Written By William Trillo & Nat Gottlieb
Foto Folly: Bret "The Threat" Newton
 

 

"In case you might have heard at another site about a Top Rank promoted doubleheader December 2nd, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING card at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,  ya da ya, well Boxing2006/Pound4Pound once again trumps the so-called expert competition on the Margarito situation.

 

Here's the REAL scoop we got in an exclusive interview with Antonio Margarito's co-manager, Sergio Diaz.

 

First of all, if there are any of you "boxing talkers" out there who think maybe Floyd is finally ready to jump into the water with Antonio, "Fuhgetaboutit!" Margarito is moving on, and we have the list of people he is targeting for this date, and it comes straight out of his manager’s mouth:
"Right now our next fight will be December 2nd and we have got it between Joshua Clottey and maybe Vivian Harris.

 

FINALLY we are hearing it from someone with his hands directly involved in the negotiations. So all you Margarito diehards who have been clamoring for your guy to get back into the ring, it looks like dinner is about to be served.

 

But wait,  FIRST THE APPETIZERS, WHICH COULD WELL TURN INTO ENTREES:

 

MARGARITO-BALDOMIR. Sound nice? What, you say, Fluoride Floyd has already put his stamp of approval on the Argentinean late bloomer -- the same stamp he wouldn't sign on for $8 million to fight Margarito. Hate to disappoint you worshippers of Floyd, but Diaz told us that they also have good reason to believe there's a serious chance that they may yet get it on with Carlos. 

 

“We’ve been hearing that Baldomir, in his talks with Mayweather, is asking for 3 million, with Mayweather getting maybe $5-6 million. I hear the talks aren't going so well, so if that fight falls out, there is a chance we would fight Baldomir ( on that December date)," Diaz told Boxing2006.

 

Negotiations breaking down over money with Floyd? What a shock!

 

But what you haven't read elsewhere is that this isn't the first time Margarito has tried to make a fight with Baldy. In fact, twice before in 2004, when Baldomir was quietly launching a relentless charge to the top of the welterweight division, the Margarito camp made moves to set up fights. Diaz told us, “ A couple of years ago we tried twice to make a fight with Baldomir.
The first time Baldomir had a cut and couldn’t fight, the second time it didn’t happen because of the money, that was right before the Hercules Kyvelos and Sebastian Andres Lujan fights.”

 

Diaz confirmed what we wrote about Baldomir in an article recently, that is he is at the stage of his career where he is looking for a fight that has a built in retirement plan. That means $$$, and now he feels he is in a place to earn it, “I saw Baldomir not too long ago. He wants to get the pay right now that he hasn’t been making all those years. He’s 35 and his main interest in security for his family.” 

 

And there's more!

 

Remember when Margarito put to rest all the hype about Kermit Cintron with a TKO victory? Diaz thought that was Margarito's ticket to a big payday. But 10 months would go by and no fight materialized. Rumors circulated that Margarito had only one more fight on his contract with Top Rank and might bolt. Diaz acknowledges that he and Antonio were frustrated:

 

 "When we beat Cintron like that, we were surprised; he was supposed to be so tough. We felt sure that would get us a good fight, but then 10 months went by and nothing happened!" 

 

But leaving Top Rank was never even given a thought.

 

"No no, not at all," Diaz said. "We are committed to being with Top Rank. I don't even know how many fights are in the contract, we never concern ourselves with Bob Arum about that. We've been with Top Rank the past seven years."

 

In other words, Margarito is not feeling the "Seven Year Itch", and neither is his team, go ahead and file that rumor under useless information.

 

Diaz had nothing but praise for Arum.

 

"Bob has been trying hard to get us a big fight, we know that.  We do see he is trying. If we offer $8 million to Mayweather, and still can't get him to fight us, well , Antonio said it is time to move on and fight somebody else and forget about Mayweather. That's why Bob pulled the deal off the table."

 

How ironic would it be if Margarito doesn't get Floyd any time soon, but gain's a measure of satisfaction by landing the fighter Mayweather has been courting, Carlos Baldomir.

 

You heard it hear first, and not just an appetizer, BUT THE WHOLE MEAL.

 

Questions or Comments? Please Contact Will "The Thrill" Trillo