Contrary to what you may have heard, the sport of boxing is not dying or dead-nor will it be anytime soon. I know that news may be hard to fathom, as even the most loyal supporters of the sport admit that 2010 has been a rather dull year for the Sweet Science. Yes, there has been a lack of big fights this year that can be attributed to a plethora of things such as the current bickering between promotional companies, and the fact that most big name pugilists choose to fight once, or twice a year (or whenever HBO tells them to).

   But despite all the nonsense, Boxing’s outlook for the remainder of the calendar year is chock-full of big fights, and none is bigger than the bout between the pound-for-pound best fighter- Manny Pacquiao, and former three-time Welterweight Champion Antonio ‘Tijuana Tornado’ Margarito. The two met face-to-face in Beverly Hills earlier in the week to formally announce their November 13th championship match that will take place at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Since the inception of the fight, all parties involved have been met with intense scrutiny- which is due to the fact that Margarito is coming off of a yearlong suspension for trying to use illegal hand wraps in his January 2009 match with Shane Mosley. After being denied a license by the state of California two weeks ago, Margarito was granted a license from the Texas State Athletic Commission last week.

   Despite pleas from many media members calling for a boycott of the fight, the show will go on, as it should. With 70,000 people expected to attend the fight, this is exactly the kind of spectacle that boxing needs. Like many others, I much rather see Pacquiao, and his Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez settle the score once and for all. There is no disputing the fact that Marquez is more deserving than Margarito, but there is also no disputing the fact that Pacquiao-Margarito is a bigger fight at this time- for the simple fact that controversy sells, and at present time Margarito is the most controversial figure in the sport.

   As he took to the podium to address the media, Margarito had the look of relief on his face. With a new lease on life he gave thanks to Pacquiao, and to the Texas State Athletic Commission. As he has in the past, he declined to comment on his suspension but said the following “Everything that’s happened is in the past, now we are in the present, I have faith that I’ll come out with my hand raised.” While Margarito refused to talk about his suspension, his Promoter Bob Arum spoke about it in full detail. “Throughout this long ordeal, certain things became evident” the 78 year-old promoter said. “Antonio Margarito did not know that these hand wraps were illegal, and there was something bad in the wraps, not one shred of proof.” Arum would go on to scold members of the media that were present. “Some writers talk about well he got off because there wasn’t clear and convincing evidence-bullshit!-there wasn’t one shred of evidence.” 

   While Arum made the case for his fighter’s innocence, his other fighter, Pacquiao was not buying it. Although Pacquiao believes that Margarito knew about the illegal inserts in his hand wraps, he says that he is willing to give him a chance. “He made a mistake” Pacquiao said. “We are going to give him a chance.” I have a feeling that a lot more people are going to be giving Margarito a chance come Nov.13. 

De La Hoya on Margarito: “He was extremely easy to hit”

   It is no secret that there is genuine disdain between former sparring partners Antonio Margarito, and Oscar De La Hoya. The two engaged in a memorable war-of-words two years ago, prior to the Golden Boy retiring from the sport. Since then, the two have continued to throw verbal jabs at each other through the media. Recently, Margarito has become infuriated with De La Hoya, Margarito feels that De La Hoya’s influence over the California State Athletic Commission cost him a chance of getting relicensed in the State. Margarito was denied a license from the Commission by a vote of 5-1, two weeks ago. De La Hoya has denied any involvement in the matter, and was asked about it during the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Carlos Baldomir conference call held earlier in the week. “Obviously people know how I feel about the situation” De La Hoya said. “I’ve never spoken to the Commission; the Commission has never spoken to me.” An impassioned De La Hoya would then go on to say “I love this sport, I have passion for this sport, and I don’t want to see anybody try to cheat the sport, that’s all I’ll say.” But the Golden Boy didn’t stop there, when asked about the many challenges that Margarito has made towards him, his voice took a more serious tone “Margarito was my sparring partner for two years, and he was extremely easy to hit, so to make a fight with him, for me would be nothing.”

EL GRAN CHISME

Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez rescheduled

   The highly anticipated Featherweight Championship bout between Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez and Mexico City’s Rafael Marquez will now take place on Nov. 6. Originally scheduled for Sept. 18, the fight had to be rescheduled after Marquez suffered an injury to his right thumb. “Fortunately, my thumb injury did not prevent me from continuing my conditioning, including running daily,” said Marquez. The 12-round bout will be televised on Showtime. 

Limond trying to upset hero Morales on Mexican Independence Day extravaganza

   Scotsman Willie “Hands of Steel” Limond, will try to play matador to Mexican bull — 5-time world champion in three different weight classes, Erik “Terrible” Morales — in their  September 11 showdown. Limond (33-2, 8 KOs) will be fighting for the first time outside of the United Kingdom against living legend Morales (49-6, 34 KOs), rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Council, in an outdoor bull ring, Plaza de Toros, which is being set-up to seat 54,000 for “Mexican Fiesta.” Morales, which is the last to defeat the great Manny Pacquiao, will be shooting for his 50th career win in the 12-round main event. “Fighting Morales anywhere is a hard fight but to fight him on Mexican Independence Day makes it even harder,” Limond noted. “The man is one of my heroes. It will be an honor to share the ring with him and I’m hoping I can spoil the party. Former WBC Light Flyweight Champion Edgar Sosa (39-6, 23 KOs) challenges WBC International Flyweight Champion Ryan Bito (18-6-3, 6 KOs), representing the Philippines, in the 12-round co-feature on the “Mexican Fiesta” PPV card. 

 Juan Carlos Burgos ready to battle for Featherweight World Title

   #1 WBC Featherweight contender Juan Carlos Burgos (25-0, 18 KOs) is ready and willing to fight and he made it clear upon hearing  news that the World Boxing Council has mandated him for a bout for the Featherweight World Title against an opponent that has yet to be named.  The announcement was made on the heels of the news that current featherweight champion Elio Rojas, of the Dominican Republic, suffered a severe injury that will prevent him from fighting for several months. “While I wish a speedy recovery for Elio Rojas, I have to admit that his ailment puts me in a position that I have to capitalize on,” said Burgos from his native Tijuana, Mexico. “I was waiting for my opportunity; I knew that it was a matter of time until my dream became a reality. All my hard work will finally pay off, I plan to make my family, promoters and team proud and continue with a family tradition to bring a championship belt to the dinner table very soon. I think I have championship blood running through my veins and this one will be for my uncle.” Juan Carlos is the nephew of former IBF light flyweight champion Victor Burgos who ferociously battled Vic Darchinyan for 12 hard rounds at the Home Depot Center in 2007. The aforementioned encounter resulted in a near death emergency brain surgery, a miraculous recovery, and ultimately retirement from the sport. “It’s an honor for me to be able to fight for the World Boxing Council featherweight belt and I will do the title justice by giving everyone a convincing victory. I am ready to fight anybody,” concluded Juan Carlos Burgos