I believe Marg as much as I believe a baseball player who says he was getting injections of vitamins. "I thought they were injecting vitamin D into my blood stream!"
I've read Roach say himself that if he wanted, he could put plaster inside his fighter's handwraps without the fighter knowing. And he also said that if he did do something like that, he wouldn't tell the fighter. Nazim Richardson also said he could do it without the fighter knowing. So did a bunch of other trainers.
I tend to give fighters the benefit of the doubt, and this case is no different. However Margarito has had his wrapped thousands of times throughout his life, he has made a gross error if he didn't notice that even though trainers can wrap hands differently, this one was different in a new way. I don't believe he used wraps against Cotto, Cintron, Clottey etc. I think his corner was genuinely scared of Shane Mosley and maybe worried about the condition Margarito had come into the fight.
Nope. As a fighter you are watching your hands being wrapped. Like Manny said, of course he knew, common sence. (that was the funiest moment on 24/7) I thought Margo made himself look even worse when he said that he hadnt punched yet and maybe after the first punch of the fight he would tell the ref of his trainer that his gloves felt too hard....yeah ok Margarito
Yeah, I don't believe, him, but anything is possible. I think he knew but they engaged in a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Meaning, there wasn't a discussion about it before hand, but the trainer whips out a hard pad, and Margarito chooses not to say anything and engages in willful blindness. Fighters rely on their trainers and usually won't have the guts or integrity to say, "No, don't do it." Remember, I think it took 20-30 years for Luis Resto to admit what he did, and I'm not sure that even to this day Panama Lewis fully accepts responsibility for what he did. These guys equivocate ad infinitum and it is pulling teeth to get words of admission or contrition. So I'm not surprised at Margo's deny deny deny policy. Just like the baseball players. And speaking of which, I think it is wrong if anyone on Pacquaio's side takes jabs at Margo about the wraps if Pac isn't willing to do Olympic style drug testing. Remember how strongly against steroid testing the baseball players were until Congress stepped in? If you aren't cheating, you aren't afraid to be tested. I strongly suspect that this fight should more accurately be entitled "cheater vs. cheater...who will have the edge?" To me, cheating with illegal substances is as bad as and potentially even worse than cheating with a hard pad inside your gloves. Just a different type of advantage, but an illegal advantage nevertheless. And I'm confident that on fight night, Margo won't have a hard pad, but what will Pacquiao have inside his body, or have been using to make him faster and stronger, which he certainly appears to be since he moved up to 147?
That's interesting. I remember when roach was in the run to train Margo he was saying Margo was sincere and he wanted to believe Him. I just think it's funny now that he's fighting against him he completly bashes him.
Apollak- You make some good points and you have an agrument, but Olympic style drug testing isnt mandatory by any commisions in boxing at the moment. Pac doesnt have to agree to it. Margaritos handwraps were considered illegal by the state boxing commision. There is a fundemental difference. Mayweathers demand for Olympic style testing goes beyond what is legally reqired of Manny. That said, obviously Manny not agreeing to have blood taken 7 days before opens himself up to debate. Still, there is no wrongdoing on his part.
Sometimes I get the impression, when he speaks, that Richardson plays it down somewhat, like he knows the crime is not as befitting as the overreaction of fans, have you got that impression from listening to him?
If Margarito happens to beat Pacquiao, all that Roach can validate is that win. Roach would still not be in a position to validate Margarito's other wins.
i used to think margo was telling the truth about not knowing. sinse then i have seen much footage of margo and have formed a different opinion of him. i dont believe he is an honorable man and may have very well known what was in his wraps. regardless of whether he knew or not, he is a professional and as such he should have known who he is in business with. if your employee puts you in harms way, it is your responsibility for hiring that dishonest employee.