Welcome Back Tony: Antonio Margarito's Return is Good for Boxing

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  • Snopkins
    Banned
    • Mar 2010
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    #1

    Welcome Back Tony: Antonio Margarito's Return is Good for Boxing

    Antonio Margarito, or somebody in his camp, did something very wrong. They got caught, and they got punished, but boxing will be a better place for having the Mexican back in it.

    In an era where entertainment in boxing matches is at something of a premium, Margarito can provide a welcome respite. His fights very rarely go to decision, he seldom takes a backwards step, and he is always willing to take a punch in order to give one.

    This sort of style is in stark contrast to that of some fighters featuring in pay-per-view events in the present such as Floyd Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins. There is no doubting that, defensively, both these two men are far more proficient than Margarito.

    However, boxing enthusiasts aside, very few paying customers want to see a 12-round clinic in defensive boxing. They want to see fighters who either get a knockout or get knocked out trying, and Margarito is the epitome of this philosophy.

    Unfortunately, everything Margarito has achieved in his career must be looked at in a different light after the controversy surrounding his fight with Shane Mosley.

    Prior to the fight, Mosley's trainer, Nazeem Richardson, inspected Margarito's wraps and found a strange lump in both of them. When these lumps were removed and tested by the California State Athletic Commission, they were found to contain sulfur and calcium, two elements which combine with oxygen to form plaster of Paris.

    The only substances which are allowed to be used when wrapping a boxer's hands are gauze and tape so Margarito's camp was quite clearly in contravention of the rules. While sanctions would follow in the form of a one-year ban for both boxer and trainer, the general public was even quicker to condemn Margarito.

    The plaster of Paris would have hardened during the course of the fight making Margarito's hands heavier and his punches much harder than they would otherwise have been. Such an action, if premeditated, does not just constitute cheating, it shows a complete contempt for the physical well-being of the opponent.

    It is impossible to imagine that the lumps got there by accident. The trainer who wrapped Margarito's hands, Javier Capetillo, appears the man most culpable.

    According to Mosley’s lawyer, Judd Burstein, who witnessed Capetillo re-wrapping his fighter's hands, "I’ve never seen somebody not working out, sweating as badly as the guy who was wrapping Margarito’s hands when this was going on. It was like they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar.”

    Margarito himself denies all knowledge and has gone on record as saying that he does not believe Capetillo deliberately cheated either, "The way I box has always been clean and nobody has a clear idea what happened that night. I didn't know what was on my hands. I never had to deal with any of these things before, and now you're telling me I have to deal with it every time?"

    There are two questions which hang over Margarito. The first is, "Was he aware of what Capetillo was putting in his hand wraps?" and the second, more pertinent question is, "How many fights had he been using the illegal hand wraps for and would he have been as effective a fighter without them?"

    The first question is irrelevant now as both fighter and trainer received exactly the same punishment. So even if Margarito was innocent he has been punished as if he were guilty and, in the eyes of the boxing commission at least, rehabilitated.

    Despite this he will still have to reapply for a license to box inside America. When his license was revoked, there was no guarantee given that once the one-year ban had expired a new license would be issued.

    Margarito will, to a certain extent, answer the second question if he can continue to display the same sort of punching power he did prior to the ban. While doubts will always linger, they are more likely to be dispelled if we see Margarito doing to opponents what he did to Miguel Cotto, whose face was beaten to a bloody pulp during his 11th round stoppage loss to the Mexican.

    The hand wrap controversy will never be forgotten, but if Margarito's punches are as effective as the have always been, fans may be more willing to resign it to the dustbin of history. However, if he appears a shadow of his former self, which aged 32 and with almost a year and a half's ring-rust may well be the case, this cloud of controversy will continue to taint his entire career.

    Margarito makes his comeback in Mexico next month against the underrated Roberto Garcia. He will be under the au****es of new trainer Freddy Roach.

    Capetillo has somewhat predictably fallen on his sword testifying before the CSAC saying, "I committed a big mistake. I don't want this young man [Margarito] to have problems. I'm here to cover any responsibility. I take full responsibility. I committed this innocent mistake."

    Margarito claims he was oblivious to what was going on, quite literally, under his nose. Stylistically at least, Margarito is an honest boxer. While this does not necessarily make him an honest person, I feel we have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    A couple of lumps of plaster of Paris do not a boxer make. Margarito knows this and he will be desperate to prove to his fans and critics alike that using illegal hand wraps has hindered his career, not helped it.

    Antonio Margarito is a man with a point to prove, and with a wealth of potential opponents out there, I hope he is able to prove it.



    Antonio Margarito, or somebody in his camp, did something very wrong. They got caught, and they got punished, but boxing will be a better place for having the Mexican back in it...




    If you're too god damn lazy to read the article,then read this:



    WAR MARGARITO!!!!!!!!!
    38
    I can't wait for the return of this great warrior
    65.79%
    25
    I'm a newb and not a true boxing fan so I hate him
    34.21%
    13
  • F l i c k e r
    Il Principe
    Franchise Champion - 20,000+ posts
    • Feb 2009
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    #2
    So we finally agree on something.


    War Margarito indeed.

    Comment

    • Killa Killa
      Banned
      • Mar 2010
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      #3
      I pick the hate option...not that I hate him, but you set this little ****** poll up that way.

      Boxing was fine while ya boy Tony was gone...

      We don't need modern day cheaters giving the sport more of a bad rep...

      Comment

      • hammerhiem
        Undisputed Champion
        Platinum Champion - 1,000-5,000 posts
        • May 2008
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        #4
        Originally posted by Killa Killa
        I pick the hate option...not that I hate him, but you set this little ****** poll up that way.

        Boxing was fine while ya boy Tony was gone...

        We don't need modern day cheaters giving the sport more of a bad rep...
        I'm going to be a little more blunt and call him a cheating fcuk who should have been banned for life and under no circumstances is his return good for boxing.

        Comment

        • paulf
          Undisputed Champion
          Franchise Champion - 20,000+ posts
          • Sep 2009
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          #5
          Bad for boxing, good for Margarito fans. Fighters know what's in their gloves.

          Attempt to cheat, and all you get is a short "time out"? Pathetic.

          Comment

          • Cuauhtémoc1520
            Head Mexican in Charge
            Franchise Champion - 20,000+ posts
            • Mar 2007
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            #6
            Serious question here.

            What IF Margarito wins his come back fight, then let's say beats a big name like Martinez or Pavlik winner.

            What would be the opinion of people here, seriously all BS aside.

            Comment

            • B.U.R.N.E.R
              ~NSB Legend 2005-2015~
              Franchise Champion - 20,000+ posts
              • Feb 2010
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              #7
              Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! !!!!!!!!!!

              Comment

              • Snopkins
                Banned
                • Mar 2010
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                #8
                I see all the newbs have arrived.

                Don't worry,lads,hbo 24/7 is on tomorrow.

                Comment

                • INVINCEABLE
                  Up and Comer
                  • Jan 2010
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                  #9
                  If he's making a return to boxing, he better face Paul Williams.

                  Comment

                  • dj Ramos
                    Banned
                    Unified Champion - 10,00-20,000 posts
                    • Apr 2009
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                    #10
                    the return of margarito has been the most anticipating thing for me next to the return of robin van persie

                    Comment

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