By Michael Marley
Antonio Margarito, who is Manny Pacquiao's opponent in a Nov. 13 title bout at Cowboys Stadium, is obviously well known all across his homeland of Mexico.
The nagging question is whether Margarito, caught "plasterhanded" with illegal handwraps inserts in the dressing room before he fought and lost to Sugar Shane Mosley, is any kind of ring icon.
The question is if Margarito is famous or notorious. Is he popular or considered a pariah who has disgraced Mexico's glorious boxing tradition and history?
No less a sagacious Mexican boxing figure than 73 year old Rafael Mendoza, who advised an amazing 22 world champions including Miguel Canto and Pipino Cuevas, told me Tuesday that Margarito is notorious in the sense that America's most notorious gangster was.
"Margarito is popular in Mexico in much the same way that Al Capone was popular in your country," Mendoza said by telephone from his secret lair in Guadalajara.
"Margarito is not famous in the sense that Barrera, Morales or Juan Manuel Marquez are famous. Margarito never fought any important fights or any bouts in Mexico City. He's been perceived as just an ordinary fighter, a latter day boxer like an Indian Ortega, who fought and lost to Emile Griffith and many others back in the 1960s."
Don't get Mendoza, who always represents fighters without a written contract, wrong. He's not saying that Mexicans will steer clear of the Margarito-Pacquiao bout, to the contrary he believes the notoriety will prove to be a big seller.
"Margarito's not a great performer, he's never been that," Mendoza said. "They're trying to promote this as an attractive fight because of the suspicion about the plaster in his hands. I think the whole thing was a lot of b.s., just stupid.
"But it's going to sell, the PPV TV will be strong. This is the right promotional move with this guy. Margarito is only a hero for outlaws. It's not a boxing issue, really."
Once the opening bell rings in Arlington, in Jerry Jones gleaming football playpen, Mendoza does not see a highly competitive match.
"Margarito's got no defense, never has. He's no great fighter, never was. Against Shane Mosley, he was just awful. Mosleyw as age 37 and yet he showed speed, reflexes and legs like a much younger man against Margarito.
"Mosley played with Margarito," Mendoza said. "Mosley destroyed him.