How Great Was Antonio Margarito?

How nice was Antonio Margarito? The very asking of such a query may in itself be one thing of a sin, and also you after all know why. “Tony,” the last word unhealthy man of boxing over still-recent occasions, dedicated the last word sin in trying to enter the ring with loaded wraps, this for his shedding struggle with Shane Mosley.

The truth that Margarito was busted, by “Sugar’s” coach, Naazim Richardson, wasn’t the complete story. We nonetheless don’t, to this present day, know if Margarito obtained away with dishonest in earlier fights. We’ll by no means know. Miguel Cotto, stopped by a rampaging Margarito in an epic from July of 2008, this within the Mexican’s struggle previous to being stopped by Mosley, is for certain Margarito fought with tampered gloves, or wraps, that evening.

There are different fighters who shared a hoop with Margarito who’re suspicious, together with Kermit Cintron, who twice obtained stopped by Margarito. Once more, we’ll by no means know, however Margarito insists to this present day that he was no understanding cheat, with the shamed fighter preferring to let his coach, Javier Capetillo, take the blame.

However Margarito, previous to turning into without end identified by his extremely unofficial nickname of “Margacheato,” was one heck of a fighter. Right this moment, “Tony,” lengthy retired, his eyesight in query ever since 2012 (with Margarito nonetheless rolling the cube by launching a 2016 comeback) celebrates his forty sixth birthday.

However is Margarito’s ring profession price celebrating?

Going professional in January of 1994, in Tijuana, Margarito, aged simply 15, would quickly be thrilling followers with nice motion fights. Later nonetheless, Margarito would discover himself first difficult for, after which successful, world titles. Margarito, who picked up win that later grew to become extra distinguished, this over future champ Sergio Martinez, then boxed a no-contest with Daniel Santos. In his second shot on the WBO welterweight title, Margarito stopped Antonio Diaz in 10; this the struggle that Margarito would years later inform Ring Journal was his proudest second.

After three retentions, bogeyman Santos took the belt in a rematch, this by way of a technical resolution. However Margarito’s run as WBO champ was not over, together with his greatest – and most infamous – fights nonetheless to return. Strong wins over Cintron and Joshua Clottey noticed Margarito defend the belt, whereas tall puncher Paul Williams defeated Margarito by way of resolution in 2007.

Previous to the loss to “The Punisher,” Margarito was put forth by High Rank as a foe for Floyd Mayweather. Stories knowledgeable us how Mayweather declined the struggle. As per a RingTV.com article, Mayweather was supplied the princely sum of $8 million.

Rebounding after the Williams defeat, Margarito, now aged 30, smashed Cintron once more, the repeat win seeing him declare the IBF welterweight title. Then got here Margarito’s greatest win, the eleventh spherical stoppage of Cotto in what was a terrific struggle. Now the WBA welterweight ruler, Margarito was a real fan-favourite.

However then got here the Mosley controversy/shame. And “Tony” would by no means, ever be checked out in the identical manner. Mosley, who fought one among his finest fights, cracked Margarito’s rock of a chin for a ninth spherical stoppage win. Margarito, his fame equally blasted as a result of wraps scandal, didn’t struggle once more for 16 months.

When he did come again, the followers not trusting him, Margarito was not the identical drive. Overwhelmed up badly by Manny Pacquiao in 2010, this regardless of outweighing Pac-Man by a substantial margin, Margarito’s face took a fearful hammering, his eyesight actually struggling. A rematch with Cotto noticed Margarito pulled out after 9 rounds, his proper eye a hideous mess.

Retirement, and a everlasting one, gave the impression to be Margarito’s sole possibility. However, after over 4 years out, a pale Margarito got here again, with him successful three fights however not taking a look at all spectacular in both bout.

Margarito exited for good while sporting a 41-8-1 no contest (27 KO) report.

So how nice was Margarito? Was he ever nice? What number of of Margarito’s huge fights have been on the extent, fought pretty, with no tampering of both his wraps or his gloves, or anything? To repeat, we’ll by no means know. As such, we are able to’t say how nice Margarito was, or if he was ever nice.

Bringing disgrace on oneself is probably the worst sin any fighter can commit. And after we look again on Margarito’s profession, it truly is disgrace this thrilling, harder than powerful and gifted warrior is destined to be without end remembered as a shamed human being.