Filed under: WBC, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions
Antonio Margarito has claimed no knowledge of the illegal hand wrappings in his gloves that led to a scandal that cost him his American boxing license for more than a year, and the actions of the ex-champion's present trainer, Robert Garcia, in a FanHouse video by Elie Seckbach will do little to silence the fighter's detractors.
Shortly after Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) is shown slamming his fists against a body pad being held by Garcia in the ring during a recent media day workout, Garcia dons a thick, crescent-shaped, silver slab of metal that is draped across the knuckles of his right fist.
Garcia then jokes that not only was Margarito wearing the metal slab beneath his gloves while sparring moments ago, but that he will also do so during his Nov. 13, HBO pay per view televised Top Rank Promotions battle opposite WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), the latter of whom takes a 12-fight winning streak that includes eight KOs into their clash in pursuit of an eighth title in as many different weight classes.
Prior to his ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January of 2009, Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovered a plaster-like substance in one of the gloves of Margarito that was removed and confiscated prior to Margarito's defeat.
"That's [metal] what he [Richardson] found.Do you believe that? He [Margarito] got caught," said a chuckling Garcia, later adding, "That's what fell out when Naazim Richardson saw it. ."
Margarito, who has claimed that his former trainer, Javier Capetillo, acted alone, was banned a month later and did not receive a license until being granted one by Texas in August.
But that has not stopped many observers in the boxing community, including Pacquiao and his popular, outspoken trainer, Freddie Roach, from speculating that Margarito not only knew that his hands were wrapped illegally, but that his gloves may have been loaded against vanquished rivals such as Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, who were savagely beaten and bloodied before being stopped by Margarito.
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