By Michael Marley
Antonio Margarito has given sworn testimony twice before the California State Athletic Commission.
And, twice while under oath and penalty of perjury, the Mexican boxer has offered up partial truths.
I believe he's sorry, especially sorry that he and since fired trainer Javier Capetillo got caught with the knuckle pad inserts before Margarito got stopped in nine rounds by a rejuvenated Shane Mosley on Jan. 24, 2009, in LA.
What I don't believe and what anybody not on Bob Arum's payroll does not believe is that this fighter, who was getting his hands wrapped for the 43rd time as a professional, did not know there was something hinky, something crooked about what was designed to lay underneath his boxing gloves.
We're not talking about some prelim boy, learning the ropes and the intricacies of handwrapping in some steamy Tijuana arena.
But, now Maragrito have never told the whole truth, is stuck with his weak explanations.
He's certainly never going to admit to perjury now.
But, as Texas prepares to hand him a boxer's license as though it came out of a crackerjack box, I have this fantasy of what might have been.
What if, during the first go-round with the CSAC, the fighter had taken to the microphone and said:
"I knew what Capetillo was doing and I co-signed his action, his cheating. I'm an athlete and I believed those inserts may have made my hands stronger, more powerful and maybe just more comfortable.
"I felt they were illegal but we used them when I stopped Miguel Cotto and we never got caught.
"I used them in two bouts against Kermit Cintron and we never got caught.
"I won all three of those fights so I got used to having the inserts. It was a winning combination.
"Now, l confess to you I knew we were cheating but, again, I thought it was undetectable.
"I'm sorry, I apologize to Mosley and to Cotto and to Cintron and to the others.
"I am sorry, I am ashamed and I humbly ask you to give me a second chance so that I can support my family with the one and only trade I know. This will never, ever happen again. That I solemnly promise you..."
If he did that, Margarito would be fully embraced by Mexico, by the United States and by fans from Philadelphia to Manila.
But now Margarito is stuck with his lies.
And now Margarito, who could have been a Hall Of Fame fighter, will fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13.
If he beats Pacman, the black cloud will not go away.
From here to his boxing finish line, he is "Margacheato."
It's too bad because the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth could have set an otherwise honest and worthy ring warrior free.
The old saw is true, it's not the misdeed that gets them, it's the cover up, whether its Watergate or a handwrap scandal.
Arum and his legal eagles thought dumping and then blaming Capetillo would cover the tracks.
They miscalculated. They got it wrong.
But don't take it from me.
Ask Martha Stewart, ask Marion Jones and ask newly indicted Roger Clemens.
For his part, Mosley told a federal grand jury a half truth when he said he took illegal steroids from his BALCO buddies but did not know they were verboten.
But at least Mosley admitted his action if not his understanding of its illegality.
In the ring that night, Mosley against Margarito, it was TKO 9 for the American.
In a truthtelling contest, giving sworn testimony, it's Mosley by unanimous decision.
Compared to Margarito, Shane Donte Mosley is George Washington.
Michael Marley is the national boxing examiner for examiner.com. To read more stories by Michael Marley, Click Here .