Freddie Roach has stated he believes Antonio Margarito has fought with loaded handwraps on more than one occasion before matching up against Mosely. He doesn't give a figure of how many times (would be impossible to tell), but seems to think he did against Cintron and Cotto. Roach: "It is evident he was loaded in some fights. After a fight what is the first thing a fighter wants to do? It is get the gloves off as quickly as possible. Against Cintron he kept the gloves on the whole time didn't take his gloves off until he got to the dressing room. So it makes me wonder." I feel Margarito has tarnished his reputation irrepairably. I know everyone deserves a second shot, but the Mosely debacle undermined everything he did in his career up until that point. It may of been the first time he would have gone into a fight with loaded wraps. It may not. I don't believe he never knew for Mosely. Pacquiao's reaction on 24/7 when they asked him if he thought Margarito realised what was on his wraps was priceless. He just broke out laughing. "Of course he knew!". Roach is always so vocal before a fight. I don't believe the Pac-man is behind schedule and unfocused to the degree Roach makes out. Telling us Khan was busting up Pac in sparring sessions was intended to intimidate Maidana; Pacquiao doesn't need extra confidence or an intimidated opponent. Khan probably does. Pacquiao doesn't need to be bigged up; his record does that for him. I personally think Margarito not only knew, but had used juiced-up handwraps before. We can never be certain; all conjecture and guesswork. He deserves a second chance - perhaps not this soon - but in my eyes he will never be the same fighter he once was, which is a shame. Should be a great fight. Pacquiao to win, even stepping up yet again. Late stoppage. I'd take a punt at the 9th.
I don't care, if Freddy Roach really believes that Margarito did that. He is an asshat for putting his man in danger, and for giving someone that is clearly willing to kill someone a mega fight. **** Freddy, and **** Margarito.
I've said this before: why would Margo (or his trainer) want to cheat in a bout against Mosley who was thought to be well past his best, but not against undefeated Cotto or the very dangerous Cintron?
As far as im concerned Margaritos whole career is a sham. Hes lost so much respect and credibility with me the damage is irreparable. Thats why i dont take this fight seriously. You can now NEVER be sure if his achievments were genuine or not. What we CAN be sure of is he tried to cheat vs Mosley and that is reason enough to call his entire career into question. His crebility has evaporated and he can never get that back. Even if he somehow beat pacquiao
I agree with you, to a degree. The handwrap incident made a sham of his career until that point, in my opinion anyway. But, this fight with Pacquiao should be taken seriously for exactly that reason. We cannot be sure of Margarito fighting fairly before the Mosely fight; he may well of cheated in every single fight until that point (not that i'm saying he did). But, we sure as hell can be sure he is fighting fairly now. Trying to cheat after already being caught would be suicidal. Fighting Roberto Garcia was the first time we can be sure he was playing by the rules. Pacquiao will be the second time. As a result, it is only the second Margarito fight I will be taking seriously. Everyone deserves a second chance. I just feel his has come too soon.
How come Roach didn't mention Paul Williams if he had loaded gloves with Cotto and Cintron then why not Williams too or is it you have to win a fight to have loaded gloves Roach is a lier and its coming out everyday sooner or later him and Pac will be exposed watch and see.
I'll play ball with the haters for once, Let's say Margarito did have a ****en anchor in his gloves as you say for all his "Key" fights... What does this say about the commissions/Officials ect.. Who are in charge of inspecting & regulating the sport? Also IF common sense tell's you Margarito cheated in all his fights, Then the same common sense should tell you that if he did it & got away with it for all these years, Then who else has got away with it, Shouldn't all fights be possibly tainted? (Considering as most here put it, The blind commission) Or do you also believe that only Clemens & Bonds were using 'Roids? Because as we know Team Margarito are genius and invented the art of "Plaster of Paris".
It says they are not doing there job correctly. He only got caught because Nazim Richardson felt them and complained. I think most people would agree boxing commissions/officials are hardly perfect. All fights do have the possibility to be tainted. We just have to assume they are not, unless someone is caught doing something illegal. People are innocent until proven guilty. We cannot watch any fight assuming neither boxer is playing by the rules. Common sense doesn't tell us that Margarito cheated in all of his fights. I never said that. But, Margarito got caught cheating. Whether he knew or not, he was proven guilty. This is what separates him from 'every other fighter'. Surely you can understand that if someone has been caught cheating, people will immediately doubt what they have done in the past as being legitimate. I'm not saying he did cheat before Mosley, just that in Margarito's case there is reason to be much more suspicious.
It's all conjecture. Four or five fights would date back to Williams/Clottey i think... But he fought Cintron before that and beat him inside 5. Would he risk handwraps in a rematch with someone he's already flattened? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Again, it's very difficult to say when or where - or even if - he used them pre-Mosley. Either way, I think he will need more than bricks in his gloves against the Pac-man. :!: