What is Antonio Margarito net worth?
Antonio Margarito is a retired Mexican-American professional boxer who has a net worth of $15 million. Antonio Margarito competed in several boxing organizations between 1994 and 2017, including the WBO, IBF, and WBA. He has held a number of world welterweight championships during his career and has also challenged several times for the world welterweight title. In 2009, Margarito was caught using an illegal hand roll containing calcium sulfate, which called into question his famous stopping victory over Miguel Cotto the previous year.
previous life
Antonio Margarito was born as Antonio Margarito Montell on March 18, 1978 in Torrance, California. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Tijuana, Mexico, where he spent most of his time boxing with his brother. Margarito went on to have a fairly short career as an amateur boxer, during which he collected a record 18-3.
Beginning of his career
Due to financial struggles, Margaretto turned professional earlier than he would have done otherwise. At the age of 15, he made his debut in a match against Jose Trujillo, winning by decision. Later, in a match against Victor Angulo, he scored the first knockout. Margaretto’s first defeat came five months later against Victor Lozoya. After setting a 4-2 record over his next six matches, his financial situation improved and he went to 28-2-1. Margarito scored victories against competitors such as Sergio Martinez, David Camau, Alfred Encame and Frankie Randall during this time.
WBO Welterweight title
Margarito earned his first WBO welterweight title in the summer of 2001 when he faced off against Daniel Santos. But the fight was halted in the first round after the two fighters were deeply wounded from a head-to-head clash. As a result, Santos retained the welterweight title. He later cleared her so that he could advance in the weight class. And so Margarito got another chance at the welterweight title, this time against Antonio Diaz. Ultimately, he defeated Diaz by knockout to become the new WBO welterweight champion. Margarito then defended the title by defeating Dani Perez Ramirez, Andrew Lewis and Hercules Kephilos. He continued to defend his title through 2007, when he finally lost it to undefeated Paul Williams.
WBO . Lightweight Middleweight Challenge
In late 2003, Margarito made his debut in the light middleweight category by knockout victory over Maurice Brantley. The following year, he faced former rival Santos for the WBO lightweight middleweight title, eventually losing by technical decision.
IBF and WBA Welterweight titles
Margarito faced former rival Kermit Cintron for the FIFA welterweight title in 2008, winning by knockout in the sixth round. Subsequently, the FIFA ordered him to fight a mandatory defense against Joshua Clottey, the organization’s number one contender. However, Margarito gave up his FIFA title so he didn’t have to fight Clottey. Instead, he agreed to a match with welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. The bout was very memorable, as Margarito made his way back from an early deficit to claim victory via technical knockout in Round 11. He went on to lose the WBA welterweight title to Shane Mosley in early 2009.
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WBC Light Middleweight Challenge
After some time away from the ring, Margarito had his May 2010 fight against Roberto Garcia for the vacant WBC International Light Middleweight title. In the end, Margaretto won by unanimous decision. He then faced Manny Pacquiao at the WBC Light Middleweight Championship, which he lost by unanimous decision after suffering a heavy defeat from Pacquiao. Immediately after the fight, Margaretto was taken to the hospital.
More injuries, retirement and back
Margarito faced former rival Miguel Cotto in a rematch in late 2011. Cotto ended up defeating Margarito via TKO via a doctor’s stop, as Margarito’s right eye swelled. After the fight, Margaretto announced his retirement from boxing.
In 2016, Margaretto came out of retirement briefly to win two matches in Mexico. The following year, he beat Carson Jones.
Illegal hand wrap scandal
Before Margarito’s fight against Mosley in 2009, the last fighter’s coach noticed a white substance in Margarito’s hand laps. He eventually discovered that the substance was calcium sulfate, which forms plaster of Paris when combined with moisture. This is illegal in professional boxing. Although Margarito claimed his ignorance of the handcaps, their and his coach’s licenses were suspended, effectively preventing them from competing in the United States.
personal life
Margaretto married his first wife, high school sweetheart Michelle, in 1999. After their divorce, he married Lorena. The couple lives in Los Angeles, California.
