Margarito: The Tijuana "Trickster"?
Posted by Carlos Calderon on 01.26.2009
"Illegal wet substance" found in Margarito's hand wraps before Mosley fight.
Many fans and media alike were confused and shocked just moments before current WBC Welterweight Champion, "Sugar" Shane Mosley and former champ Antonio Margarito walked to the ring before the 20,820 fans in attendance at the Staples Center. HBO analyst Larry Merchant, who was in the fighters dressing room, announced that he had been told that some kind of a "wet substance" was found underneath Margarito's hand wrappings. This wet substance was described by Mosley's doctor, Robert Olvera, as something similar to the same material used to make casts.
It is rumored that Olvera scratched the pad and flakes of Plaster of Paris "came off".
Shane Mosley's trainer, Nazim Richardson, which is the same trainer who also discovered illegal material within Felix Trinidad's wraps before his fight with Bernard Hopkins, complained to officials that Margarito's pad looked too large with a "lump" in it. That is when this illegal substance was found within Margarito's hand wraps. Mosley's attorney, Judd Burstein, states he seized the pad and an additional pad was found in Margarito's dressing room. Both of the pads were bagged and given to Dean Louis of the California Boxing Commission for "further study".
Plaster of Paris can be easily confused
with the type of gauze that are used on
many fighters' hands.
After the pads were removed the fight went on as scheduled. Needless to say if Margarito's horrible performance wasn't bad enough for his reputation this is as bad as it gets.
After years upon years of struggling to get recognized as a top fighter Margarito finally received his chance to gain the respect and recognition he always felt he deserved. In July of last year Margarito was scheduled to go to war against then WBC champion Miguel Cotto.
The clash between the two fighters would deliver what everyone expected...greatness. Margarito shocked many by breaking down the unbeatable Cotto and gaining a TKO victory in the 11th round.
Following the fight Margarito was on top of the boxing world as American and Mexican fans alike jumped on top of the Margarito bandwagon.
Fast forward six months later and Margarito is TKO'd by Shane Mosley who is considered past his prime and caught with "plaster like" material within his hand wraps prior to entering the ring. Fans can only question if Margarito used this substance in his previous fights especially against Miguel Cotto, who took a vicious beating by Margarito's hands.
Hopefully for Margarito the truth isn't as bleak as what it seems to be right now.
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For questions or comments email Carlos Calderon at antitruth@hotmail.com
Margarito deserves an asterisk he is a cheating scoundrel. I hope his career is finished.
Posted By: Matt (Guest) on January 26, 2009 at 01:04 PM
What about Trinidad. Look at what he did for the sport, yet he was a cheater as well. Is anyone lambasting or chastising him? No, they're just thankful for the mounds of cash he brought into boxing, year in and year out.
Either way, without some HUGE resurrection, Boxing is nearing it's death in the mainstream market.
Posted By: TheShawn (Guest) on January 26, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Hi, there was no illegal material in Felix Trinidad's wraps, it was the wrapping style which was questioned, no action was taken by the sanctioning body or anybody else, that tells its own story.
Posted By: moshimoshi (Guest) on January 26, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Before jumping to conclusions and calling people cheaters, you should wait to see what the boxing commission says. It may very well be the case that nothing illegal went on (the news reports are vague as to whether the substance was actually deemed illegal right then and there, and if it was, why did the commissioners take the substance for further investigation?). It could also be the case that Margarito wasn't aware of any wrongdoing. I know many of you will think "yeah right," but the reality is that without hearing all the facts you can't make an informed decision. Doesn't anyone else think it's just a bit odd that the same guy saw "illegal substances" right before two major fights? I'm not saying he's right or wrong, but if he's right, then why didn't anyone else notice it before other fights? If you think they cheated, are you telling me that those were the only two times they cheated or that all the other guys they cheated against were too oblivious to discover it? Those notions are just as questionable as the notion that Margarito is a cheater.
I suspect that the people who are so quick to call Margarito a cheater never liked him anyway. I don't hear anyone calling Mosley a liar when he says he didn't know he was taking illegal steroids. I'm not saying he is one, but why is one guy treated differently than another when all the facts haven't even been heard yet?
Whether you're a fan of someone or not, give them a fair chance before jumping to nasty conclusions based on very little evidence. Mosley isn't even saying Margarito did anything illegal.
Posted By: Erik (Guest) on January 26, 2009 at 07:54 PM
Regarding moshimoshis comment, apperantly trinidad also had an "illegal substance" in his wraps.
Richardson compared the hand-wrap flap to one that forced Felix Trinidad to re-tape his hands before a loss in September, 2001 to Bernard Hopkins in New York.
“Same thing with Tito’s hands,’’ said Richardson, then Hopkins’ trainer. “This plastic-like substance fell out from behind the gauze on Tito’s hands.
It is believed that a power-like substance is added to the gauze and then hardens when wet from either sweat or water.
Posted By: E (Guest) on January 27, 2009 at 02:41 AM
I knew their was no way margarita can beat Cotto in a fair fight no way I hope they do a rematch in a fair fight with 8oz gloves and watch how coot is going to whooped that ass it wont last 5rounds
Posted By: jsr 3219 (Guest) on January 27, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Margarito is a cheater, dishonest and he shoud be banned from boxing (for life)
Good bye Tijuana's breeeze
Posted By: Pietro (Guest) on February 02, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Margarito,
From this point on nobody will respect you; nobody will believe in you. Many people people you are dishonest If you had real talent you would not recur to illegal ways of winning. There is a BIG EYE watching your actions. Be honest to yourself and to your fans. Play by the rules.
Posted By: Pietro (Guest) on February 02, 2009 at 02:55 PM
I have no doubt in my mind and anyone who has any doubt if margarito did or did not use this susbstance against the brilliant Miguel Cotto like Jim Lampley would describe him is in clear and utter denial. A Cliche yet boldly true argument would be this " If Margarito a figther who was on top of the welterweight division a, figther whose new opponent was already broke down by Miguel Cotto considered to be the best welterweight of all time as well as martgarito's fighting opponent of a lifetime comes and uses castlike wrapping on his hands for a seemingly easy breezy fight against a figther considered to be past his prime who in their right mind can tell me he didnt use this substance against miguel cotto? I just wish that the rematch is not cancelled so that Miguel cotto get his chance at revenge for being tricked and cheated out of his title and beats down margarito to an unrecognizable pulp we all know he can. Fuck Margarito he has something really painful coming his way its called Miguel Angel Cotto.
P.S
The wrapping issue with Trinidad vs Hopkins was not Plasterlike substance being used it was simply wrapping between the fingers considered to be illegal this would not in any way shape or form be considered as to being hit with a fucking cast lol get your facts right buddy
Posted By: AFFLIKTION305 (Guest) on February 02, 2009 at 06:49 PM
lets all hope margarito gets brain damage like he deserves. how can anyone support a pussy who claims to be the most feared fighter because 1 person passed on him? then he ducks cotto and gets whipped by williams. took a beating for 4 rounds and barely beat a one handed clottey, cheats his way passed cotto then proceeds to duck fights with clottey and williams. if my prayers were completely answered the night he fought mosley he would have never got up off the floor.
Posted By: billy bob (Guest) on April 25, 2009 at 02:06 AM
