By Mark Vester
During a recent appearance on the Sirius satellite radio program Shade 45, Floyd Mayweather Jr. spoke in detail about Antonio Margarito, a possible fight with Manny Pacquiao, and how they can set things right for the sport of boxing. The appearance was booked for Mayweather to discuss his future wedding and his pending legal issues, but the subject of boxing came around in the second half of the interview.
Mayweather was being hunted by Margarito back in 2006-2007. An offer of $8 million dollars was not enough to get Mayweather to accept Margarito. He instead took a fight with Carlos Baldomir and then sat back until a fight with Oscar De La Hoya was finalized. Mayweather claims that he knew something was fishy was Margarito all the way back in 2006.
"A lot of people wanted to see me and Antonio Margarito fight at one particular time. They said I was ducking and dodging Antonio Margarito. This is the same guy that was cheating. I told the world that there was something funny going on with Antonio Margarito. Come to find out that this guy was cheating and beating opponents with casts in his gloves," Mayweather said.
Mayweather says the sport of boxing has taken some hits because of the issue with Margarito and the past steroid use of Shane Mosley. He says a fight with Manny Pacquiao, with a strict drug testing protocol, will set things right for the sport of boxing and show everyone how boxing is a clean sport.
"I never said Pacquiao was on something. The only thing I’m saying is this - if I’m cheating or he’s cheating - then we’re cheating the fans. Let’s show the fans that the sport of boxing is clean. Let us both take the tests," Mayweather said.
Mayweather doesn't agree with Margarito being issued a license by the state of Texas for a November 13 showdown with Pacquiao.
"I can’t see how you [can] even give a guy like Antonio Margarito a [boxing] license. He was beating opponents with casts, one shot in this sport can end your whole career," Mayweather said.