By Luis Sandoval

Antonio Margarito recently made a decision to finally hang up his gloves for good and announced his retirement from the sport after 17 years. His career included three world titles and provided fans with exciting and entertaining fights against boxing’s biggest names.

Margarito was on the most recent edition of BoxingScene’s official radio show The Boxing Lab and gave his thoughts in regards to making his decision to retire. Margarito suffered a fractured orbital bone in his mega fight with Manny Pacquiao and the lasting effects of that injury also caused his last professional fight against Miguel Cotto to be stopped. His eye swelled up and closed shut and even though he assured his eye was better than ever, he now admits it played a big part in his decision to retire.

“I always said Cotto didn’t have a punch. I sincerely didn’t feel his punch [even though] he hit me. But because of that I thought in any fight, not just against Cotto, the same thing is going to happen when my eye gets inflamed. I thought it could get worse for me. I started thinking retirement because I thought the same thing will happen in every fight and that’s what I didn’t want” admitted Margarito.

The condition of Margarito’s eye was a huge factor going into the rematch with Cotto as the New York State Athletic Commission came very close to not granting him a boxing license. Margarito had to be evaluated by a doctor appointed by the commission but in the end, he was granted a license and one of the most anticipated rematches in boxing history was able to go forward.

Even though his eye was the deciding factor in his decision to walk away, Margarito still contends the second fight with Cotto should not have been stopped.

“I always said I didn’t like giving advantages to anybody. I think the fight with Cotto shouldn’t have been stopped. I think my eye was much more swollen against Pacquiao. It was three times more swollen for that fight. I went to a doctor and he told me my nerves still weren’t very good and it would get inflamed so that’s part of the reason I made the decision [to retire],” said the Tijuana Tornado.

Margarito said he will miss the walks to the ring and hearing the fans cheers for him but he’s happy with what he was able to accomplish in the sport. He made a lot of his dreams come true and has plans to still be part of the sport even if he isn’t fighting anymore.

According to Margarito, the time just comes when the ride has to come to an end.

“Aside from not wanting to give any advantages in the ring, I think the moment of retirement is bound to arrive and that’s what I did”.

You can listen to Antonio Margarito’s interview in it’s entirety by listening to The Boxing Lab podcast: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/boxinglab/2012/07/18/the-boxing-lab-boxingscenes-official-audio-show

You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter @Truewest007. You can also tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene’s official audio show every Tuesday from 6-8PM PST with hosts Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton.

Tags: Antonio Margarito