In July 2008, the undefeated Miguel Cotto entered the ring, ready to defend his title against Antonio Margarito. The aftermath sent shockwaves through the boxing world, sparking one of the sport’s most significant controversies. After an action-packed, back-and-forth battle, Margarito pulled off a stunning upset in the 11th round, stopping Cotto to claim the WBA welterweight title, and instantly becoming an overnight star. The fight was even hailed as a 2008 Fight of the Year contender. 

Six months later, Margarito was scheduled to face Shane Mosley. But before the bout, Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, noticed a pasty white substance on Margarito’s hand wraps during the pre-fight inspection. Upon closer examination, it was revealed that the wraps contained calcium and sulfur—two substances that, when combined with moisture, harden into a material similar to plaster of Paris. Margarito’s wraps were redone under supervision, and he was allowed to compete. However, he failed to secure a win, and the incident immediately raised suspicions about the legitimacy of his victory over Miguel Cotto.

In February 2009, the California State Athletic Commission revoked the licenses of both Margarito and his trainer, Javier Capetillo, for at least one year. Meanwhile, Cotto’s team circulated a photograph from their 2008 fight, showing Margarito’s wraps with a visible tear and red stains—eerily similar to the ones found on the confiscated wraps before the Mosley bout—as evidence that Margarito may have used the same hardening substance during their match. Despite the accusations, no definitive proof emerged, as hand wraps are disposed off after each fight.

One year after the Mosley controversy, Margarito returned to the ring, defeating Roberto Garcia before suffering a unanimous decision loss to Manny Pacquiao. In that same period, Miguel Cotto faced five opponents, losing only to Pacquiao. Then, in December 2011, Cotto finally got his chance at redemption, stepping into the ring once more with Antonio Margarito. “The only thing I wanted to prove to myself is that he used plaster in our first opportunity in 2008, and he just showed that, that happened in our first fight,” Cotto told Bernardo Osuna on The Highlight Reel.

When Osuna brought up Margarito’s loss to Mosley, Cotto added, “He was not [the same guy after the Mosley loss]. I think that he knew that he [didn’t] have these things in his hands and the work in his mind.” In their rematch, Cotto dominated from the start, strategically targeting Margarito’s damaged right eye. By the 10th round, the eye had swollen shut, prompting ringside doctors to step in and stop the fight. Cotto not only walked away with the win, but with the vindication he had long sought.

Controversy aside, the first fight between Cotto and Margarito appears to have left a lasting impression on the referee who officiated it.

Referee claims Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito was the best fight of his career

Referee Kenny Bayless has officiated countless fights throughout his career, but one stands out of them all—the Cotto vs. Margarito fight. Evidently, it was a brutal and bloody affair, and Bayless claimed in the aftermath, “Margarito was just a strong and determined fighter tonight.” He was so impressed by the fight, he even branded it the best of his career.

“It’s the best fight I’ve ever done. They started out throwing power punches, and they never stopped. They were throwing bombs, and they never stopped,” he said. Cotto started strong but was eventually overwhelmed by Margarito’s relentless pressure, suffering two knockdowns in the 11th round before his corner threw in the towel.

The fight became embroiled in controversy due to Margarito’s hand wraps. No one can say for sure what might have unfolded if Cotto’s team had intercepted Margarito’s handwraps prior to the fight. What do you think about the controversy?