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February 1, 2006
WBO welterweight champ Antonio Margarito is going into his February 18 title defense an angry man, not so much at his challenger, Manuel "*******" Gomez, but at recent comments made by Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. that the Tijuana native believes is dismissive of him and his ring accomplishments.
"I'm disappointed that Oscar would not even mention my name [as a possible opponent]," said Margarito. "Real boxing fans know that I'm the best fighter at welterweight and they know that I'm a more exciting fighter than both Mayweather and Wright. No disrespect to both of those boxers, but if Oscar wants to end his career with a **** and give fight fans a really good show in his last fight, then he should fight me instead of Mayweather or Wright.
"Oscar, if you're not sure of who's the best fighter out there, my managers will be happy to buy you a front-row ticket to my Feb. 18 fight and you'll see for yourself. Don't think for a second that what happened to [Zab] Judah against [Carlos] Baldomir is going to happen to me with Gomez. '*******' is a dangerous fighter but I come prepared and ready to battle 12 rounds for every opponent. I'll be ready for Gomez and I'll be ready to sign a contract to fight you immediately after the fight.
"Come on Oscar, let's get it on for all the Mexican fight fans. Let's do it for the Mexican fans that became yours when you beat Julio Cesar Chavez. You were a popular fighter before you fought Chavez, but not with all of the Mexican fans. Chavez gave you the opportunity to fight a legend and to make your name. Now I'm asking you, with all due respect, to give me a shot. I feel I've earned the opportunity and I'm more than willing to step up to 154 pounds to get it."
Margarito, who sports a 32-4 (23) record and five defenses of his title, was also angered by recent comments attributed to Mayweather regarding a possible showdown between the two at 147 pounds. "Floyd, everybody who follows boxing knows who I am, I'm the guy you are scared to fight," he said. "And the only person who doesn't want to see us fight is you."
WBO welterweight champ Antonio Margarito is going into his February 18 title defense an angry man, not so much at his challenger, Manuel "*******" Gomez, but at recent comments made by Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. that the Tijuana native believes is dismissive of him and his ring accomplishments.
"I'm disappointed that Oscar would not even mention my name [as a possible opponent]," said Margarito. "Real boxing fans know that I'm the best fighter at welterweight and they know that I'm a more exciting fighter than both Mayweather and Wright. No disrespect to both of those boxers, but if Oscar wants to end his career with a **** and give fight fans a really good show in his last fight, then he should fight me instead of Mayweather or Wright.
"Oscar, if you're not sure of who's the best fighter out there, my managers will be happy to buy you a front-row ticket to my Feb. 18 fight and you'll see for yourself. Don't think for a second that what happened to [Zab] Judah against [Carlos] Baldomir is going to happen to me with Gomez. '*******' is a dangerous fighter but I come prepared and ready to battle 12 rounds for every opponent. I'll be ready for Gomez and I'll be ready to sign a contract to fight you immediately after the fight.
"Come on Oscar, let's get it on for all the Mexican fight fans. Let's do it for the Mexican fans that became yours when you beat Julio Cesar Chavez. You were a popular fighter before you fought Chavez, but not with all of the Mexican fans. Chavez gave you the opportunity to fight a legend and to make your name. Now I'm asking you, with all due respect, to give me a shot. I feel I've earned the opportunity and I'm more than willing to step up to 154 pounds to get it."
Margarito, who sports a 32-4 (23) record and five defenses of his title, was also angered by recent comments attributed to Mayweather regarding a possible showdown between the two at 147 pounds. "Floyd, everybody who follows boxing knows who I am, I'm the guy you are scared to fight," he said. "And the only person who doesn't want to see us fight is you."
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