Antonio Margarito – Manny Pacquiao & the Hall of Shame
By Geno McGahee
With Manny Pacquiao slated to fight boxing’s current bad boy, Antonio Margarito on November 13th, there is much backlash from boxing. Margarito was found cheating, using a deadly weapon in the ring, and should be banned for life. He loaded his hand wraps with Plaster of Paris, and it is reasonable to think that he has been doing it for quite some time. He is only one of many that have flagrantly broken the rules of pugilism and gave the sport a bad name, and so RSR looks at a small sampling of the Boxing Hall of Shame.
Norman “Stoney Stone
The infamous trainer of former 2-Time Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz was ever the instigator. He was the only trainer that I can remember being ejected from ringside for continual insults hurled at the referee. He attempted to get the spotlight from his fighter, argued with the media, and even paraded around the ring with the belt off of Nikolay Valuev’s shoulder after he won it. Thankfully, somebody cracked him in the jaw for it. Stoney is as unlikable as possible and cared much more for himself then he ever did his fighters.
The “Foul Pole” Andrew Golota
Golota was one of those heavyweights that looked like the goods. He punched very well, had good skills, and seemed like a nice guy, but he had a dark side. When in trouble or a tough fight, he would often snap, leading to some dirty moments in boxing. He was stunned by Samson Pouha and would actually bite him on the neck like a vampire to save himself. He hit Riddick Bowe low leading to two disqualification defeats in fights that he should have clearly won. Golota earned the name “The Foul Pole.”
Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe
Just because Bowe was continually hit below the belt by Andrew Golota, don’t label him a total victim just yet. The attempts by Bowe’s management to make him this lovable and sensitive guy didn’t last long. He sucker-punched Larry Donald at a press conference, hit Buster Mathis, JR., while he was on his knees, and then proceeded to kidnap his wife and stab her, which he noted that: “Anything I did, I did out of love.” Bowe belongs in the Dirty Dozen.
Zab “Super” Judah
Judah has matured in his old age, but at one time, he was quite the bad boy in boxing. He dominated Kostya Tszyu in the first round of their title unification bout, but would be caught and stopped in the second. Judah would try to attack Jay Nady, the referee, throwing a stool at him and choking him. Judah would also be part of a riot, stemming from what many contend to be intentional low blows on Floyd Mayweather, JR. He also was penalized for punching Carlos Baldomir at their stare down, prior to their fight.
“Iron” Mike Tyson
Tyson is infamous for the “Bite heard around the World,” when he took chunks out of both Evander Holyfield’s ears. Retaliatory or not, it still sits in the minds of many boxing fans as the worst moment in boxing. Tyson has used flagrant head butts, attempted to break the arms of his opponents, hit after the bell, and jumped over the referee after the fight was stopped to deal more punishment to his helpless foe. He bit Lennox Lewis, and became a sideshow attraction later in his career. Tyson isn’t the worst, but he belongs on the list.
The Juicers
Steroids have become big business in boxing and most competitive sports. Fighters have been nabbed “juicing” to make them more effective fighting machines, and they collectively make the list. Jameel McCline, James Toney, Shane Mosley, Evander Holyfield, and there have even been allegations thrown at Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao. It’s a serious problem in the sport.
The Fight Fixers
Richie “The Bull” Melito was an up and coming heavyweight, nearly in line for a title shot when the cat was let out of the bag and a long line of fixed fights were exposed. Butterbean has also been rumored to have had many fixed fights. In fact, Mitch Rose has stated that he was offered money to take a dive. The career of Mark Gastineau was also built on staged outings. Boxing is a money sport and fixing fights are inevitable and hurt the image of the sport.
Panama Lewis, Antonio Margarito & the Glove Loaders
Panama Lewis is one of the biggest scumbags in boxing and he has been banned for his actions, but he still is allowed to train and still makes money. He was convicted of tampering with gloves in the Resto-Collins fight, actually removing padding and there are even accusations that he used Plaster of Paris on his fighter’s hand wraps as well. Lewis also was accused of giving Aaron Pryor some illegal substance in his water to give him that extra energy to win.
Antonio Margarito was caught using Plaster of Paris in his hand wraps and should be banned for life as Luis Resto was when he was caught doing something similar in his fight with Billy Collins. There are also persistent rumors that both Diego Corrales and Marco Antonio Barrera were guilty of the same thing, although neither were proven to have done it.
Rick “Elvis” Parker
Rick Parker was one of the biggest pieces of trash ever to enter boxing. He had illusions of being the next Don King, and planned to do it by fixing fights. His life would end when one of his underhanded tactics blew up in his face. Mark Gastineau, a Parker fighter, was set to fight Tim “Doc” Anderson in a rematch of a fight that Anderson had won. Anderson was approached and asked to throw the fight. When he refused, he reportedly (and I absolutely believe this) poisoned him. Anderson would lose by TKO and would later go on to kill Parker and is in prison at this current time.
James Butler
The biggest scumbag of note has to be James Butler, a man that fought on a charity card to benefit the victims of 9/11, losing a decision to Richard Grant. After the decision was announced, he walked over with the gloves off and his fist still taped and went to shake the hand of the winner, only to sucker punch him and knock him cold. Butler would later murder the brother of Max Kellerman, Sam Kellerman, a man that did nothing but help Butler. He is in prison, where he belongs.
There you have it…some of the shadier moments and players in boxing. Some dishonorable mentions would certainly be Clifford Etienne for his drug-induced rampage, Ike Ibeabuchi for a rape, and Edwin Valero for the murder of his wife and continued abuse and battering of his better half prior to the murder. There are many more that have brought negative attention to boxing and this is but a mere sampling, but typically the sport deals with them swiftly and justly, but if they are money-makers, they will occasionally get a pass. Mike Tyson is an example, and now so too is Antonio Margarito, who is heading into the biggest fight of his career, when he should be permanently on the shelf.