By Miguel Rivera
Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is hoping to get a big fight in 2016.
On March 5th in Mexico City, Margarito returned for the first time since December of 2011. Over 10,000 fans packed Arena Mexico to watch Margarito win a ten round unanimous decision over countryman Jorge Paez Jr.
The fight with Paez took place at the junior middleweight limit of 154-pounds, which is where Margarito fought when he announced his retirement.
Margarito's win over Paez was not easy. He was hurt and knocked down pretty hard in the sixth round. He recovered and fought fire with fire the rest of the way in an exciting fight.
There is talk of Margarito coming back in the summer for a fight with Ramon Alvarez, who is the older brother of WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Many of Margarito's supporters are still worried about the condition of his right eye, which he severely injured in his 2010 decision loss to Manny Pacquiao and forced him to retire in the fall of 2011. The eye did not play a role in the fight with Paez.
He hopes to have one more fight in the summer to take off more of the rust and then he will target a very big opportunity in the United States for the fall. Margairto will have to get licensed first in order to get approved for a fight on American soil.
"We're in the big leagues of boxing. We will continue forward in the sport. The fight with Paez helped me take off the rust. I think I showed that I trained very well and I took my preparation very seriously. I'm ready for anyone and I want to have a big fight this year. I will speak very soon with Top Rank about my next fight," Margarito said.
