The pride of a country is on the line, and Antonio Margarito knows and embraces it.
The "Tijuana Tornado" has redemption on his mind leading up to his title bout with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, and he has a nation of support behind him.
Many of those fans showed up to show their support for the fighter at La Gran Plaza Mall in Fort Worth on Sunday. "It will be a victory for us [Mexico]," Margarito told the crowd.
The 1,000-plus fans in attendance gave Margarito and his crew, including trainer Robert Garcia, extended rounds of cheers and applause, chanted "Viva Mexico" and "Si, se puede [Yes, we can]" and lined up for autographs and photo opportunities with the Mexican fighter.
"We want to show to the world that every single Mexican is behind Margarito," Garcia said.
The 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) takes on Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) for the WBC super welterweight belt in his first major title fight since losing by a ninth-round TKO to Shane Mosley in a WBA super welterweight title defense in January 2009.
The loss was just Margarito's third in 12 years, but what ensued outside the ring has lingered and pained him much more than the outcome of the fight.
During a pre-fight examination, officials discovered plaster in the hand wrappings of Margarito's gloves. He received a one-year ban from the California Boxing Commission, and all other states were required to honor the ruling as well.
Upon expiration of his suspension, Texas granted him a license and Top Rank chairman and boxing promoter Bob Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones were more than willing to give him a chance to participate in the boxing world's premier event of the year.
Margarito, who easily handled Texan Roberto Garcia in a warm-up bout in Mexico earlier this year, welcomes the chance to fight in Texas and said he appreciates the support Mexican fans have shown him.
"I am very thankful all these fans stuck with me and the best reward I can give them is to win the fight," he said.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have Pacquiao listed as the favorite and he might be considered the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, but Margarito does bring some advantages to the fight.
A 6-inch reach and 5-inch height advantage favor Margarito. Couple that with Margarito's having overcome odds just as big while making his way through the ranks, including a title win over then unbeaten Miguel Cotto.
Matthew Reagan,
mreagan@star-telegram.com
817-390-7760
Source: star-telegram.com
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