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THE MANY FACES OF ANTONIO MARGARITO

Regardless. when Antonio Margarito takes the ring Saturday night at Madison Square Garden it will be under suspicion from the first fight with opponent Miguel Cotto - a brutal bout in which Cotto suffered multiple bumps and bruises conducive to a fighter being hit with loaded fists. Result? Margarito TKO 11.

But it wasn't known until Margarito was spotted by Shane Mosley's trainer  before their bout a year later that something was up - even though denied by Margarito's promoter Bob Arum who cried this was a witch hunt against one of his most prized fighter.

Margarito, or as fans put it "Margarcheato" has been tried and convicted in the field of public opinion, this as his onslaught on opponents waned right after Mosley stopped him in round 9 in their only bout.

"El Criminale" one shouted out as Margarito took the podium to speak through an interpreter.  The ego bruised fighter responded to the bias Cotto fan that "at least I don't beat on my own family", a reference to Cotto's brawl a couple years back with his trainer uncle in Puerto Rico.

So intense is this bout that the two fighters did not do the face to face photo - a true sign of the bitterness that the two have.

To Cotto, an impressive victory would eradicate the loss - his first as a pro that sent him into a semi-demise and to Margarito, an impressive win would mean that the first bout was not a fluke and kind of - maybe - prove his innocence that he indeed won that bout legitimately, as he says. However - if he wins because of the style matchup - lets say by close decision, fans will still accuse him of loading the handwraps, an insinuation that will haunt him the rest of his life.

Margarito stated that Cotto himself is invited to wrap his hands before the fight.

We have to see - does Cotto have enough left? And which face of Margarito will show up at fight time? The defensive posturing and the sunglasses come off when the bell first rings near the December 3rd midnight. We shall see.   

FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN NYC

 ANDY LEE, SERGIO MARTINEZ, DARREN BARKER, BRYAN  VERA

LOU DIBELLA - "This is going to be a great card on Saturday night," said DiBella.  "Not only are the televised fights going to be great but the off-TV undercard is going to be terrific as well.  In boxing we have to offer entertainment from the second people get in their seats until they leave, and that's what we have Saturday night.

"In the main event, we have, who I believe to be the number one fighter in the world, Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez being challenged by a young man, who has been grossly underestimated by the press and frankly disrespected, in Darren Barker.  Darren is a very good fighter.  He is undefeated as a pro, he was a terrific amateur, he is the European and Commonwealth champion, and I think his credentials speak for themselves.  I think Sergio realizes that he is in there with a real fighter and that this is a real challenge.  Darren Barker has nothing to lose and Sergio has everything to lose and that makes for a very dangerous fight.

"In the opening fight, we have a tremendous match-up with Andy Lee, who has established himself as one of the best middleweights in the world, taking on the tough-as-nails Bryan Vera.  Andy is on the verge of challenging for a championship, but he has that one notch on his record that he wants to get rid of, and that's his loss to Bryan Vera.  This is an interesting fight because both Andy and Bryan are much better fighters than they were a few years ago when they first met, and both have a lot to prove in this fight.  This fight was made because Andy Lee wanted this fight, not because he needed it, and I think that says a lot about Andy and his team."

ANDY LEE -  "This fight has been three-and-a-half years in the making.  I have wanted it since the day after the first fight.  I have been longing for this fight, and finally it's here.  I want to thank Lou and HBO for making this fight happen and giving me this opportunity.  I have had a great training camp, and I am ready for this, and ready to prove myself on Saturday night.  I'm not looking past Bryan Vera or anything, but after I beat him, I'm going to take my ringside seat and, with all due respect to Sergio and Darren, I am ready and want to fight the winner.

BRYAN VERA -  "I am grateful for this opportunity to fight Lee again Saturday night.  I have paid my dues, and worked very hard to get to this point.  I have become a much better fighter since our first fight and everyone will see that come fight night.  I have tremendous respect for Andy for taking this fight, because I recognize that he didn't have to take this fight.  I expect to put on an exciting performance Saturday night, and take my career to the next level."

EDDIE HEARN - "All I can tell you about Darren Barker is he is 23-0, the undefeated British Commonwealth and European Champion, top 10 in every organization and number three in the WBC, so I don't know what more you have got to do to deserve a shot in boxing.  But we are fine that we are being underestimated, we are fine that we are the underdog, because I can tell you that no one in our camp, especially Darren Barker, feels like an underdog.  We feel that we are the toughest test that Sergio will have faced in his past few fights.  You look at his opponents, Darren is in a different league than Dzinziruk, Williams is a blown up welterweight who beat Sergio once, and Kelly Pavlik was a washed-up fighter at the time struggling to make weight, so we feel this is the biggest test Sergio has had.  We are looking forward to a good fight, we believe we have a real, real good chance here.  We have massive support at home, and anyone who underestimates Darren, they are going to be in for a very big shock come Saturday night."

In response, Martinez advisor Sampson  . . .

SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ -  "I am very disappointed in those statements.  You don't give the champion credit.  The first time he fought Williams, no one wanted to fight him, and we fought him and everyone knows we won that fight; then in the second, we left no questions by knocking him out.  With Pavlik, he was the champion at middleweight and, to be the champion, we fought and beat the champion, so who the hell are you to sit there and make those statements?  I respect your fighter, but statements like that are disrespectful to the champion.  Sergio Martinez is the best fighter in the world, and on Saturday nigh,t everyone will have the opportunity to see him put on another great performance

DARREN BARKER -  "I'm in the best shape of my life and I know I have to be because I am facing a great champion on Saturday night.  Everyone I have talked to says to me that I look relaxed, not nervous, and I think the reason for that is that there aren't many things in life that I am good at, but boxing is one of them.  This is what I have dedicated my life to since I was 12 years old.  When I am inside those ropes, that's when I am comfortable, that is when I am in my environment, and that is one of the reasons I am so confident in this fight.  This is what I do.  I am extremely confident, and I say that loudly and boldly, as much as I respect Sergio, but from the first time I have seen him, I know I have what it takes to pull off the upset.  I am going to turn that question mark in back of me into an exclamation point.  I am here to prove to the world that I do belong here, and do belong on this stage.  Tune in, it's going to be a great night."

When it was Martinez' turn to speak he started off speaking in English, thanking  everyone in attendance, as well as HBO, promoter Lou DiBella, and Darren Barker for accepting the challenge.

Martinez continued in Spanish, "Like always my preparation has been excellent and on Saturday night you will see a very good fight.  I want to thank everyone, and look forward to seeing everyone come out on Saturday night . . .

"Noche de 'Maravilla': Martinez vs. Barker" is being presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Matchroom Sport, and Caesars Atlantic City, and is sponsored by Corona.  Doors open at 6PM ET, with the first bout scheduled for 6:30PM ET.  HBO will begin live coverage at 10:00PM ET

DBE

Gabriel “Tito” Bracero headlines Broadway Boxing on July 30 from the Aviator Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn

NEW YORK, NY (July 8, 2011) – New York City’s longest running and most successful professional boxing series, Broadway Boxing, returns July 30 to the Aviator Sports and Events Center at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. In the main event, the series’ mainstay Gabriel Bracero returns in the main event in the wake of his most impressive victory. Bracero will take on Danie “The White Lion” Van Staden (8-6, 2 KOs) of Key West, FL.

 Brooklyn junior welterweight prospect Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (16-0, 2 KOs), 30, is returning to the platform that has become home court for him. July 30 will mark his eighth appearance on Broadway Boxing. Bracero is coming off his most impressive victory to date, knocking out Guillermo Valdes in just 40 seconds at Roseland Ballroom on July 11, celebrating his heritage during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. A two-time New York Golden Gloves champion and Junior Olympics champion, Bracero turned pro in 2001, at the age of 20, scoring five four-round decisions. However, his career would be put on hold as he succumbed to the lure of the streets and spent time in prison on a weapons charge. Refocused upon his release, Bracero resumed his career in 2009 and has won 11 in a row. Until recently, Bracero was not known to have much power, but his style is that of a volume puncher who applies relentless pressure in wearing opponents down.  

 Tickets for Broadway Boxing can be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577, and more information can be obtained by visiting www.dbe1.com.