By Luis Sandoval

Antonio Margarito officially announced his retirement from boxing last month after a successful 17 year professional career. After suffering an eye injury that had lasting affects, Margarito decided it was best to walk away rather than continue to have his eye swell up during fights and cost him a victory.

Aside from Margarito’s accomplishments in the ring, the twilight of his career will always be remembered for the plaster of paris found in his gloves before his fight with Sugar Shane Mosley. His then trainer Javier Capetillo took full blame and responsibility for the loaded wraps but many felt Margarito himself was just as guilty. While Margarito maintained he was innocent, his boxing license was suspended for a year. Even though he was finally granted boxing licenses in other states and able to fight three more times before retiring, the stigma has continued to follow him.

When Margarito came on BoxingScene’s official radio show The Boxing Lab to give an exclusive interview, he was asked if that controversy made him feel resentful to the sport and the people who continued to accuse him of cheating.

“With the people and the fans I was never upset with. People get influenced by the media members who really don’t know. The people who do know, know I would not do anything illegal. The people only opinionated on what they heard” revealed Margarito.
“Up until now and from the time they suspended me, I felt good. The only thing I didn’t feel good about was being suspended. One year without fighting was tough and I wanted to fight but it was okay because I’ve always been a clean fighter. But it did hurt because a doubt remained with a lot of people. Sincerely, I didn’t do anything illegal but I’m okay because I know I’m a clean fighter”.

While Margarito won’t be fighting as a professional boxer anymore, he plans to pursue a career as a promoter with his promotional company Tornado Promotions. Margarito wouldn’t be the first fighter to turn promoter and he hopes to get his company more recognition and is currently working with undefeated prospect and his brother in law Hanzel Martinez. 

“I want to dedicate myself 100% to [Hanzel Martinez] and begin getting fighters and making fights. I want to talk to Francisco Espinoza and Sergio Diaz to make fights and give recognition to my promotional company. I may be retiring from boxing as a fighter but I don’t want to retire from boxing as a whole” expressed the 3 time world champion.
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.