In the professional world, superlatives seem to help careers. A college professor known as Most Educated probably publishes wherever he likes. A doctor regarded as Most Likely to Cure probably keeps a full appointment book. What senator wouldn’t want to be called Most Likable, if not Most Treacherous?
So then, in the profession of prizefighting, which begins with pain and its consequences, Most Feared should be the best title to have. But as Antonio Margarito has learned in the last year, Most Feared is one superlative that can hinder a prizefighter’s career.
And yet, to see Antonio sitting quietly beside his affable manager Sergio Diaz, as he did last Thursday in a Phoenix Days Inn conference room – part of Ayala Promotions’ “Duel in the Desert” show – it’s as hard to believe Mr. Margarito is boxing’s Most Feared as it is to understand Antonio’s reluctance with the title. Though his shoulders are abnormally large for a welterweight and his goatee brings severity to his features, Antonio’s voice and words are gentle, not fearsome. But hey, since most people don’t know this, why not be boxing’s Most Feared?
“The truth is,” he explains, “it makes it difficult to find fights. The good ones don’t want to fight me.”
And that’s how it has gone for Antonio Margarito since April 23, 2005. That night, as the reigning WBO welterweight champ, Antonio fought a Puerto Rican terror named Kermit “The Killer” Cintron. As ESPN’s broadcast crew often reminded viewers that night, Cintron was 24-0 with 22 knockouts. Cintron’s opponent, meanwhile, was one more rugged Mexican who had decent power and a good chin. But then Antonio Margarito went out and ran over Cintron, stopped him in the fifth round, and made him look, well, fragile.
Quickly, Antonio went from obscure champ to avoided champ. “That’s right,” agrees Sergio Diaz; “a few months after the fight, Tony said to me, ‘Maybe I did too well against Cintron.’”
These days Antonio’s image visits other champs’ nightmares as boxing’s Bogeyman, the guy promoters threaten their charges with: Quit complaining about purses or I’ll match you with Margarito! Just ask Floyd Mayweather Jr. – his promoter even brought an $8,000,000.00 Margarito contract to Floyd’s last fight. Boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter then opted to pay his promoter $750,000.00 to suspend their relationship.
Too much should not be read into that, though. Floyd Mayweather Jr. openly covets a September superfight with Oscar de la Hoya. Floyd may be ducking Antonio; but Floyd’s refusal to fight Antonio in August was not evidence of it. Both Antonio Margarito and Sergio Diaz would gladly “duck” Floyd, too – if it meant a September fight against the Golden Boy. But what happens if Floyd does eventually choose Antonio?
“He [Mayweather] would be good for six rounds,” says Margarito. “But then I would find him. He’s never been hit by a true welterweight. He couldn’t support it.”
And Floyd’s vaunted speed?
“He hasn’t brought it with him. Nor his power. He’s no longer at his proper weight.”
If the fight did happen, oddsmakers would partially disagree with Antonio, invariably making Floyd a marginal favorite. And deservedly so; probability says Mayweather’s class and quickness would carry him to a decision victory. But to win a decision, Floyd would have to face Antonio for thirty-six minutes. And anyone who does that gets hurt – win or lose. Floyd knows this, and so does Oscar.
Which is why Oscar de la Hoya’s recent postfight mention of Antonio Margarito as a possible opponent was Oscar’s best feint of the night, and much better than any feints he’d just shown Ricardo Mayorga. In truth, Oscar would probably take a rematch with Bernard Hopkins before he’d invite Antonio Margarito to his retirement party in September.
Anyway, Antonio needs an actual opponent in the meantime. He’s scheduled to fight in July or August, and Sharmba Mitchell and Felix Flores top the list of likely adversaries. But since a Margarito victory over either Mitchell or Flores would mean little to fight fans, Antonio and his manager have to address other possible opponents. Like, say, the winner of Carlos Baldomir and Arturo Gatti:
“It’s possible. It would be a good fight,” says Antonio. “I believe that Baldomir will beat Gatti. I’d like to unify the titles. I am very familiar with Baldomir’s style. He comes forward, throws punches. He and I have boxed together for years.”
But if Arturo Gatti wins?
“Gatti doesn’t want anything to do with Tony,” answers Sergio Diaz.
Well then, what about a brawl with Ricky Hatton?
Antonio replies, “For him [Hatton] it would be very difficult at this weight [147 Lbs]. But I would like to fight him.”
With the questions raised by Ricky Hatton’s recent debut at welterweight, perhaps 147 is not the place to make a Margarito-Hatton fight. “We could make it a catch weight. Put it at 145!” says Sergio Diaz.
But would Antonio have trouble dropping to 145?
“Never. He lives a very clean lifestyle. He doesn’t drink or smoke. He stays beneath a certain weight at all times. He could make 145 no problem. He’s usually at 148 on Monday [of a fight week], eating whatever he wants.”
And that may be the most important part of Antonio Margarito’s reign as boxing’s Most Feared. He has the sort of between-fights discipline that breeds longevity. He also understands the importance of making fights at the right weight, wishing to unify titles at 147 before he goes to 154 for anyone but Oscar de la Hoya. In other words, waiting for Antonio Margarito to leave the welterweight division or get old is unlikely to work for his superstar peers.
But finally, whatever comes of his fight with one superstar peer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., there could someday be an even bigger fight in Antonio’s future. In fact, I’d like to cast my ballot now: Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto for 2008 Fight of the Year.