Filtered By: Sports
Sports

Controversial Margarito joins Pacquiao derby


MANILA, Philippines – And the list of Manny Pacquiao's challengers goes longer and longer. Despite his current legal entanglement and revoked license, controversial former welterweight champ Antonio Margarito is already planning to get back into the ring and you guess it right, wants a big fight with Filipino ring icon Pacquiao, too. Boxingscene.com reported on Monday that Margarito is confident he would get his license back from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) and plans to set warm-up fight before plunging big-time against possibly Pacquiao or anyone between his old rivals Sugar Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto. The CSAC had canned the “Tijuana Tornado" after two hard inserts were discovered in his handwraps when he fought – and got TKO’ed by - Mosley last January. The inserts allegedly contained illegal substance, with elements that would make plaster of Paris. Margarito had stressed his innocence, claiming the inserts were allegedly placed by his former trainer Javier Capetillo without his knowledge. "I haven't stopped training because I think I'll get my license back this month from the California State Athletic Commission. My lawyers are working on that. I did not commit any (illegal) acts in the dressing (before the Mosley fight) and of course that I'm staying very quiet on the situation," Margarito said in the Boxingscene.com report, quoting ESTO. "I will return in September. Next week my promoters will tell me who my opponent will be. I want to fight a ten rounder and then compete for a world title," the three-time world titlist added. As to who that world title opponent would be, he liked the idea of a rematch with tormentor Mosley or previous victim Cotto, or a “for-my-fellow-Mexicans" bout with “Mexecutioner" Pacquiao. "I have no preference, but I want a rematch with Mosley, with Cotto, or to fight with Manny Pacquiao because Mexico wants a Mexican to beat him and Antonio Margarito is here," Margarito said. Interestingly, the very fighters that Margarito wants to take on next are among the candidates for the Pacman’s next foe. Interested to challenge the pound-for-pound king, aside from Mosley and Cotto, are Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez as well as Edwin Valero and the latest addition, Michael Katsidis, who even went to Manila to air his challenge. Pacquiao has expressed readiness to take on anyone in the roster of challengers but reiterated they all have to go through the process of negotiations with his promoter and training team. The 30-year-old IBO light-welterweight boss has also insisted on getting no less than a 60-40 share and a catch weight for the natural welterweights like Mosley and Cotto. – GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT