Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Interesting an important fight at Madison Square Garden this week, on HBO PPV, and should be worth the price.

Miguel Cotto, from Puerto Rico lays his WBA Jr. Middleweight title on the line against hard punching (particularly with loaded gloves) Antonio Margarito from Mexico.

Since the fight will be in New York, you know the fans will be heavily in favor of Cotto, 36-2, (29), who, at 31, is two years younger than his foe, who defeated him in Las Vegas.

Margarito, 28-7, has a big height and reach advantage always seems to have problems with his defense, or lack of. If Cotto gets inside, consistently, he’ll have Margarito fighting off the ropes and canvas most of the fight.
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

It’s not baseball, but I lost a double-header with my picks last week. No crying over spilled milk here, Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson, at worst should been called a no-contest when he was back-flipped and suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday night.

Jorge Linares was well ahead on the scorecards, when Antonio DeMarco landed some solid punches and stopped him in round 10. Linares could have backed away and won the fight on the cards, but as we have seen many times before, that Latino machismo wouldn’t allow that to happen.

Time to like our wounds and move on.

This week we have what should be an action packed fight from Madison Square Garden in New York.

Nonito Donaire, 26-1 (18) puts his WBC bantamweight crown on the line against veteran Omar Navarez, 35-0-2 (23) who holds the WBO title.

Normally I don’t like battles between two southpaws because they tend to be dull, but I just can’t see either of this battlers doing anything but letting loose.

Donaire, 28, is eight years younger than Navarez, who seems to do all his fighting (and winning) in Argentina. Taking nothing away from Navarez, it’s hard to comment on a fighter you rarely if ever see.

But the sheet says Donaire also has the edge in the height and reach department, and his only loss came ten years ago.

On paper a great action fight, but I’ll go with Donaire who should be the favorite of the NYC crowd.

Nonito by stoppage.
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

This Saturday, October 8, in the Philippines, local favorite Donnie Nietes takes on tough Mexican Ramon Garcia for the WBO light flyweight title.

I’m never completely sure of the fighters in these smaller weight classes. The one thing I do know is that these guys can mix it up with anyone.

Nietes, 29, comes in with a 28-1-3 record with 16 knockouts. Those three draws causes a bit of wonder, as does his one loss in Indonesia, not always noted for having the best officials.

Garcia 16-2-1, (19) is also 29, but he is a southpaw.

All this brings to mind that this will probably be an offensive blood bath, (and I’ve been at ringside for a few) ending early, perhaps even early enough to go to a non-decision.

But having seen little to none of either fighter, I’ll take the local favorite, Nietes, by an early TKO.
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