Antonio Margarito: 'I Will Become World Champion Again'

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Unable to return to the ring for Saturday night's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard, Mexico's Antonio Margarito is expected to return to the ring for a May 8 clash against Oklahoma City resident Carson Jones (25-7-1, 15 KOs) in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Suspended for at least a year by the California State Athletic Commission, after being dethroned as WBA super world welterweight (147 pounds) king following his ninth-round knockout loss to 38-year-old Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) on Jan. 24, 2009, Margarito was unsuccessful in attempts to regain his license with the CSAC.

Margarito's application still is under review by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, his ring banishment being the result of Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovering that the hard-punching Mexican's fist wrappings included a plaster-like substance.

Richardson told FanHouse that upon his inspection, a square-shaped block had slipped out from beneath the tape on Margarito's gloves.

The blocks, Richardson believed, had been meant over the course of the fight to harden while also molding themselves to the shape of Margarito's fists -- much as a cast does in support of an injured arm, leg or limb.

There is speculation that Margarito (37-6, 27 knockouts), who turns 32 on March 18, may have used the illegal wrappings in victories over Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, two fighters who absorbed severe and bloody punishment against him. Margarito knocked out both fighters, including Cintron, twice.

FanHouse caught up with Margarito for this exclusive Q&A at Friday's Pacquiao-Clottey weigh-in, during which he expressed bitterness toward then-trainer Javier Capetillo, who still is working with fighters -- including junior flyweight (108 pounds) Giovani Segura, who will headline a "Top Rank Live" Fox Sports en Español card from Acapulco, Mexico, on March 27.


Interpreted by Robert Garcia


FanHouse: Do you know whom you'll be facing on May 8 when you return to the ring?

Antonio Margarito: Carson Jones.


FH: If you could get all of your opponents, including Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, in a room alone, what would you tell them about the illegal hand wrappings?

Margarito: I've got nothing to tell them. There's nothing to say. I beat them. If they have something to settle, we can settle it in the ring again.


FH: What is your relationship with your former trainer, Javier Capetillo?

Margarito: I haven't talked to him for a while, and I'm waiting for everything to settle with our attorneys.


FH: Shane Mosley said recently that you are less the villain than Javier Capetillo. Do you agree?

Margarito: He's the one that wrapped the hands. So he's the one who does the job. All that I do is put my hands out there so that he can wrap him, and that's what I did.

FH: So you never knew about the illegal wrappings and the contents thereof?

Margarito: Never. Never did.




FH: How has it been being out of the ring and watching guys like Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather make money while you've been out?

Margarito: Time will come, and the fights will come. It's just a matter of time. I'll be back.


FH: How good is Shane Mosley?

Margarito: He's just a great fighter, and he had a very good night when we fought each other. But I know that I wasn't 100 percent for that fight.


FH: Why weren't you 100 percent?

Margarito: Too much trouble making weight.


FH: Do you feel like Shane Mosley hit you harder than anyone else?

Margarito: No. It was just a day that I wasn't 100 percent. Mosley is not the hardest hitting guy that I've fought. I've fought guys that hit harder. I beat Miguel Cotto, and Cotto beat Mosley. So there's no question that I wasn't 100 percent.


FH: Whom do you want to fight next after Carson Jones?

Margarito: Manny Pacquiao would be No. 1. That's a fight that a lot of Mexicans and everybody wants to see. And then, after that, whoever wants to be next can be next.

I've already beaten Cotto, and Cotto was one of the best. So, Manny Pacquiao is the main one.

FH: Who wins between Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley?

Margarito: I feel that Mosley has the power to beat Floyd, but since Mosley has looked good in some fights and not too good in others, I'm not sure which Mosley is going to show up.




FH: You've fought Joshua Clottey. What chance does he have against Manny Pacquiao?

Margarito: Pacquiao by a decision. But Clottey is very strong, and I mean very physically strong. So if he maintains his speed and throws a lot of punches, Pacquiao could have a lot of problems.


FH: Do you feel like Top Rank's Bob Arum has stuck by you?

Margarito: Yes. And I've already thanked him profusely and personally. I'm just very grateful that the problem is behind me.


FH: What do you want to say to your fans?

Margarito: I want to thank everybody for all of their support, and all of their backing for all of this time. And I will become world champion again, and I'll do it for the fans.