Those were the famous words of Howard Cosell during the Larry Holmes vs. Rex Cobb affair. And in most circumstances, a fair description of referee Steve Smoger: a man known to allow for unnecessary brutality. Replace the word "referee" with the word "boxing match", and you have to think Cosell's outrage would have been just as applicable for the participants at Madison Square Garden.
I'll review the fight in a bit, but it's a testament to the primal allure of combat sports that the politics surrounding the fight were so easily discarded once it was decided that whatever offense from one man and professional athlete to another, all of it could be forgotten just to see the scrutiny reach a verdict with fists. Deep down, we enjoy a public execution whether underlined by metaphor, or by physical violence.
Nevermind that Margarito's offense, having had calcium and sulphur in his handwraps to create plaster of paris before the Mosley fight and theoretically against other combatants, was a criminal one. Luis Resto, in 1983, famously got caught with a similar offense, having had his gloves tampered with, and it got him banned. He also served 2 and half years in prison. Granted, Margarito never actually used loaded wraps in the ring, but the only reason he didn't is because of an observant trainer. It's difficult, however, to shake the suspicion that he might have in the past.
But Cotto wanted blood, and educated fans, suspecting Margarito only found success as a result of cheating, wanted to see him have it. I wonder how the public perception would have changed if they felt like Cotto didn't stand a good chance of beating Margarito. If Antonio wasn't coming off a brutal loss to Manny Pacquaio. It's a question worth asking, and the answer paints an unflattering picture of human nature. We knew deep down Cotto was the better boxer. We knew Margarito was coming off a loss, and was deteriorated. In short, we had that strong hunch: Cotto was gonna make him pay. In a sick and twisted way, perhaps it's Margarito who came out the winner.
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