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.
Out of habit, he'd also make routine visits to a small Tijuana home with an antiquated boxing ring in its basement, putting himself through the familiar paces. He was unsure what for, except that he knew little else.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., Arum failed to overturn California's banishment.
So Arum scheduled a May 8 comeback bout in Mexico for Margarito, and he won in a lackluster decision. But no U.S. boxing commission expressed interest to let him return. California even extended its license revocation over the summer, chiding Margarito for training for his Mexico fight in the U.S. without a sparring permit.
Source: latimes.com
