www.boxinginsider.com


Antonio Margarito Answers Your Questions!
By Scoop Malinowski

...And you don't want to miss it!

WBO Welterweight king Antonio Margarito took time to answer Boxinginsider.com readers' questions.

Read on to learn Antonio's new nickname for Floyd, who got bloodied in the De La Hoya-Margarito sparring sessions, and much much more!

Boxinginsider.com would like to say Special thanks to manager Sergio Diaz and WBO Champ Antonio Margarito for their participation.

Q Thanks for your time Antonio,
What do you feel is your greatest asset to winning a fight with Mayweather? Is it just your physical size and strength, or your punching power or what?
I personally think that your solid chin and never-quit offense will be what wears him down and stops him late. He doesn't have anywhere near the power to hurt you, and he'd probably break his pretty little hands trying.
Bye the way, he is definitely ducking you. Like Scoop wrote, He's now the 8 million dollar chicken.
Thanks again champ,
Kevin from PA


Antonio Margarito Says:
Kevin, thank you for writing. Kevin, I have to say that all of the above are my biggest assets. Gayweather, excuse me, Mayweather started his career as a Junior Lightweight and is now fighting as a Welterweight. I've been a Welterweight from the beginning of my career. Mayweather has been campaigning at the higher weights for the money, and if you notice whose he fought, he's fighting B class hand picked opponents. There is no question about it, he should be beating those guys. Mayweather is ducking me because he knows I'm the bigger and stronger of the two. I've been told that he won't fight me because of the trouble he had with Castillo. That is not true, I really believe he would fight me if he felt I was another Castillo. He won't fight me because he knows I don't fight like Castillo. I will knock that "Pretty Girl" out!


Q Antonio,
It is disapointing to see Mayweather run from you. I knew for a fact that
this was gonna happen, He is not a true champion. A true champion takes on all comers. If d.l.h looses to mayorga on the 6th. More than likely you will see the same thing that you saw with judah and baldomir. he will still get his shot at mayweather. DISAPOINTING to all true boxing fans. boxing fans want to see the fights that will bring higher rating to the boxing industry. not fights that boxers pick and choose. But sad to say that will never happen..All for the mighty green dollar --Martin Lopez


Antonio Margarito Says:
You are correct. I'm in a situation that is definitely hurting my career and keeping the fans from watching great fights. I remember when I would ask my promoter why it was they weren't involving me in big fights. His answer was "the risk was higher than the reward". This was a frustrating answer. But, I'm happy to say that is not the problem anymore, but I am sad to say the problem are the promoters. Golden Boy Promotions keeps signing the top fighters in my weight divisions and Top Rank does not want to work Golden Boy and vice versa.



Q I wanted to break the mold of the monotonous Floyd questions and ask, What do you think of the other big names now at 147llbs class?
(Gatti,Hatton) and, How do you think you would match up with these guys? Nathan Charles

Antonio Margarito Says:
Mayweather-I'll knock him out Arturo Gatti-I'll Retire him
Ricky Hatton -I'll knock him out Oscar De La Hoya- I'll Retire him
Shane Mosley-I'll knock him out


Q why would Floyd be scared to fight you when he is not scared to fight winky wright or oscar de la hoya? Rashaun Allen


Antonio Margarito Says:
First of all, who is afraid of De La Hoya? At this time of Oscar's career, he only represents dollars. Beating Oscar does nothing for your career anymore. He's past his prime, takes very long layoffs, I really don't believe his heart is all there. Oscar stopped being a fighter when he became a promoter. I don't want to take anything away from Oscar, he's a very smart business man who has done a lot and continues do good things for boxing, but when Oscar looses his next fight, everyone will say that he should have hung his gloves earlier. As for Winky Wright? I've always said I'll fight Mike Tyson, does it mean I'll be fighting him? Floyd does not want any part of me. Not only did he decide to buy out his contract to set a potential fight with Oscar, he paid to not fight me. He did not want to continue hearing my name from Bob Arum.

Q Is it true you actually sparred with Oscar De La Hoya? What do you remember about those sparring sessions? How did you do? What fighter would give you the most trouble? --K Dogg


Antonio Margarito Says:
I did spar with Oscar, but I used him as my sparring partner. Oscar and his trainer wanted me to be their dummy. They would tell me to let him hit me, not to throw any punches. Then I would be told to throw at him, but not hard while he was throwing hard. I'm a person with a short temper, all this was only making me furious, so naturally, I would let go of my punches with power. On two different occasions I made him bleed. Once from the nose and the other time from the ear. Unfortunately, both times they sent me back down.

I have to say Daniel Santos will always give me the most difficulty. He's style is not an easy one to adjust to.


Q Have you never met Floyd in person? Did you sense he was intimidated by your size?

Antonio Margarito Says:
I've never met Floyd.

Q Do you think Floyd Mayweather is a great fighter at welterweight?

Antonio Margarito Says:
I will not consider Floyd a great fighter at welterweight until he faces me, but he still would have to beat me.

Q What is your prediction on Oscar de la hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga? Also, by the way Oscar disses you, do you think he's scared of you to, like Floyd?

Antonio Margarito Says:
Oscar by knock out. He's not scared just smart. He does not want to end his career with a loss.


Q Who are your favorite boxers to watch and study?

Antonio Margarito Says:
Julio Cesar Chavez.


Q Who is the hardest puncher you ever fought? Who was the toughest opponent in terms of heart and durability?

Antonio Margarito Says:
I have to say Daniel Santos. This guy carries a strong punch.

Q Does it make sense to you that Floyd is waiting to fight Oscar de la hoya where he can earn about double what he will make to fight you? Or do you think he's using the option to fight Oscar as a way to avoid you?


Antonio Margarito Says:
In a business sense, it does. Only if it is true about making $20 mill. If he's not making $20 mill for the fight, then we can all continue to agree that he's using the option to fight Oscar as a way to avoid fighting me.