Boxing News : David A. Avila : Junior Middleweights are Heavy on Margarito's Mind

Junior Middleweights are Heavy on Margarito's Mind
By David A. Avila (January 31, 2004)

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"Throwin Down" Antonio Margarito In Full Training
WBO welterweight champ Antonio Margarito has to get by undefeated Hercules Kyvelos this Saturday if he wants to get a crack at the stars of the 154-pound division. See what Margarito's got in this must see video.
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With bigger prey on his mind, Antonio Margarito is in Phoenix, Arizona tonight to defend his welterweight title against the "mighty" Hercules Kyvelos at the Dodge Theatre in an HBO Boxing After Dark-televised main event.

Margarito, the narrow shouldered WBO title-holder, will be featured on HBO for perhaps the last time at 147 pounds. He recently announced plans to move to 154 pounds.

"I feel great," said Margarito who trains out of Tijuana but recently sought more preparation in Los Angeles. "I'm ready for any opportunity."

Tall at nearly 6 feet in height, Margarito has scoped out the welterweight division and found it lacking in dollar appeal. The big money sits coolly among the junior middleweights where Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Winky Wright and Sugar Shane Mosley reside.

Margarito has defended his welterweight title successfully twice and now with the popular Ricardo Mayorga dethroned of the major belts, it makes sense to move into the more lucrative weight bracket.

"I wanted that fight," Margarito (29-3, 20 KOs) said of a potential match with Mayorga. Margarito was present at the Pechanga Resort and Casino a year ago when the Nicaraguan knocked out Vernon Forrest to unify the WBC and WBA welterweight titles.

Before moving into the junior middleweight division he must labor through the fists of Kyvelos (22-0, 11 KOs) who stands before him like a Greek Titan. The Canadian welterweight champion has a couple of impressive notches on his record with wins over Ener Julio the former WBO junior welterweight title-holder and Fitz Vanderpool.

For a decade Margarito has been boxing professionally, though he is only 25.

In Los Angeles, sparring partners traded punches with Margarito and had some interesting things to say afterward about the Mexican boxer such as his size, punch output and zeal.

Carlos "El Elegante" Bojorquez, a true junior middleweight, sparred several days with Margarito and was impressed with his stamina.

"He's in really good condition," said Bojorquez, who is a top contender in the 154-pound glamour division. "He throws a lot of punches all of the time."

Bojorquez admires Margarito's penchant for throwing punches from different angles, especially when he pins an opponent against the ropes.

"You can't let him pin you against the ropes," said Bojorquez who sparred with Margarito at the LA Boxing Club. "That's when he hits you with uppercuts."

Brian Brooks is another fighter who knows about those uppercuts.

"The uppercut is his best punch," said Brooks who has also sparred with Mosley in the past. "Margarito throws a lot of punches from all angles. He never stops."

Brooks said the Mexican fighter has openly talked of meeting Mosley for the 154-pound world title. Mosley will be meeting Wright to unify all three major titles on March 13. Margarito wants the winner.

WASHINGTON FIGHT CARD

The Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, Washington will be hosting another fight card on Feb. 7. Bennie Georgino, an inductee in the World Boxing Hall of Fame, is the promoter for the event that will feature Dewey Welliver (14-7-1) and Reggie Davis (9-2) in a heavyweight match. Also on the card will be hard-hitting, go-for-broke fighter Troy Weaver against Jose Hilton Santos (11-4) in a super middleweight bout. Weaver is one of the triplet sons of former heavyweight champion Mike Weaver who is expected to be in attendance.

For ticket information call (800) 720-1788.

BIG SAN BERNADINO FIGHT CARD

Former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo heads a fight card at the Orange Pavilion at the National Orange Show on Feb. 13 that will also feature several prominent local fighters.

Castillo (48-6-1, 44 KOs), who twice fought lightweight world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in losing causes, is looking for another title opportunity. But he first must pass through Derrick Parks (14-1-2, 9 KOs).

Bobby Boy Velardez (24-5-1), who fought for the WBC featherweight world title, and his brother Armando Velardez Jr. (10-3) are also on the roster that will also include Ontario's Steve Luevano (21-0) and Oxnard's Jose Aguiniga (21-0).

The fight card will be televised by Telefutura, the Spanish language network, and is promoted by Top Rank. The first fight begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $25 and can be purchased at the Orange Pavilion box office and at the Base Line Clinic located at 1288 N. D Street in San Bernardino.

ONTARIO FIGHT CARD

Brother and sister team Dominic and Marilyn Salcido will be featured in the Thompson Promotions fight card held at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California on Feb. 16.

Marilyn Salcido is a top rated bantamweight who will be facing Carla Wilcox another ranked fighter in the semi-main event. The main event will feature Jaime De La Torre (11-2-2) against granite chin Errol Banner (8-8-1) in a super middleweight bout.

The electrifying junior lightweight Dominic Salcido (2-0) will also be on the card. With his combination of speed and power Salcido has wowed the fans. Some liken him to another Shane Mosley with his up tempo attack mode and defensive prowess.

PECHANGA BACK IN ACTION, TOO

Hard-hitting Nate Campbell (24-4-1, 21 KOs) who gave former world champion Joel Casamayor a frightful beating despite losing the decision will face Australia's tough Robbie Peden (22-2, 12 KOs) at the Pechanga Resort and Casino on Mar. 14.

Also on the card will be former middleweight world title-holder Keith Holmes who took part in the historic middleweight tournament a few years back that resulted in Bernard Hopkins victory over Felix Trinidad. Holmes (37-3, 24 KOs) will face Kuvanych Toygonbayev (22-1, 14 KOs) who once fought in a fight card in San Jacinto, California.

Others on the Goossen-Tutor Promotions card will be highly touted featherweight prospect Robert "the Ghost" Guerrero (11-0) and heavyweight Malcolm Tann (8-1). The fight will be shown on delay on Fox Sports Net.

FIGHTS ON TV

Sat. HBO, 7 p.m., Antonio Margarito (29-3) vs. Hercules Kyvelos (22-0); Rafael Marquez (30-3) vs. Pete Frissina (27-3-1).