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Antonio Margarito: The Modern Day Luis Resto
“I committed a big mistake” were the words uttered by Antonio Margarito’s trainer Javier Capetillo, as he stood infront of the The California State Athletic Commission taking the blame for plaster-like substance on illegal pads that were found inside of Margarito’s hand wraps before he was to take the ring against Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 of 2008.
Naazim Richardson, the trainer of Shane Mosley was opposed to the way Margarito’s left hand was wrapped. When the wrap was removed, CSAC officials found a foreign bandage wrap inside the knuckle pad that would be placed over Margarito’s hands. Margarito’s right hand was also checked and to the surprise of everyone in the dressing room at the time, another identical illegal pad was found. Margarito had to have both hands rewrapped and rightfully so was obliterated by Shane Mosley in 9 rounds.
The California State Athletic Commission revoked the licenses of Antonio Margarito as well as his trainer Javier Capetillo for a year, and although I admire the CSAC for acting quickly and initiating punishment, the year long ban simply isn’t enough for the lives that Margarito & Capetillo put at risk due to their viscious motives.
Carrie Lopez, the director of the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs stated to The Associated Press that “The conduct of both Mr. Margarito and Mr. Capetillo was unacceptable and threatened the health and safety of another licensee, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the California State Athletic Commission take the issue of boxer safety very seriously, and will move quickly when a licensee’s actions threaten the safety of others.”
Although that statement sounds glorifying & admirable, it doesn’t set a precedence for future offenders who may use illegal handwraps to harm another fighter beyond repair. It is sickening that each guy would be given only a year suspension and not a LIFE TIME BAN.
What seems even more sickening to me is that Bob Arum, Margarito’s promoter was quoted as saying “It’s not going to hold up. The commission determined that Antonio knew nothing and did nothing wrong, but that he is head of his team, so he’s responsible for the trainer and, therefore, it is appropriate to revoke his license”
Why would Bob Arum insist that Antonio Margarito did nothing wrong?
Why would he assume that the general public as well as hardcore boxing fans would believe that a fighter had no knowledge of illegal pads that were put into his hand wraps while he was getting his hands wrapped? That is absurd beyond any stretch of the imagination.
So I am supposed to believe that Margarito was asleep while his hands were being wrapped, and while he was in this massive state of relaxation his trainer attempted to slip plaster laced pads in his hand wraps without informing his fighter?
We all remember the infamous Luis Resto who’s gloves were thinner than normal when he fought the undefeated prospect Billy Collins in 1983. After being caught by Billy Collins Sr., Resto’s gloved were confinscated by the New York State Athletic Commission, and after an investigation it was revealed that someone had removed an ounce of padding from each of his gloves.
Due to the damage sustained in the Resto fight, Collins suffered a torn iris, permanently blurred vision, and the demise of his blossoming career.
The New York State Boxing Commission determined that Resto’s trainer, Panama Lewis, had removed the padding from Resto’s gloves. It also determined that Resto should have known the gloves were illegal. The commission suspended Resto’s boxing license for at least a year. Since most state boxing commissions honor sanctions from other states, this effectively banned Resto from boxing in the United States.
In 1986, Lewis and Resto were both put on trial and found guilty of assault, criminal possession of a weapon (Resto’s hands) and conspiracy. Prosecutors charged that the bout amounted to an illegal assault on Collins and that Resto should have known that the padding had been removed from his gloves. Resto served 2.5 years in prison for his act of violence.
Maybe had Margarito been able to get away with utilizing the illegal hand wraps against Mosley and he busted his retina, then the CSAC would have implemented a much harsher punishment for Margarito and his trainer. Margarito till this day denies that he had any prior knowledge of his trainer altering his hand wraps.
Denial is more than just a river in Egypt & it took Resto over 20 years to finally come to terms with himself about what happened that night in the ring vs Billy Collins. Panama Lewis, who was Resto’s trainer at the time till this day denies any involvement in what occured, but unfortunately for him Luis Resto claims otherwise. Luis Resto claims that in addition to removing padding from the gloves, Lewis placed plaster underneath his hand wraps, greatly—and illegally—increasing his punching power.
Resto also disclosed that Lewis would break apart pills used to treat asthma and pour the medicine into his water bottles, giving Resto greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. This sounds similar to the same effects that EPO does for athletes in todays era.
Trainers and fighters have such tight bonds that they form with one another that I find it hard to believe that a fighter would have no knowledge about how his hands are wrapped or what is being placed within his hand wraps.
In the wake of Antonio Margarito presumably receiving his license to fight in the United States again, as a life time fan of the sport and advocate for fair play in all sports, it saddens me to know that Margarito might actually be able to retain & sustain his career after disgracing not only himself but the sport of boxing as a whole.
ALL HAIL ANTONIO MARGARITO, the Modern Day Luis Resto
http://www.officialscorecard.com/blog/?p=404
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