Barrera talking smack on Margarito

April 2, 2009

In a column written for ESPNdeportes.com and reposted in the web portal for Puerto Rican daily ElNuevoDia.com, the seven time world champion in three different divisions Marco Antonio Barrera deems three time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito’s one year suspension as a mark not only against boxing but against Mexico, the native country of both fighters.

Barrera stated that although it hurt him to state it, that Margarito’s suspension should be “at a world wide level and not only in California. Margarito should be conscious of the harm that he caused Mexican boxing and that will be his worst punishment.”

“As far as the trainer Javier Capetillo, he should never be allowed to be a part of another team again. What he did should never happen again and Mexican boxers should erase this trainer from the world of boxing.”

“Now people are stating that Mexico is going to support Margarito and let him fight so that he doesn’t lose relevance. I think that the comission in Mexico should unite and respect the California suspension since in Mexico they are not as strict and a tragedy can occur if he commits his wrongdoing again.”

Edgar, I really don’t think you want to go down this road:

1. Like my mom always said: two wrongs don’t make a right (and not all wrongs are created equal)–that’s why I only got the wooden spoon (mom) or belt (dad) on my backside only ocassionally for my varying misdeeds growing up.

2. The TT gets NO CREDIT (or any lesser punishment) for not using the weaponized gloves– because its pretty apparent that but for Nazim’s catching it, he would have (and, while there’s no definitive proof, until Team Margarito comes clean as to what really happened at Staples Center with a story that passes the smell test–there certainly is some circumstantial evidence that this may have been going on, and actually used, in the past);

3. If Mosely used steroids and violated the rules, then he should be punished/disciplined as well— like Toney and Vargas. But the offenses are not comparable and are different in degree; and.

4. As it stands right now, the TT’s punishment for “trying” to weaponize his gloves is the same as that meted out for the guy who took a chomp out of Prescott’s shoulder on FNF a month or so back. And he’s trying to lessen it by half (if not ignore it entirely by planning to fight in Mexico notwithstanding the suspension of his license) What is wrong with this picture?

The continuing fanbase loyalty and love being shown to the TT is in some ways admirable, but c’mon Edgar there has to be a clear line of demarcation drawn as to what is acceptable, what is minor and can be handled with a slap on the wrist and what is simply intolerable. Anyone who loves the sport KNOWS that there are certain things so egregious and detrimental to the integrity of the sport and the safety of its participants that a violation would be the equivalent of touching the third rail and banishment SHOULD be automatic. And it should go with out saying that putting PLASTER of PARIS in a BOXING GLOVE for use is on an OPPONENT crosses that line and is Third Rail material. No man, not even a superstar like the TT, is bigger than the sport.

Given the proof that has come out so far, the TT has a decision to make as to how this plays out from here on out. He could take the “Pete Rose” approach and lie through his teeth for years, denying everything and talk about how “nothing was really proved”, resort to pedantic arguments about what it means to “know” something (even when it defies common sense) and thumbing his nose at those investigating him when all they are doing are trying to defend the integrity of the sport, all the while begging to be allowed back into the game. Now, I am a Phillies fan. And I thank the good Lord above that Rose was the type of player he was and was there in the top of the 9th of Game 6 of the 1980 World Series when the ordinarily reliable Bob Boone dropped that pop foul and Rose snatched it up before it hit the ground to preserve the win for the Tugger (and my favorite player when I was a kid—secondbasemen Manny Trillo). But make no mistake– Pete Rose touched the “Third Rail” by committing one of the ultiamte sins in the game, DESERVED to be banned for life and thereafter shown no mercy for the classless way in which he handled thereafter. As a person, it breaks my heart to say it, Pete Rose has demonstrated himself to be pond scum.

I am not saying that Tony is Pete Rose. From all i have read on the TT, he is a decent guy with honor who, through some bad choices by him or his team, finds himself in a similar predicament. I would urge him NOT to take the Rose approach, come clean, tell the WHOLE truth as to what really happened at Staples and any fights before, accept responsibility for his and his teams actions, and throw himself on the mercy of the sport’s authorities and its fans and accept whatever discipline is meted out. The world can be a pretty merciful place, for those who conduct themselves honorably . And at this point, it is “A Matter of Honor” (which also was the title of a terrific Columbo episode which guest starred the wonderful Ricardo Montalban (may he RIP) as a national hero/Bull Fighter who made a similar egregious mistake and was confronted with much the same moral dilemma)

2 COMMENTS

linusvp April 4, 2009 At 9:30 am

Edgar, I really don’t think you want to go down this road:

1. Like my mom always said: two wrongs don’t make a right (and not all wrongs are created equal)–that’s why I only got the wooden spoon (mom) or belt (dad) on my backside only ocassionally for my varying misdeeds growing up.

2. The TT gets NO CREDIT (or any lesser punishment) for not using the weaponized gloves– because its pretty apparent that but for Nazim’s catching it, he would have (and, while there’s no definitive proof, until Team Margarito comes clean as to what really happened at Staples Center with a story that passes the smell test–there certainly is some circumstantial evidence that this may have been going on, and actually used, in the past);

3. If Mosely used steroids and violated the rules, then he should be punished/disciplined as well— like Toney and Vargas. But the offenses are not comparable and are different in degree; and.

4. As it stands right now, the TT’s punishment for “trying” to weaponize his gloves is the same as that meted out for the guy who took a chomp out of Prescott’s shoulder on FNF a month or so back. And he’s trying to lessen it by half (if not ignore it entirely by planning to fight in Mexico notwithstanding the suspension of his license) What is wrong with this picture?

The continuing fanbase loyalty and love being shown to the TT is in some ways admirable, but c’mon Edgar there has to be a clear line of demarcation drawn as to what is acceptable, what is minor and can be handled with a slap on the wrist and what is simply intolerable. Anyone who loves the sport KNOWS that there are certain things so egregious and detrimental to the integrity of the sport and the safety of its participants that a violation would be the equivalent of touching the third rail and banishment SHOULD be automatic. And it should go with out saying that putting PLASTER of PARIS in a BOXING GLOVE for use is on an OPPONENT crosses that line and is Third Rail material. No man, not even a superstar like the TT, is bigger than the sport.

Given the proof that has come out so far, the TT has a decision to make as to how this plays out from here on out. He could take the “Pete Rose” approach and lie through his teeth for years, denying everything and talk about how “nothing was really proved”, resort to pedantic arguments about what it means to “know” something (even when it defies common sense) and thumbing his nose at those investigating him when all they are doing are trying to defend the integrity of the sport, all the while begging to be allowed back into the game. Now, I am a Phillies fan. And I thank the good Lord above that Rose was the type of player he was and was there in the top of the 9th of Game 6 of the 1980 World Series when the ordinarily reliable Bob Boone dropped that pop foul and Rose snatched it up before it hit the ground to preserve the win for the Tugger (and my favorite player when I was a kid—secondbasemen Manny Trillo). But make no mistake– Pete Rose touched the “Third Rail” by committing one of the ultiamte sins in the game, DESERVED to be banned for life and thereafter shown no mercy for the classless way in which he handled thereafter. As a person, it breaks my heart to say it, Pete Rose has demonstrated himself to be pond scum.

I am not saying that Tony is Pete Rose. From all i have read on the TT, he is a decent guy with honor who, through some bad choices by him or his team, finds himself in a similar predicament. I would urge him NOT to take the Rose approach, come clean, tell the WHOLE truth as to what really happened at Staples and any fights before, accept responsibility for his and his teams actions, and throw himself on the mercy of the sport’s authorities and its fans and accept whatever discipline is meted out. The world can be a pretty merciful place, for those who conduct themselves honorably . And at this point, it is “A Matter of Honor” (which also was the title of a terrific Columbo episode which guest starred the wonderful Ricardo Montalban (may he RIP) as a national hero/Bull Fighter who made a similar egregious mistake and was confronted with much the same moral dilemma)
olegrayman/Mark Allen April 3, 2009 At 3:17 pm

I agree with Barrera, if Mexico lets Margarito fight there the people and boxing fans will lose all respect for Mexican boxers. Who knows if Margarito would do something like this again.