring closure to two of the sport’s most exciting rivalries.