“Tijuana Tornado” back in the ring May 8
Circle May 8th in your calendar as all eyes in the boxing world will be focused on the town of Aguascalientes in Mexico. While millions will be streaming into the city for the annual San Marcos Fair, the bright spotlight will also be on Tijuana’s own Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs).
After his January 2009 bout against Shane Mosley came the now infamous hand wrap controversy that has polarized the sport of boxing.
Time may have passed since the minimum one-year license revocation by the California State Athletic Commission, but the tough Mexican warrior is still treated by many as a pariah in boxing. This was clearly evident at yesterday’s news conference held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to announce “The Return of the Tijuana Tornado” in a 10-round super welterweight battle versus the pride of Texas, Roberto Garcia (28-2, 21 KOs). The bout is being promoted by Top Rank in association with Zanfer Promotions and Tecate. Viewers can catch the action on a live Pay-Per-View broadcast for 39.95. A much talked-about “Fight of the Year” candidate between Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon will also be featured on the “Latin Fury 14” card.
On the dais were fighters Margarito, Rios, and their trainer, Oxnard’s Robert Garcia, Antonio’s managers Francisco Espinoza and Sergio Diaz, Top Rank President Bob Arum, promoter Fernando Beltran, challenger Roberto Garcia (trained by Freddie Roach), Wild Card’s Eric Brown, Urbano Antillon and his trainer from Big Bear, Abel Sanchez. I also saw Margarito’s wife Michelle at the event, along with many of their friends and supporters.
While introductions were made and pleasantries exchanged, the standing-room only crowd of media waited with an air of anticipation. All four fighters and their trainers took to the podium to express their excitement about the latest “Latin Fury” installment. But no one could ignore the large “white elephant” in the room, or more like the white plaster-like substance found on those knuckle pads in the hand wraps seized almost 15 month ago.
After the official announcements were said and done, there was no Q&A for the mass audience following the speeches. Instead, there were one-on-ones with the boxers and trainers with a round table cluster of media surrounding Margarito. After being peppered with questions–asked a dozen different ways–about his innocence or guilt in the matter, Margarito only reiterated what he’s said all along–that he was NOT aware of then-trainer Javier Capetillo’s illegal inserts. Speaking through a translator, Antonio said over and over he did NOT know and is innocent of any wrongdoing.
But the “interrogation”/interview persisted much to the frustration of Team Margarito. Tony maintained his innocence, repeating that he did not know anything about the hand wraps but the barrage of doubtful inquiries kept coming. One thing is for certain, Margarito is definitely not claustrophobic. As the swarm of journalists, cameramen, photogs and more pressed in and surrounded the three-time world champ, Antonio remained stoic while in the hot seat. He has no
doubt had to develop an even thicker skin to deflect worldwide critics. The boxer, who was born in California, recently got some new ink on his skin to express himself further and the turmoil he has been going through. The slugger, and former fan favorite, has two large bold and bright tattoos covering both shoulders and part of his pecs. Just like Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley who also just got inked, the beleaguered boxer is letting this new array of Japanese images to convey some of his inner feelings.
Speaking of feelings, back in the Gold Ballroom of the legendary hotel (established in 1923), Antonio and his camp feel they can silence critics with his return on May 8. The huge room itself was a gorgeous venue with its gilded gold ceilings and fancy chandeliers that hung way above the crowd; a crew of first-class waiters were on standby tending to every need. While making my way to the ladies’ room, I learned that this very same ballroom used to be a special dining room for VIP guests and even has some secret “hidden” compartments and panels in the room that were built during the Prohibition era to stash liquor and weapons. But for one Antonio Margarito, there was no place to hide. He was out in the open, right in the line of fire.
Although kept at a very cool climate during the press conference, both the civility and the temperature in the elegant ballroom rose rapidly as the heat was turned up and Margarito’s grilling continued with no let up from the those who believe the professional boxer had to know something about the wraps. Stepping in to tackle the media was promoter Bob Arum. Literally having his fighter’s back, standing behind the seated pugilist, the fight game veteran went toe-to-toe, mano y mano with anyone who dared to suggest again that Antonio was anything but 100% innocent in the matter. Arum also said he doesn’t care what all the bloggers say.
Back in February of last year, after the license revocation ruling, I witnessed the promoter tell those gathered around that Margarito shouldn’t be punished for something he didn’t do. Back then, he was livid about the suspension and adamant in Tony’s innocence. Months later, Arum said the same thing with his unshakable belief in his boxer. If the Hall of Fame promoter could bottle up all the pure passion and intense conviction he shows his fighters and put it on the market…Well, then he’d be an even wealthier man!
For now, his fighter Margarito will be able fight again while his camp remains optimistic that Antonio’s license will be reinstated in California. The bottom line is that Margarito WILL be back on the canvas in Mexico on May 8 during the Cinco de Mayo weekend. I wonder who the lucky athletic inspector will be? Whomever it is, he will no doubt have the all-eyes-on-him task of signing off on the “Tijuana Tornado’s” gloves.
Next month, the hard-hitting champ will be out to silence his critics at this “Latin Fury 14” show held at La Feria de San Marcos. But since January of 2009, Margarito has been called a liar, a cheater and worse. So will his fists of fury ever really shut up his harshest critics who will always call him a cheater?
Branded a cheat by many, whatever he did–or didn’t do–will always be subject to emotional debates.
Did he or didn’t he?
Yes or no.
Right or wrong.
Black or white.
You say to-mah-to, I say to-may-to…
The only thing that is for sure is that countless arguments and endless debates will follow him wherever he goes, before every fight and after every fight.
Will he forever be branded a cheater? How can he ever really win?
If he scores a knockout they will say his hand were somehow “loaded” again. If he loses they will say, “See? He couldn’t win without the other hand wraps!”
Maybe you believe him, maybe you don’t. Maybe that that cloud of doubt will always linger?
The fact was made clear while I made small talk with others in the room–whose opinions were split right down the middle. There were those who were happy to see Tony back and then there were others stating he shouldn’t be allowed back in the ring–ever.
The obvious varying degree of opinions surfaced recently in the declarations of two men who really know what they are talking about–two of Margarito’s opponents. At a press conference last week in L.A., I sat in on a round table discussion with Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron, who in a karmic coincidence will also be going to war on May 8. And the pair offered completely opposite opinions about their past foe.
Paul Williams (who beat Margarito by unanimous decision) told us, “I don’t think the man should be banned, ’cause that’s how he makes a living. I mean, I think they should make him pay a bigger fine, you know what I’m saying, if that’s the case. But don’t ban a man for making a living.
“Everybody makes mistakes and stuff. They caught it before it actually happened in the ring. Hit him hard with a fine, then let him go on with his life! I don’t think they should ban him forever. A lot of people ask me, ‘Do you think he had them in when he fought me? I can’t say yes and I can’t say no. There’s no proof of that.'”
On the polar opposite side, Kermit Cintron (who lost to Margarito twice by KO and TKO) candidly admitted, “To me, I think it’s bullshit. But it is what it is. You know (Luis) Resto, he got banned from the sport from cheating. And I think they should have done the same thing with Margarito. But it is what it is.
“At the time, you don’t think he’s cheating. But after you see what happens, then you say, ‘God damn!’ I have questions in my mind. Me personally, I think he did it. I think he had shit in his gloves, yeah.'”
Whatever your own personal opinion is about the debacle, one more thing is for sure. You can say what you will about Margarito, but he will continue on to create a big buzz and draw some of the largest crowds whenever he fights. People love controversy, boxing is a business and controversy sells, whether you like it or not.
Do I think the fans will give him a second chance? From what I’ve seen, yes, many will–and he will also win over new fans. That’s how it is in the world of sports, look at Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods…if you need some recent examples of publicly disgraced athletes who came back, with the Laker superstar coming back stronger than ever. Although it must be said that these three athletes’ scandals all involved women and not accusations of cheating in their respective sports–and NOT causing life-threatening injuries in the ring. With Antonio, he’s been labeled with intent to do bodily harm, as his critics will point out.
Well, the jury is still out about Tiger Woods, but the Margarito case reminds me a little bit of the golfer’s situation. While their “transgressions” are not even remotely similar, with Tiger and his numerous mistresses and Antonio’s hand wrap controversy, they are similar in one way. Tiger is back on the links and scheduled to tee off tomorrow at the Masters Tournament for the very first time since his fall from grace. Scandal put aside, Woods says he can’t wait to take his first swing as the world watches.
For Margarito, he will also take his “first swing” on May 8 as the boxing world watches.