Antonio Margarito and Top Rank just don’t get it

You would think this scene between Antonio Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo would never be seen again; to this point, however, Margarito has not fired the trainer who supposedly put plaster in his gloves without his knowledge.

Two weeks ago this Saturday, with more than a few last-minute rearrangements, Top Rank’s Latin Fury 10 Pay-Per-View event commenced. The scheduled main event featuring Julio Ceasar Chavez, Jr. against Jason LeHoullier had to be scrapped due to a rib injury to Chavez (although there were reports rib and everything else was way over the 154-pound limit). In its place, Miguel Acosta’s upset of Urbano Antillon at lightweight took the top spot, a rather unexpected and exciting scrap that ended up with Antillion losing via TKO in the ninth round.

However, it was the fight prior to the main event that had everyone talking.

Up and coming 108-pounder Giovani Segura pounded out a solid defense of his jr. flyweight title against Juanito Rubillar, which was expected. Perhaps unexpected was not only the appearance of disgraced trainer Javier Capetillo in Segura’s corner, but also of the fighter supposedly so greatly wronged by Capetillo, one Antonio Margarito.

And it wasn’t as if Margarito accidentally tripped over a tanning Capetillo by the hotel pool in Puerto Vallarta, either. Not only was Margarito in Segura’s dressing room and in his corner, he actually appeared to be with Capetillo, talking with fighter and trainer both, acting as if he was part of the entourage.

How could Margarito show up with Capetillo on an internationally televised Top Rank telecast, you ask? Wasn’t Margarito claiming up, down and sideways that he had no knowledge of the plaster put in his gloves by Capetillo during his fight with Sugar Shane Mosley earlier this year? Now that Margarito is banned from boxing in the United States for a year and likely more, shouldn’t he want to punch his trainer out for ruining his career and reputation?

Guess not.

The whole production stunk so badly, it was a wonder the fight didn’t take place in a port-a-john. There was so much brain fade going on, you almost have to break down the stupidity piece-by-piece:

1. Antonio Margarito

Let’s just ignore the obvious questions above, and assume for a minute that Margarito is actually still friends with Capetillo, and is not mad with him because they were both in on the plaster wraps against Mosley. If Margarito wanted everyone to believe his lie about being innocent, why in the hell would he be anywhere near Capetillo, especially on TV? It makes his story look like a complete sham! Just for appearances, if nothing else, he should be miles away from Capetillo so he could get his boxing license back. Sure, Capetillo would take the fall, but at least Margarito would have a boxing future. Does he think the California Athletic Commission doesn’t watch Pay-per-view boxing or something? How is Margarito going to explain his chumminess with his trainer, who he hasn’t yet even fired? If Margarito were smart, he’d be off TV and off anyone’s radar until his hearing next year.

2. Javier Capetillo

Apparently, Capetillo couldn’t care less whether his fighters box in the States or not, especially since he won’t be there. Instead of taking his medicine and hoping not to end up like Panama Lewis (unable to work another fighter’s corner ever again), Capetillo continues to work fights as if nothing has happened. Since he can work in Mexico (which is a whole other ridiculous subject), his doing so is essentially thumbing his nose at California’s ruling, making it almost a certainty that he will never be reinstated north of the border. If he wants to decide to do that himself, that’s fine, but it’s asinine to think this won’t affect his fighters and their paydays, which are likely bigger in the U.S. If he really cared for Margarito, he’d tell his fighter to stay the heck away from him. He’s either not smart enough to figure that out, or he really doesn’t care what happens to his fighter’s career.

3. Top Rank

The worst part of this whole debacle is that Top Rank actually gave the go ahead for Margarito and Capetillo to be on the telecast together! Seriously, did they think no one would notice, or did they just not care? It was awful enough listening to Bernard Osuna (who’s becoming this generation’s Col. Bob Sheridan) and Raul Marquez (who I expect better from) heap platitudes and compliments on Capetillo as he worked the corner, making almost no mention of how disgraced the man is in boxing circles. The fact Margarito was there didn’t seem at all strange to anyone, either. Maybe since Bob Arum and Top Rank was paying their salaries, that was to be expected; Arum, however, should know better. If Capetillo and Margarito aren’t bright enough to stay away from each other, Arum, who is a smart businessman, should have told them to make like John and Kate (without the 8). You would think Arum would do everything possible to make sure Margarito gets reinstated, therefore making more money for Top Rank. Instead, they televise the ill-advised reunion for the entire world to see.

If nothing else, it will be interesting to see all three parties standing before the California Athletic Commission next year. Watching Margarito explain how he’s still close the man who essentially ruined his boxing career, a fact he cannot deny thanks to his promoter putting it on TV, should be captivating. It sure looks like not only that Antonio Margarito won’t save himself from himself, neither his trainer nor his promoter will, either.