Antonio Margarito | |
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Margarito in 2008
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Statistics | |
Real name | Antonio Margarito Montiel |
Nickname(s) |
El Tornado de Tijuana ("The Tijuana Tornado") |
Rated at | |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Reach | 73 in (185 cm) |
Nationality | Mexican |
Born |
Torrance, California, U.S. |
March 18, 1978
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 49 |
Wins | 40 |
Wins by KO | 27 |
Losses | 8 |
No contests | 1 |
Antonio "Tony" Margarito Montiel (born March 18, 1978) is a Mexican professional boxer. He is a three-time former welterweight world champion, having held the WBO title from 2002 to 2007; the IBF title in 2008; and the WBA (Super) title from 2008 to 2009. He has also challenged three times for a light middleweight world title, in 2004, 2010, and 2011. Nicknamed El Tornado de Tijuana ("The Tijuana Tornado"), Margarito is known for his highly aggressive pressure fighting style and iron chin.
In 2009, just before his fight with Shane Mosley, Margarito was involved in an incident where he was caught with illegal hand wraps containing sulfur and calcium which, when combined with oxygen, forms plaster of Paris. His signature stoppage victory over Miguel Cotto in 2008 was subsequently called into question. Following consecutive losses to Manny Pacquiao (a fight in which Margarito sustained severe eye damage) and a rematch against Cotto, Margarito retired from boxing in 2012 but returned in 2016.
He resides in Tijuana, Baja California with his spouse Lorena Margarito, whom he married after his first marriage came to an end.
Margarito has two kids with Lorena, Antonella Margarito and Jr.
He also has Monika, daughter of Lorena, whom Margarito also considers as his own.
Margarito compiled a record of 18-3 in his relatively brief amateur career, indicating that he may have turned pro quickly due to financial concerns (which he himself confirmed on his personal television segment on HBO: Ring Life: Antonio Margarito).
Margarito made his debut at the age of 15, beating Jose Trujillo in Tijuana by decision. On April 25 he achieved his first knockout, defeating Victor Angulo in the second round. On October 17 he suffered his first defeat, a six-round decision to Victor Lozoya. Over the next six bouts, he went 4–2. Following that, his financial situation dramatically improved (which is what he was trying to achieve early on in his career) and from there he went 28–2–1, with notable wins over Alfred Ankamah, Juan Soberanes, future World Middleweight Champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez, Buck Smith, David Kamau and Frankie Randall, a former World Light Welterweight Champion who became the first man to beat Julio César Chávez in 91 fights.