A “Tijuana Tornado” sighting
After being banned from boxing for a minimum of one year, Antonio Margarito made his presence felt during the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight weekend in Sin City. Margarito’s name will be forever linked with Cotto, since his subsequent destruction of the Puerto Rican warrior in their July 2008 battle.
The night before the big fight, we ran into the welterweight as we were attending the Grand Opening festivities at the Fight Museum LV in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. We first saw his co-manager Francisco Espinosa, who enthusiastically told us, “Tony’s here! You should be seeing him walk by soon.” The amiable Espinosa was wearing a “Tijuana Tornado” t-shirt under his jacket that said “Since 1978,” which is Antonio’s year of birth.
After the museum party, we rounded the corner and ran right into Margarito, his wife Michelle, and a couple of their friends. Tony has always been a friendly guy, and this time was no different. He was relaxed, smiling and it appears that the slugger has not stopped training since his suspension.
His group didn’t isolate him from the crowd, but they were also keeping low-key in a corner of the casino. Some small talk and some quick pics took place before we had to leave for another event. There wasn’t time for a long conversation, although there are so many questions that remain for the once-beloved boxer. But last Friday night, we shook his hand, said adios and went on our way.
Those same hands of his have been under intense scrutiny as the former WBA, IBF and WBO Champion went from being the most popular Mexican boxer of current times to a disgraced pariah of the sport.
Earlier in the day, Antonio was scheduled to make an appearance at a meet-and-greet event at a Mexican supermarket, so it seems like Team Margarito is testing his loyal fan base to see how the former hero will be accepted back into the boxing folds. And the card at the MGM Grand had many Margarito connections. Besides the obvious Cotto reference, there was also the Daniel Santos-Yuri Foreman bout. Daniel and Antonio fought each other twice in the past, resulting in a no contest and a loss for Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs). Another link on the undercard was the Alfonso Gomez vs. Jesus Soto-Karass fight. Antonio was a stablemate of Soto-Karass’, with both pugilists having been trained by Javier Capetillo (whose license was also revoked for a year).
After mentioning to some pals that the banned boxer was in town, a few jokingly said to check our hands to see if there was any concrete powder on them. While Roberto Duran (who was also in Vegas) is known as “Manos de Piedra” or “Hands of Stone,” any reference of this nickname toward Margarito takes on a whole different meaning with a much darker, sinister tone. And “MargaCheato” is just one other disparaging nickname that Tony has been given (earned?) by the blogging universe.
It has been nine months now since the Mexican brawler and his trainer, Capetillo, received their sentences at the California State Athletic Commission’s (CSAC) disciplinary hearing that went on for over five hours in front of a standing-room only crowd. After his January 2009 fight against Shane Mosley, Margarito’s hand wraps and knuckle pads were seized; it was later determined that an illegal Plaster of Paris-like substance was used.
After the testimony and a unanimous vote, the boxer and the trainer were both given a minimum one-year revocation of their licenses.
Now in just two months, the two can approach the commission in an attempt to reapply for their licenses.
In boxing circles, there have been whispers bubbling under the surface that many think Antonio WILL be given his license back. Many expect (or hope) he will be back in the ring next year. After all, the sweet science thrives on controversy. Controversy sells. Controversy helps put the fans in the seats. And boxing is a business, after all. But there are also those who also feel once a cheater, always a cheater.
Now in the wake of Pacman’s own destruction against the beleaguered and back-pedaling Cotto, rumors of a possible Margarito-Cotto rematch are also being bandied about. Since Bob Arum promotes both fighters, it isn’t out of the question if this were to take place. It has also been reported that Margarito’s manager Sergio Diaz Jr. would not rule out a Cotto rematch–if Antonio gets reinstated.
At 31 years old, Margarito could still have a very lucrative and long career ahead of him. But if he gets the nod from the commission, the mystery remains if the fans would really want to see him in the ring again.
But first things first: Should CSAC uphold his suspension?
“I think they have to give him his license back–I think everyone deserves a second chance,” his fellow fighter Ruben Castillo tells me. “He has a right to come back. Antonio got caught; he paid his dues. ‘You go to jail, you do your time.'”
Both Ruben and I were at the CSAC hearing back in February, and we listened intently to numerous testimonies about the infamous hand wrap incident.
Castillo, a former featherweight who fought for a world title four times, is a straight shooter, both inside and outside the ring. He’s never been one to hold back his opinions. “He’s a great fighter. This is his job,” he says of Margarito, whom he shares a mutual respect for. “But I still think he was aware of what was going on. He made a mistake, hell, we all make mistakes.
“BUT I still don’t know why they did it; that was totally illegal with those hand wraps. So there should be some sort of probation, some repercussions even if he comes back. He will always be under scrutiny, under a microscope, and I think he’ll have a tough time getting opponents.”
I ask Ruben if he thinks Margarito’s huge fan following will still be there, if he gets a license to return.
“It ruins it. I think he’ll lose a lot of drawing power,” Castillo replies. “How do you come back from this? I think he has lost a lot of fans because of this.”
The former contender then goes on to liken Antonio’s cheating to that of baseball’s Mark McGwire (alleged steroid user) and Manny Ramirez, who was recently suspended for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Castillo explains that the fans’ opinion of these superstars will always be tainted.
But he also adds, “People forgive and forget too.” Castillo, who himself has gone toe to toe against Alexis Arguello, Salvador Sanchez, Julio César Chavez and Juan La Porte, among many others, offers a much harsher assessment of trainer Capetillo.
“His trainer should be banned for life!” he exclaims. “He’s like Panama Lewis. Get rid of him!”
Castillo feels the boxer should be given a second chance, but not his coach. “Antonio needs to disassociate himself from Capetillo. Like my father always told me, ‘Get rid of the fleas…Get rid of the dog!'”
That reminds me of another saying, “Every dog has his day,” which boils down to everyone deserves their chance for success…a chance at revenge…one more chance eventually.
For Antonio Margarito, he will be asking for a second chance for success.
Photos courtesy of Michele Chong