I’m hearing Antonio Margarito is getting close to fulfilling his penalty and planning to have California and Nevada re-license him. Big fights are out there for him.
Can someone tell me just how did he become so famous before his win over Miguel Cotto? Why was that even a pay-per-view fight? Of course he was popular after stopping Cotto and was a favorite over Mosley going into their fight. I certainly had seen him fight often. I knew he was out there. But he never distinguished himself in my eyes. But what did he do to deserve the fame, fortune and Mexican adulation?
He suffered losses to current world champions Paul Williams in 2007 and Daniel Santos in 2004, but his wins in between were first round KO’s of ancient Golden Johnson and outmatched Manuel Gomez.
Why was he the Mexican Chosen One going into the Cotto fight? Back in 2005 he had a decisive win over Kermit Cintron. He repeated that in 2008. In 2006 he beat an injured Joshua Clottey, but I don’t blame Margarito for that.
What made him so popular in the mold of Salvador Sanchez and Julio Cesar Chavez? By 2006 Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales were well – done.
As far as star power, I thought the only thing he had in common with Erik Morales was that they were both from Tijuana, Mexico.
The other popular Mexican fighters were a tired Jose Luis Castillo; Israel Vasquez and Rafael Marquez had to move their second fight to a small border town in South Texas, not California or a Nevada casino.
What was the moment Margarito became the next Grande Campion of Mexico? I didn’t get it then. I don’t get it now.
But I admit it happened. Whatever it was, I don’t think anything will bring that feeling back after whatever happened with the hand wrap incident before the Mosley fight. Did he also cheat in the Cotto fight and possibly wreck Cotto physically for good?
I believe after an easy tuneup fight, promoter Bob Arum goes right into a Cotto rematch- as long as Manny Pacquiao doesn’t waste Cotto Nov.14.
I hope fans and media don’t turn Margarito into a folk hero because he did a horrible thing and got off light.
