Boxing fans are divided whether or not the Tijuana native should be allowed to get back to the boxing ring after being caught red-handed with an illegal plaster-like substance as part of his hand-wrappings just before his WBA welterweight title fight with Sugar Shane Mosley over a year ago.
I sought the opinion of some experts on this delicate issue and here’s what they had to say:
Geoff Poundes, Ringside Report
No, he should not. For him to claim that he had no knowledge that his wraps had been doctored is a nonsense – he’s shown no remorse that I’ve heard of. However, even he admitted to it, I’d still want him banned for life. Boxing is a dangerous enough sport without it allowing cheats to play fast and loose with their opponents health. Of course, he will fight again – because he’s now a freak show and people will pay to see him, which is all that seems to matter to the so-called “authorities”.
Mark Whicker, Orange County Register
Yes. Obviously his opponents and the commissions will be watching him like a hawk.
Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
No, Margarito endangered people's lives (Cotto's). That he is even in a conversation to fight again (and apparently will be on Arum's Dallas undercard) is disgusting.
Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Yes. I don't think his career should be taken from him via one offense.
Tony Nobbs, Eastside Boxing
Margarito should be allowed to fight again. It was his trainer who wrapped his hands. A fighter usually goes along with the trainer. There is no doubt that if he fights again his wraps will be checked.
Matthew Goldstein, Boxing Talk
If Antonio Margarito is guilty, and I'm not sure if he is, he should be banned for life! No question.
Chris Ackerman, Doghouse Boxing
If the commission is satisfied that Margarito himself knew about the illegal wrapping, then no. I find it hard to believe he wouldn't notice that he had casts on his hands, rather than a proper tape job...so I am leaning towards favouring a lifetime ban. It's difficult to think of any more egregious, disgraceful and dangerous actions. If the facts are what they appear to be, he could have killed someone and the hammer should fall.
Michael Rosenthal, Ring Magazine
This is a tough question. I'll tell you this: One year isn't long enough. I think he knew the illegal pad was being used.
TP Walker, Eastside Boxing
I personally thought the sanction should have been more than a year. Still that's the time they gave him, he served it and he should be allowed to earn a living just like anyone else. He has lost a lot of respect and I think the scrutiny will follow him the rest of his life. He will be under the microscope from now on.
Brandon Estrict, Doghouse Boxing
Margarito should be allowed to fight again as long as he gets rid of his trainer, which I'm told he has done. To be fair, we're all suspicious, but we have no way of proving he was loaded for any other fight, including the ones with Cintron and Cotto. He tried to cheat against Mosley but he got caught and he's paid the price. I say let him fight, but monitor him closely.
Tony Penecale Jr, Fight News Unlimited
Before being allowed to fight again, I think Antonio Margarito and his trainer need to testify in front of a panel of boxing officials. I believe something more sinister than just "not knowing" happened when his trainer Javier Capitello wrapped his hands. To gain an unfair advantage and put your opponent at an additional risk of danger is absolutely disgusting. I would force both of them to watch the HBO Documentary "Assault in the Ring" just to fully understand the dangers of their actions. Should he be allowed to fight again? I give a reluctant yes. He deserves the opportunity to make a living but he will now be under heavy scrutiny and no matter what he does the rest of his career, his wins and titles will always be tarnished.
Jim Amato, DM Boxing
Margarito should NEVER be allowed to box again. How many fighters did he overwhelm with "loaded" gloves? We will never know. He may have changed the course of Miguel Cotto's career with that beat down he gave Miguel. Against Mosley with "unloaded" gloves, Margarito looked very ordinary.
Springs Toledo, The Sweet Science
He should not. After what Nazim Richardson found, Margarito does not deserve the right to be given the benefit of doubt about those wins against, for example, Cotto and Sebastian Lujan (whose ear almost fell off from Margarito's punches). What he attempted to do before the Mosley fight was criminal. He could have knowingly killed someone. He betrayed the sport and should be cast off. The Golden Age of Boxing is long since over but boxing needs to act decisively in order to reverse the long decline. Boxing can become a flagship of not only drug testing but of honorable combat. It used to be called the "manly art of self-defense" and was appreciated for not only its violence but also its chivalry. MMA is more savage -knees to the face and "ground and pound" are not exactly aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Boxing can carve a wider nitch for people who want to see a more civilized form of violence. Genteel sciences like fencing and karate have fans, MMA does too. Why not see that boxing is between them -offering the best of both extremes?
Michel Joseph, Boxing Talk
Yes. Margarito should be allowed to fight again. As it stands, he was caught cheating, and was reprimanded for it, and served his suspension. He should now be allowed to continue his career and livelihood. To not allow Margarito to fight anymore, would be a precedent setting decision which would, based on other fighters who served similar punishments for similar violations, be the wrong move here.
Now, would I endorse a rule created by boxing commissions and endorsed unanimously by them all, that states any fighter found loading his gloves or wraps will be barred permanently from the sport? Yes I would, such a rule would promote first and foremost, the safety of fighters, and second, it would promote a level playing field by creating such "one and you're done" consequences that would follow for getting caught. I would certainly favor such a rule, as I think fighters or trainers using loaded gloves or wraps are reprehensible, and in fact, should be criminal. It's worse than Bonds or Sosa juicing it up - yes, both Margarito and Sosa cheated, but one could have, as a result, directly injured or killed another human being.
I think commissions should strongly consider the good image of sportsmanship and discipline they would help to create and further expand by creating such a rule. It would give fans and the public alike, the peace of mind in knowing that the athletic contests they witness are without more thing to worry about. Fans and the public alike already have a distrust for the sport of boxing because of poor judging and scorecards (putting it lightly), shoddy ranking systems from a multitude of ridiculous commissions, and oftentimes, overhyped, underwhelming match-ups. The sport could and should do all it can to minimize the problems it currently faces, and creating such a rule would help to do so - again, hasn't this sport got enough problems? Loaded gloves and wraps is something it could eliminate with the creation and enforcement of such a rule.
Paul H. Burbridge, Eastside Boxing
Antonio Margarito is a disgrace to boxing and an embarrassment to Bob Arum. His attempt to cheat in the manner he did is morally repugnant and he should never be allowed back in a professional boxing ring ever again. Mexican fighters are some of the proudest and CLEANEST fighters the sport has ever known and many of them are flat out disgusted by Margarito. The guys I've spoken to have told me they wished he wasn't Mexican which pretty much says it all. The fact that Arum is trying to bring him back says more about his greed than it does about his integrity. Boxing will continue to be considered a "rogue" sport until we act in a fair and legal manner ALL THE TIME rather than making exceptions. Margarito KNEW that what he was doing could kill another man yet winning a sporting event was more important to him than his opponent’s life. There is something very wrong with that kind of logic and it tells you everything you need to know about Margarito the man!
I'm embarrassed for boxing.
Amy Green, BoxingInLasVegas
Margarito... I am undecided about.
Don Stewart, Reading Eagle
Margarito should be banned for life. Examples need to be set. If you willingly and knowingly break the rules and put your opponent's safety at risk, you're done. It's fair to ask how the banned fighter is supposed to make a living when you're standing in the way of him and his profession, but what about the guys he's damaged? How were their careers and lives affected? And is a one-year ban really enough to atone for that damage? The ban should be permanent.
David Greisman, BoxingScene
Margarito should not be allowed to fight again. Why should he get off easy just because he was caught before getting in the ring? If this were a fighter who was a villain and wasn't as fan-friendly as Margarito, people would be calling for a lifetime ban. I'd love to see Margarito fight again, but I don't think he should be allowed to do so.
Igor Frank, Burbank Times
Antonio Margarito maintains his innocence; he asked Freddie Roach to train him and told him that he did not know that he was fighting with loaded gloves. Many experts believe that it would be impossible for him not to know. So if you believe Antonio, he should be given a second chance and if you don’t , then he should not be allowed to box.
How about you fellow boxing fans, what’s your say?
– Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
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Great article. We're not in the position to judge him whether or not he's guilty. The California commission didn't actually find him guilty which explains the short suspension penalty. Guilty or not, we might never know. Nonetheless, great read.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia commission erred in giving Margarito a very short suspension considering the gravity of his offense. He will, or rather, is going to be back. There's a ton of money out there that can still be made out of him and Arum is aware of this fact. We'll see him at COwboys Stadium and he would bring along with him plenty of Mexican fans.
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