::Where Will The "Tijuana Tornado" Hit Next?::
07/30/2008
After being given the mantle of the most feared fighter in the world by Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, Antonio Margarito sits now as if at the head of a buffet table ready to take his pick of the most succulent meal ever cooked. Before his dismantling in eleven rounds of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto -who was considered the top welterweight after Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s sudden retirement- Margarito was a tough man to match up as his promoter and managers have repeatedly stated in the past. The banner of “high risk/low reward” was securely fastened to Margarito’s flag pole. But now with the biggest win of his career under his newly acquired WBA welterweight belt, Margarito has his pick of the litter for his next opponent a bout in late fall or early next year.
Here are my five top picks in order of who I think the “Tijuana Tornado should face next:
1. Paul Williams 34-1, 25KO As the only man who owns a win over Margarito in the last four years, Williams saw his stock raise as soon as the majority decision scores that awarded him the win and the WBO belt that Margarito held for five years were read a year ago. Since then, Williams has suffered his first loss in his eight year pro career as well as his most career defining fight so far. In his first defense of the WBO strap, Williams was systematically defeated by fellow southpaw Carlos Quintana at the Pechanga Resort and Casino earlier this year. Always the gentleman, Williams did not protest the unanimous decision against him and chalked up the loss to an off night. A mere four months later, he proved the naysayers wrong as he stopped Quintana in 2:15 minutes in the first round in their rematch to retake his title.
Why It Makes Sense: Margarito immediately after his loss to Williams felt that it had done enough to retain his title and his date with Cotto which was originally slated for late last year. After careful consideration, he admitted that he could of began to pressure Williams much sooner in their close bout and vowed never to do make that mistake again. Margarito feels that with his win over Cotto and with Mayweather out of the picture, he truly is the best welter weight on the planet and deservedly so. But just like those rumors which plagued the “Tijuana Tornado” before his bout with Williams in which the South Carolina native claimed to have hurt Margarito in years ago sparring, the loss gives the boxing public to ask for the rematch to decide who truly is the best at the 147 lbs. limit. With Williams holding his old familiar WBO jewelry, the first fight drawing over 8K fans to the Home Depot Center and Margarito earning over $1M in their first fight, this fight makes sense on all levels, even as a PPV with a stacked undercard.
2. Oscar De La Hoya (39-5, 30KO) With Oscar’s date with Floyd Mayweather Jr being scratched due to the former P4P king’s retirement, De La Hoya is in desperate need for a formidable opponent for what he claims is his swan song on December 6th. Although everybody and anybody that has ever strapped a pair of gloves has called out the “Golden Boy” knowing that by facing De La Hoya -the most popular fighter in the last twenty years- one is guaranteed the biggest payday of their career. With names such as Manny Pacquiao, Sergio Mora and the winner of Margarito-Cotto thrown in the mix, it is safe to say that any of those mentioned will be more that happy to exchange leather with the “Golden Goose”.
Why It Makes Sense: It doesn’t but it still has to be considered for what it would do for the sport and Margarito’s wallet. With De La Hoya on the marquee, it will guarantee the biggest audience that boxing can reach and that can only benefit both Margarito and the sport of boxing because unlike De La Hoya facing Mayweather or Forbes, Oscar will be going against a fighter who is all action, damning all logic or technique. Although this is the most unlikely of scenarios of the listed five, is the best viable option behind Williams.
3. Zab Judah (36-5, 25KO) or Joshua Clottey (34-2, 20KO) The winner of this weekend’s IBF title clash will more than likely be Margarito’s next opponent. Originally slated to face Judah in April instead of Cintron, negotiations halted at the table. At the end, it worked for the best since it set up the rematch and eventual defeat of the former IBF titlist. The spectacular win over Cintron set up Margarito’s critics defying upset of Cotto. Since earning titles at both the 140lbs and 147lbs limit, Judah has suffered a series of lows in his career manifested with losses to less than elite opponents, fines levied by state boxing commission and legal woes. Margarito is no stranger to Clottey since they faced each other back in late ’06 where Clottey game the “Tijuana Tornado” a run for his money early in the bout eventually succumbing to two pained fists and a unanimous decision for the new WBA champ. Since then Clottey has gone undefeated stopping the late great Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Cruz and going the distance with Felix Flores and Shamone Alvarez in an IBF title eliminator.
Why It Makes Sense: After his career defining victory over the pride of Caguas, Margarito deserves a “low risk/high reward” fight. Although Clottey did give Margarito trouble in the first half of their face off, one can safely determine that ring rust –Margarito had been in the ring for one round in approximately a year and a half- and Margarito’s tendency to start pressuring late, a flaw he has since corrected, were major factors in Clottey’s success in the opening stanzas. The bigger draw here is a match up against the always volatile Judah who with his past transgressions and quick southpaw style might make for an exciting contest that boxing fans will want to invest in.
4. Shane Mosley (44-5, 37KO) As the elder statesman of the elite fighters in the welterweight division “Sugar” has nothing else to prove in his fifteen year career. The three divisional champ owns two wins over Oscar De La Hoya and is not known to have ducked anyone. Coming off two spectacular wins over Fernando Vargas in the light middleweight division and then dropping to the 147lbs. limit and beating southpaw Luis Collazo before losing a close decision to Miguel Cotto, Mosley is back in the welterweight ranks were he reined not so long ago. After a bout with Zab Judah was scratched after the cumbersome southpaw fell in his shower and suffered lacerations on his arm cancelling their contest, Mosley is scheduled to face Ricardo Mayorga in late September.
Why It Makes Sense: Although Margarito has faced tough opposition in his fifteen year career, not until Cotto had he faced a fighter with the same super power name as Mosley. With a fight against Golden Boy Promotions partner Mosley and coupled with his own deep pockets promoter in Top Rank, Margarito can assure himself a top notch promotion where he would more than likely be the “A” side of the equation.
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr (39-0, 25KO) Even after his sudden retirement earlier this summer, Mayweather’s name is still on everybody’s lips when discussing potential match ups for the “Tijuana Tornado.” With a granite chin and relentless pressure, Margarito proved he could handle a fighter with quick feet, quick hands and lateral movement. At the time that Mayweather Jr refused $8M to get in the ring with Margarito, “Money” Mayweather had some what of a valid excuse when he would question the legitimacy of Tony’s past opponents up to that point. But with Margarito beating Clottey, Cintron and Cotto since then, Mayweather’s claims now seem almost childish.
Why It Makes Sense: Because of what has been Mayweather’s motto through out his career “if it makes dollars, it makes sense.” With Mayweather’s role firmly planted as a villain, the history of the Mayweather family versus Mexican fighters and Margarito’s humble out of the ring/terminator inside of it personality beginning to shine thru thanks in part to HBO’s countdown show, the match up is a promoter’s dream. Now if only “Money” Mayweather came to his senses or even lost them.