Pacquiao foe Margarito wants to move forward

Manny Pacquiao fired the opening salvo. Unfortunately, Antonio Margarito refused to retaliate. The towering Mexican, all of 5-foot-11 of him, didn't took the bait and declined to answer allegations made by the Filipino boxing superstar that he was unaware of wearing illegal hand wraps the night he was caught moments before his welterweight title fight against Sugar Shane Mosley. "Everything that has happened is in the past, and we're now in the present," the 32-year old Margarito said meekly during Tuesday's (Wednesday in manila) press conference in Beverly Hills, California that kicked off the three-state promotional tour for their November 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Pacquiao, the fighting congressman from Saranggani province and the only boxer to win seven titles in seven different weight divisions, earlier said that he doesn't believe Margarito was unaware that his hand wraps were loaded with hardened substance as he repeatedly claimed. "He is the one who wraps his hands and he doesn’t know what is in there? Pacquiao asked reporters. "Of course he knows. What do you think? My belief is he knows that. He is just making an alibi." Margarito didn't insist about his innocence, but rather said, "Now, we're in the present so let's forget about the past."

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Results of that forgettable January 2009 incident had Margarito suffering a ninth round technical knockout, and eventually being suspended for a year and his licensed revoked by the California Athletic State Commission (CASC). The Mexican could only express his gratitude to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and even Pacquiao himself, that he was given another chance to get back inside the ring and be involved again in a fight of this magnitude. "I'd like to thank Bob Arum for making this fight a reality. I want to thank Manny for taking this fight," said Margarito, a two-time world welterweight champion. And given another rare opportunity of being engaged in the big stage again, Margarito vowed to give fight fans a memorable and explosive bout they all been longing for. "Now much to say, I've been asking for this fight for a long time. I'm happy and motivated for this fight," he said. "It's time to show everyone that I’m still very good and no one should miss this fight. It's going to be a great fight." – JVP, GMANews.TV