By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach has once against stood by his opinion that Antonio Margarito likely knew about the hard plaster-like inserts that were found in his handswraps prior to a scheduled fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009. The California State Athletic Commission found him liable for the inserts and revoked his license in February 2009. The Texas Athletic Commission approved his application for a license in August, which allows him to moved forward with a scheduled fight with Manny Pacquiao on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium.
Roach knows numerous boxers who worked as sparring partners in Margarito's past training camps. Some of them have told Roach that Margarito "can't punch" and others told him "Margarito is the biggest puncher they ever faced."
While speaking with the media, Roach speculates that Margarito first experimented with the plaster-like inserts while sparring in the gym. During a recent BoxingScene.com interview, Roach said that he believes that Margarito may have loaded his gloves for both of his big wins in 2008, against Miguel Cotto and Kermit Cintron.
"I have people who sparred with Margarito in the past. Some tell me that he can't punch at all...that he hits like a girl. Some tell me 'he's the best f**king puncher that I ever faced.' He broke Rashad Holloway's eye socket. I think that he knew it and he practiced it and wanted to get a feel for it in the gym," Roach said.
"I wasn't there so I can't prove it. I just have to give my opinion. I think he knew it. He lost a couple of fights and after the fight with Paul Williams - things changed. His whole attitude and style was completely more confident. And at one point in Spanish, his trainer [Javier Capetillo] says 'how's the punch?' [in the Cintron rematch]. What does that mean? He didn't ask him - 'can that guy hit hard?' He said 'how's the punch' and [Margarito] says 'good.'
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