by James Slater – The shamed Antonio Margarito has been quiet as of late, but in a news story that circulated yesterday, the Mexican welterweight revealed how he has been training ever since being suspended for attempting to use loaded gloves in his January bout with “Sugar” Shane Mosley. According to the article that first appeared on ESTO but has since been picked up by a number of boxing web sites, the 30-year-old former 147-pound champion expects to be back in action as soon as this September.
Margarito still maintains his innocence, claiming his trainer applied the illegal substances to his hand wraps without his knowledge. Due to this, Margarito expects his suspension to be lifted by The Californian Athletic Commission this month, and he says he will return to the ring in September, against an as yet unknown foe in a scheduled ten-rounder..
“I have not stopped training because this month I will get my license given back to me by The Californian Athletic Commission,” Margarito said. “My lawyers are working on that now. I will reappear in September. In the coming week my company will let me know who will be my rival. I would like a ten round fight and then next fight for a world title.”
Though he lost many of his fans when he was revealed to have cheated – either knowingly or not, the debate will doubtless go on and on – it was inevitable that Margarito would fight again as soon as he could. Sure to be booed by some when he does make his comeback, Margarito will have to get used to being seen as a villain as opposed to the hero he was once recognised as. Also, some fans may well boycott the iron-chinned warrior altogether; so disgusted are they at what he and his trainer did.
But in boxing controversy sells, and there is no real doubting the fact that Margarito’s return will be big news and a fight that will attract a big crowd.
Ultimately, Margarito wants a shot at revenge against the only man to have ever KO’d him, in Shane Mosley; before getting himself a fight with the man every one wants to fight, in Manny Pacquiao. It’s all come quite quickly, really, and most people will probably be surprised to read that “The Tijuana Tornado” expects to be back in the ring as soon as three months from now.
Margarito says he has no real preference who his next world title fight comes against, but that a return with Mosley is something he does want.
“I do not have a preference, but I want revenge against Mosley,” Margarito continued. “I could also fight [Miguel] Cotto (again) or Manny Pacquiao because Mexico would love a Mexican to defeat the Filipino and that will be Antonio Margarito.”
If he’d not gotten himself involved in the plaster of Paris scandal he found himself embroiled in at the start of this year, Margarito against either of the three fighters he mentioned would have been highlights of any boxing year. But now, whether he wants the big fights or not, Margarito may well find that the Cottos, the Mosleys and the Pacquiaos will choose not to give him such a grand opportunity/payday.
Let’s see if Margarito does indeed get his license back as soon as he believes he will before we talk about future mega-fights for the disgraced former ruler.