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Antonio Margarito would have loved to fight Mexican boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Unfortunately, he will have to settle for Canelo’s brother – at least for now.
Zanfer Promotions promoter Fernando Beltran announced on Friday that the Tijuana Tornado will be making the second fight of his comeback on August 13th against fellow Mexican Ramon Alvarez. The bout will be held at the Rosarito Convention Center in Rosarito, Mexico:
La pelea que pedían Antonio Margarito vs Ramón Álvarez 13 de agosto Centro de Convenciones Rosarito, BC @BoxAzteca7 pic.twitter.com/Jq1kv2Mz2R
— Fernando Beltran (@fbeltranzanfer) July 1, 2016
Canelo’s Brother
The 29-year old Alvarez may not sound all too familiar to boxing fans. But he is the older brother of current lineal middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The elder Alvarez has a professional record of 23-4-2 with 15 knockouts. But he’s been on a mean streak as of late, going undefeated in his last 10 bouts with 9 wins and one no-contest. The no-contest was a result of an accidental headbutt. Alvarez is the current IBF North America Light Middleweight champion and is a former WBO NABO Super Welterweight title holder. Although he isn’t considered an equal of his more popular little brother, “Inocente” is neither a walk in the park for Margarito
Comeback Continues
For Antonio Margarito, the comeback continues and the long journey back to the top of the sport resumes. The 38 year old Tijuana Tornado held a world title from 2002-2007 had not fought since 2011 when he made a comeback last March. Rusty and obviously much slower than before, Margarito battled Jorge Paez Jr. to a 10 round slugfest in front on 10,000 fans in Mexico City last March 5. Although Paez knocked Margarito down in the 6th round of that bout, Margarito survived the slugfest and won the bout by unanimous decision. Following the win, Margarito has chosen a quick turnaround fight perhaps sensing that his window of opportunity is slowly closing at his advanced age.
Handwraps Controversy
Margarito retired in 2011 when his surgically repaired right eye was battered during a 10 round loss to then champion Miguel Cotto during their highly anticipated rematch. Margarito beat Cotto in 2008 to win the welterweight titles but that signature win was tainted following Margarito’s 16 month suspension during his next bout against Shane Mosley. Cotto stopped Margarito in their second meeting and re-injured the right eye whose orbital bone was dislocated during Margarito’s loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2010.
Margarito and Alvarez will fight in a 10-round Junior Middleweight contest that will be televised on beIN Sports Espanol which airs Zanfer Promotions’ local fights in the United States.
