By Lem Satterfield
Francisco Espinosa, the co-manager of Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts), has fired back at Freddie Roach, the trainer of Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs). During a recent interview with Robert Morales of BoxingScene.com, Roach said that he believes Margarito had full knowledge of the illegal plaster-like inserts that were found in his handwraps prior to the fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009. Later in the interview, Roach raised the possibility that Margarito loaded his gloves for the fights with Miguel Cotto and Kermit Cintron, both of which took place in 2008.
"You have a fu****g rock in your hand, you know it," Roach said. "Against (Daniel) Santos and Paul Williams and so forth, he doesn't look like he's that big a puncher. Against (Kermit) Cintron and (Miguel) Cotto, something was different."
The tension between the two camps is starting to boil over. Espinosa replied in kind, asking Roach if they should discuss the topic of "anti-doping." Espinosa's reply was a direct shot at the lingering rumors that Pacquiao has used performance enhancing drugs.
"Should I start talking about anti-doping and stuff like that? I don't know what's wrong with this guy," Espinosa told FanHouse. "He's talking too much. At first we took it as a joke, but he continues saying things. What's his problem?"
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
