Antonio Margarito works mitts with trainer Robert Garcia (Photo : TopRank)
Far too often in combat sports, particularly boxing, do athletes never know when to call it a career.
Former welterweight champion Antonio "The Tijuana Tornado" Margarito (38-8, 27 KO's) of Tijuana, Mexico is eyeing a return to prizefighting and is currently getting in shape with the possibility of campaigning as a middleweight or junior middleweight in the very near future.
Margarito last fought in a 2011 TKO loss to current lineal and WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto.
Prior to the Cotto fight, Margarito met Manny Pacquiao at welterweight and injured the orbital bone around his right eye which required surgery shortly afterwards and seriously impeded his vision.
Due to the beating he took at the hands of the Filipino ring icon, Margarito was never the same again. After losing to Cotto, Margarito made the decision to retire from boxing.
This 'retirement' of course didn't last long as he is now back in training four years later to grace the squared circle once again.
It's commonplace in the sport of boxing for fighters to fight well past their primes.
Bernard Hopkins, 50, and Roy Jones Jr., 46, who are still both active fighters are prime examples. Jones recently defeated Eric Watkins last August 16 and is on an eight fight winning streak with his last four coming by knockout. He is currently booked to fight twice more within the next two months.
"Sugar" Shane Mosley, 44, is scheduled to fight the 41-year old Ricardo Mayorga later this month -- both of whom are considered over the hill and washed up.
Margarito, 37, is younger than all the aforementioned fighters, and is the latest in a long list of those looking to rediscover their youth atop the boxing ring.
Margarito is reconnecting with former trainer, Robert Garcia, who is the brains behind former world champions Marcos Maidana, Brandon Rios and Nonito Donaire.
Garcia trained Margarito for his bout with Pacquiao in 2010.
"I already talked to Robert [Garcia]. I will train with him. I know if I want that big fight I should be with Robert," said Margarito, in an interview with ESPN Deportes.
"First I want to train for three more months, and then do one more fight before looking for a big fight," he added.
"I feel good, physical and my eyes is fine. I should not have any problems in returning to 154 pounds, which is my goal."
No opponent has been discussed as of yet.
