Antonio Margarito is a Liar and a Cheater

Disgraced former WBA, IBF and WBO welterweight champion Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito claimed last week that he is innocent of any wrongdoing in the glove-loading scandal that resulted in the revocation of his California boxing license.

Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) had his boxing license justifiably revoked by the California State Athletic Commission for “at least a year” last February.

The commission issued the penalty after Margarito attempted to scrap current WBA welterweight super champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) with a plaster-like substance inside his hand wraps.

Fortunately, Margarito was caught when officials at the Los Angeles Staples Center proved he was a cowardly charlatan before the match began, and he had the opportunity to seriously injure Mosley with his cement fists.

Once Margarito had his illegal hand wraps removed, the “Tijuana Tornado” was promptly brutalized by Mosley, and was defeated by a ninth-round TKO.

“All these people that say things about me don’t know me, don’t know my history,” said Margarito, 32. “The way I box has always been clean. Nobody has a clear idea what happened that night, and now I’m going to show who I am.”

Margarito is still not licensed to box in the United States because of his repugnant actions a year ago.

But, the “Tijuana Tornado” is eligible to fight south of the border.

Therefore, Margarito will battle Robert Garcia (28-2, 21 KOs) May 8 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

“The biggest thing fighting in Mexico is for my father to see me fight for the first time as a professional,” said Margarito.

Margarito is the quintessential tough and rugged pugilist in the ring.

Nevertheless, his attempted actions against Mosley are a cardinal sin in boxing, and they should never be forgiven.

Margarito has sworn that he had no clue that his terminated trainer, Javier Capetillo, used forbidden substances in his wraps.

Margarito’s assertions are pathetic, and he does not deserve to be exonerated strictly because he is an ignoramus.

“Boxing is considered a crazy and animalistic sport,” said Mike Cappiello, a native of Brockton who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6. “Margarito’s actions further hurt the outlook of boxing.”

Cappiello, the owner of Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym in “The City of Champions,” continued: “You need to keep boxing as safe as possible and make sure nothing serious happens to boxers. Margarito should be suspended for more than a year  to make a statement.”

Margarito is beloved by Mexican fight fans, and he is a popular attraction throughout much of the United States.

Still, Margarito does not deserve a chance at redemption and he should be permanently banned from again being a professional prizefighter.

For boxing and the sport itself, losing Margarito would be a classic case of addition by subtraction.

Sadly though, since boxing and Mexico are both rogue, Margarito has weaseled his way back into the ring.

Robert Garcia can hand out justice by bludgeoning Margarito. It would be a fitting upset victory on the weekend of Cinco de Mayo.

Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym is located on 162 Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts.