Antonio Margarito on His Recovery, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto

By Lem Satterfield

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LAS VEGAS -- Ex-champ

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, who underwent 75 minutes of surgery to repair a fractured right orbital bone suffered during November's HBO pay per view televised unanimous decision loss to

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, spoke to FanHouse last Friday concerning his recovery and his anticipated return to the ring.

The 32-year-old Margarito (38-7, 27 knockouts) fought Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, which Pacquiao has since vacated even as he defends his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against

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(46-6-1, 39 KOs) on May 7 in a Showtime pay per view televised bout that is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.

Last Friday, Margarito was at the Mandalay Bay Hotel during the weigh in for last Saturday's HBO televised bout featuring WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist,

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(26-1, 18 knockouts), of the Philippines, scoring a second-round knockout over WBO and WBC king,

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(44-3-2, 34 KOs), of Mexico, to earn Montiel's belts.

Margarito said that he already is in training for a potential June bout opposite WBA junior middleweight champion

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(35-2, 28 KOs), assuming Cotto gets beyond a March 12, Showtime pay per view televised encounter with former world champion

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(29-7-1, 22 KOs).

Margarito dethroned Cotto as WBA welterweight king with an 11th-round knockout in July of 2008.

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FanHouse: What is your prognosis of recovery from your injury?

Antonio Margarito: Well, thanks to God, everything has gone well. We have an appointment again next month with the doctors, and they will tell me more.

But so far, things are progressing very well.


FanHouse: What have you been able to do to begin to get into shape once again?

Since January 5, when the doctors cleared me to start working out, that's when I started. The only thing that I'm not doing is sparring. I'm doing everything else.

Running, push ups, sit ups, hitting the bags, and I'm doing that on my own. Sparring is the only thing that I haven't been doing.


When do you expect to be able to begin sparring?

We have an appointment for another examination next month, and, hopefully, by then, the doctor will give me the green light to begin sparring.


Can you clear the air for your fans and the media and the critics concerning whether or not you thought that your fight with Manny Pacquiao should have been stopped as a result of the damage that you were absorbing?

We wanted to finish on our feet. Every minute during the break between rounds, [trainer] Robert Garcia would ask me how I felt. My answer was always, 'I feel great.'

There was no reason to stop the fight. We always knew that one punch could make the difference and maybe turn the tide and the momentum of the fight.

We were looking to land that punch in the fight, but, unfortunately, we were never able to land that momentum-changing punch.

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How did that fourth-round punch that opened the cut beneath your right eye affect the course of the fight?

That's what changed the fight. That punch. The uppercut from Manny Pacquiao in the fourth round is what changed the fight. Up until then, I thought we were fighting the right strategy.

We were going to break him down. But that punch changed everything. After that, all that I could see was blurry.


Why weren't you able to capitalize on that sixth-round body shot that hurt Manny Pacquiao?

I tried, but the bell ran. Plus, Manny Pacquiao is just an excellent fighter and he was able to maneuver away from me. I would have kept on trying if we had more time.

But the bell rang, so there was nothing that I could do.


What was said when Manny Pacquiao came to your dressing room after the fight?

Manny just came into the dressing room and gave me a nice hug we told each other that we both put forth a great effort in a great fight and that we should both be very proud.


When do you expect to be back in the ring and when do you want to fight Miguel Cotto?

When I get the green like from the doctor. But I think that Bob Arum is already talking about a rematch against Miguel Cotto. That's a fight that [Top Rank Promotions CEO]

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already has mentioned.

I would love to have that fight, but we have to get cleared by the doctor.


Do you anticipate taking a tuneup bout or do you want to go straight into a rematch with Miguel Cotto?

It all depends on Bob Arum. If Bob Arum feels that we might benefit from a tuneup and that we have enough time to do a fight in between the Cotto-Mayorga fight and my fight with Cotto, then we can do it.

But if not, then we'll go straight to Miguel Cotto. If it was my choice, then I would go straight into the Miguel Cotto fight. I would love to go right into that fight, probably in June.

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What is your relationship with your trainer, Robert Garcia?

I am very happy with him. He's a very good friend and a great trainer.


How long will you continue fighting?

I'm going to allow my body to tell me when enough is enough. I think that if, when I fight Cotto, my body tells me that's enough, then that will be end.

But if I feel strong and I feel healthy during and after the fight, then I will continue fighting. I will continue in this game until my body tells me that that is enough.


When you say, 'Enough,' how do you mean that the state of having had 'Enough' will manifest itself?

Right now, my body responds well to hard training and it responds to all of the things that I do in the gym. The simple fact is, in my last fight, I lost to Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter, but it was just another loss. I feel that I'm healthy enough to keep fighting right now, and that I can come back and do it again.

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The Manster will be back.... he will beat cotto!

 

I know deep down Cotto wants to avenge his loss but is still in fear of Margo. Wouldnt suprise me if Margo beat him again.

 

margo was a great tenacious fighter pre-cotto. the cotto fight essentially broke both fighters.

Mosely ruined margo and paq will have to shown to put him into retirement.

don't fool yourself. cotto right now is a shell of his former self. Angulo, cintron, PW, SM all destroy cotto.

 

In due time we will see what improvements the trainer Emmanuel Steward has worked on with "Cotto". I dont really expect to see anything different or unusal, but it would be nice just to see the old "Cotto" at the least.

 

Was a margarito fan until he ot caught trying to load his gloves against shane mosley. He should never be allowed to fight again, nor should bob arum be allowed to promote him. he could have killed Shane. Mind you the glorified clubfighter did;nt have the talent. If you want an example of glove loading Google '' Irish '' Billy ollins. Louis Resto used tampered gloves in his fight with Collins. He not only ruined Billy's carreer but also his life. Resto and Panama Lewis .his trainer not only never worked a fight again but did prison time. Please do'nt blow any horns for Antonio Margarito . I hope he takes the same beating that manny gave him every time he steps into the ring !!'

 

Margo will beat cotto again, cotto dont do it!

 

Mosley was on EPO Steroids when he fought Margarito.

Mosley deserved to have gotten beaten with loaded wraps, cause Mosley has gotten away with using steroids and got away when he fought Margarito.

Mosley has admitted to having used steroids in the past.
Here's a vid:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JMIB7g1mq0[/ame]

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84yJqjE1YI0[/ame]

 

True . Steroids are garbage in the sport as well. Has there been a documented case of one fighter ruining the carreer of another thruogh steroids ? There is a documentary on Billy Collins called ,'' Assault in The Ring .'' boxers should be on a level playing field. These guys train to hard and basically put thir lives on the lone for thier fans and a decent payday. Anyone who cheats should be banned !

 

I think "Cotto" gonna destroy "Margarito" in a whole new way...ex: more volume of punches, better hand speed, and power to the body ! I dont see he's face holding up to another beating.

 

Margarito/Cotto II: Same fight; different night.

 

Why wasn't Mosley suspended like they did Margarito? Double standard. Wonder how many roids Mosley will be taking when he fights Pac? How many when he fought Margarito? BALCO Mosley should be suspended!

 

that fracture is damaged forever and fighters will target that eye every fight.