By Ian “Normen Bates” Sims: With HBO kicking of its award winning 24/7 series this weekend the beginning of 24/7 has for last few years has also marked the starting point for some of Boxing’s most intense debates between fans. Rather its radio shows, YouTube, or forums 24/7 acts as the starting point for some of the pre-fight festivities.
While fans argue for hours about rather Antonio Margarito deserves this fight, if he has anything left in the tank, if the Jr. Middleweight title should be won at a catch-weight, and inevitably who will win. One scenario that’s been swept under the rug is what happens to boxing if Margarito wins and what direction does his career take after such a signature win.
Antonio Margarito has a win over Sergio Martinez and a highly contested loss to Paul Williams and both men face each other the following week. If Martinez wins fighting Margarito gives him a chance to avenge a loss he suffered earlier in his career before he started priming as a fighter. If Paul Williams wins this fight offers Margarito a chance to erase a competitive loss he suffered to Williams in the summer of 2007 which ultimately postponed his super-fight with Miguel Cotto.
Although most hardcore Boxing fans would love to see Margarito matched with the winner of Williams-Martinez with all the “in house” match making going on at Top Rank unfortunately it’s a tad bit unrealistic.
However, Top Rank dose have some interesting cards to be played if Margarito chooses to keep his Jr. Middleweight title. A rematch with Miguel Cotto could be an option that I’m sure Top Rank is willing to make and Cotto is more than willing to take. Miguel Cotto lost his first fight with Margarito but the bout with extremely competitive until the brave Puerto Rican succumbed to the relentless pressure. With Emmanuel Stewart by his side acting as a new intangible this rematch could be interesting.
Undefeated Vanes Martirosyan holds the number six spot in the WBC he also happens to be a Top Rank prospect that seemed to be on the verge of facing Miguel Cotto earlier this year. With the more proven Yuri Foreman being sidelined by surgery Margarito-Martirosayn is a feasible alternate. Although I don’t believe the inexperienced Martirosyan has enough tools on his belt to overcome the “Tijuana Tornado” I wouldn’t be surprised to see this fight either.
In a perfect world we as fight fans could get the most entertaining fight when we want it however Boxing is far from perfect and more than not we get the “in house” fight or the safe fight. Without playing devil’s advocate and giving Margarito the benefit of a doubt his track record shows that he doesn’t take safe fights nor does he fight in a safety first manor. If Antonio Margarito happens to beat Manny Pacquiao the winner of Martinez-Williams is at the top of my own wish list.