Antonio Margarito's Chance At Redemption

3:03 AM // 0 comments // Ian Purugganan // Category: Margarito //

Changing his reputation might be a tougher challenge for Antonio Margarito than beating Manny Pacquiao.

"A lot of people already think bad of me, and I can't change their opinions," Margarito said.

State inspectors caught Margarito with plaster-hardened hand wraps before his January 2009 title fight against Shane Mosley at Staples Center. The wraps were confiscated, Margarito lost the fight, his title and his reputation.

The California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito's license for more than a year.

Margarito is now training for his first fight in the U.S. since his suspension. But his Nov. 13 opponent, Pacquiao, believes Margarito knew his wraps had been tampered with.

Margarito contends he's an innocent party to deception conducted by his since-fired trainer Javier Capetillo. "There's never been a shred of evidence Antonio knew what was in there," Margarito's promoter Bob Arum said.

What is clear is that Margarito's reputation has taken a pummeling.

Margarito followed a tough 2007 decision loss to Paul Williams at Carson with three consecutive knockouts — including a vicious beating of previously unbeaten world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

Cotto, and another opponent who lost to Margarito, suggested he relied on loaded gloves to beat them.

"It really hurt to hear and read what people were saying about me," Margarito, 32, said. "I've tried to let people know this was not my doing. I was innocent."

In the Staples Center's dressing room where the plaster was seized, state inspector Dean Lohuis said Margarito was "indignant" about accusations that he knew there was something amiss with his hand wraps. "I don't believe he knew," Lohuis said.

Capetillo declined to be interviewed.

"They were my hands, and I should have been more aware what was in there," Margarito said. "But because Capetillo had been around me so long, the trust was there … Knowing I might not be able to step into the ring again, that was the low moment."

After being suspended, Margarito retreated home to Tijuana with his wife, Michelle.

"I did what I had to do as a spouse," Michelle said. "Support him, give him his space."

Margarito established a routine of waking early and meeting a group of six schoolchildren outside his home, driving them in his pickup to a nearby track to run, mentoring the boys — even if that seems mind-boggling to those who don't buy his hand-wraps account.

[Boxing News Source: Los Angeles Times]