By Radio Rahim
This past June, former world champion Antonio Margarito (38-8, 27KOs) revealed that he was back in training for a comeback after 42 months of retirement. He said he was planning to make a final run at glory either at junior middleweight or middleweight.
He was forced to retire due to an injury to his right eye, which was severely damaged during his decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2010. His last fight, which took place a year later, saw him get stopped by Miguel Cotto. In that rematch, the injured eye began to swell up within a few rounds and forced the ringside physician to pull him from the fight in the ninth round.
Margarito, 37-years-old, claims to have received medical clearance. He says his right eye is 100% healthy.
Not longer after making those statements, his longtime manager Sergio Diaz confirmed his fighter's comeback intentions to BoxingScene.com.
Margarito's last trainer, Robert Garcia, is willing to help him in any way possible - if the boxer is serious about returning.
"I'm more than happy to help him if he needs my help. I would support him all the way, but it's his decision," Garcia told BoxingScene.com.
Garcia is still very close with Margarito and the two of them stay in touch. The veteran recently saw Margarito and says he's in fantastic shape and easily capable of heading to the junior middleweight division.
"He's in better shape than he was before. We've seen him. He's on weight and if he wants to fight at 154, he's already on weight. This guy is always in shape, but it's not because he's ready to fight - even after his fights Margarito would train and continue running and eating healthy. He's in tremendous shape," Garcia said.