1 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Welcome back to playing dirty sports scandals. Step into the 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: juice bar, have a seat, and pop the lid on 3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: your favorite insulated tumbler. I'm your host and Maurista Extraordinary 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: Jay Harris. Today, I've got a tail on tap that 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: really packs a punch. Because it's about the boxing sensation, 6 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: Antonio Margarito, You're going to need all your energy to 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: keep up with Antonio, so drink up and let's go. 8 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: Antonio Margarita was born on March eighteenth, nineteen seventy eight, 9 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: in Torrance, California, but when he was two years old, 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: his family moved to Tijuana, Mexico. It was a move 11 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: that would shape young Antonio profoundly. Now, modern day Tijuana 12 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: had a reputation for violence, and with its sky high 13 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: crime rating of eighty two point six nine, largely attributable 14 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: to cartel activities, that's probably not too far off the mark. 15 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: Back in the nineteen eighties, Tijuana was less bloody, but 16 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: still an incredibly tough environment at which to grow up. 17 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: To feel confident, Antonio and his brother started boxing at 18 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: a local gym, and by age eight, Antonio was seriously training. 19 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: Boxing quickly morphed from an escape and survival mechanism into 20 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: a calling for Antonio, who turned professional in nineteen ninety 21 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: four at just fifteen years old. In Mexico, fifteen is 22 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: the minimum age for boxers to go pro versus eighteen 23 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: in the US. It's a big decision that comes with 24 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: some big and brutal swings. Antonio's early, unrelenting professional career 25 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: provided him with a strong foundation for future success in 26 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: the ring. He didn't win every match, but he honed 27 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: his skills against fearsome competition and built a reputation as 28 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: a fighter who could take a punch and keep relentlessly. 29 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: By his early twenties, Antonio was making real waves in 30 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: the boxing world, both in Mexico and in the US, 31 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: and had become known for his iron chin and aggressive style. 32 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: Freddie Roach, who was regarded as one of the best 33 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: boxing coaches of all time, having trained Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Coto, 34 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: Julio Sis, Archavez Junior, and George Saint Pierre, among many 35 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: other champions, described young Antonio Margarito as tough as they come. 36 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 1: He just keeps coming forward and he's got a great chin. 37 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: He breaks you down over time. As Antonio climbed the 38 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: rank says a young fighter, he proved Freddy Roach's words 39 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: to be true, establishing himself as one of the most 40 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: durable and dangerous welterweights. For you who don't know, welterweight 41 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: is a weight division having a maximum limit of one 42 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: hundred and forty seven pounds, So Antonio Margarito wasn't hulky, 43 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: just hardened. His breakthrough came in two thousand and two 44 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,839 Speaker 1: when he won the World Boxing Organization or WBO welterweight 45 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: title by defeating Antonio Diaz. My proudest moment is when 46 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: I won my first world title, Antonio Margarito later told 47 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: the ring through his co manager Sergio Diz Junior. It 48 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: was certainly a milestone victory and it ushered in the 49 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: beginning of a dominant reign for Antonio Margarito, who would 50 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 1: go on to successfully defend his title seven times, solidifying 51 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: his reputation as a feared contender and gaining him the 52 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: nickname El Tornado de Tijuana or the Tijuana Tornado. Promoter 53 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: Bob Aram explained what it was like to see Antonio 54 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: in the ring, saying, Antonio Margarito is a warrior. He's 55 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: the kind of fighter that fans loved because he leaves 56 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: everything in the ring. There's no quit in him. It 57 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: was true, there was no quit in Antonio, and throughout 58 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: most of the two thousands, it seemed there was no 59 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: stopping him either. In two thousand and five, he destroyed 60 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: Kermit Centron, a rising star with a perfect record in 61 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: the ring, winning by technical knockout or TKO in the 62 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: fifth round. From there, he enjoyed crushing victories over Joshua 63 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: Claudie and Paul Williams, reinforcing his dominant status as top welterweight. 64 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: But it was on July twenty six, two thousand and eight, 65 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: when Antonio Margarito beat the previously undefeated Miguel Coto at 66 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: the MGM Grand that he was elevated to a boxing legend. 67 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: Antonio absorbed Miguel's best shots and kept going, eventually wearing 68 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: down his famous opponent and securing a TKO victory in 69 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: the eleventh round. Dave Larzelier of Sporting News wrote that 70 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 1: it quote was unquestionably the fight of the year, and 71 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: Kenny Bayless, the referee for the bout, called it the 72 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: best fight I've ever done. Antonio became the Ring magazine's 73 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: number one ranked boxer in the welterweight division. He was 74 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: on top of the boxing world, enjoying respect, admiration, and 75 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: plenty of money. The Tijuana Tornado stars seemed to be 76 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 1: ever rising, but his success was about to fall under 77 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: a cloud. I'm just going to wash this glass out 78 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: and refill it with clean water before the dirt starts flying. Okay, now, 79 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: I'm ready. The year two thousand and nine started strong 80 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: with the boxing world buzzing with excitement for the January 81 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: twenty fourth fight between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley, who 82 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: was in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and who 83 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: was considered by the ring in both two thousand and 84 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: two thousand and one to have been the best active 85 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: boxer pound for pound. Shane was formidable competition for Antonio 86 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: and everyone anticipated an incredible match. The two fighters would 87 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: be facing off at what was then called the Staples 88 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: Center in Los Angeles to the largest crowd the venue 89 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: had ever hosted twenty thousand, eight hundred twenty Adrenaline fueled 90 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: fans packed the stands, eager to see that two greats 91 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: duke it out. But as Antonio and Shane prepared for 92 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: the bout, tension filled the locker rooms, and not for 93 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: the usual reasons. Shane Moseley's trainer, naze Richardson, was overseeing 94 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: the pre fight hand wrapping. This is a standard procedure 95 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: before any major fight and usually goes off without a hitch, 96 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: but Nazin Richardson quickly became alarmed. As he observed Antonio's 97 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 1: hands being wrapped. Something caught his eye that seemed far 98 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: from right. He would later recall the moment saying, I 99 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: noticed something in the hand wraps that didn't look normal. 100 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: When I touched it, it felt hard, like a cast. 101 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: Of course, any trainer worth their salt wouldn't allow their 102 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: fighter anywhere nearer ring to get pummeled by cast like fists. 103 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: Nazem demanded that the raps be removed from Antonio's hands 104 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: and be inspected more closely. Upon doing so, he discovered 105 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: a substance embedded within the gauze that felt highly unusual 106 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: and far more rigid than the standard materials used in 107 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: hand wraps. It felt like plaster of Paris, Nazim explained. 108 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: When I touched it, I said, no, this ain't right. 109 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: Nazim alerted the officials, who then conducted a thorough on 110 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: site investigation. Their findings were horrifying. Antonio Margarito's hand wraps 111 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: were confirmed to contain a plaster like substance that could 112 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: harden further as it dried and turned the well toweight 113 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: champion's fists into potentially deadly weapons. The gravity of the 114 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: situation was immense. For you to fully appreciate the significance 115 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: of Na Sin Richardson's foul play finding, you need to 116 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: understand just how dangerous the sport of boxing is. Even 117 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: when fighters do play by the rules, Boxing is brutal. 118 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: Beyond the spectacle of punches thrown and dodged their lives, 119 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: the ever present, ever real risk of injuries, many of 120 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: which can have lifelong consequences. The repeated blows to the 121 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: head that boxers endure can lead to traumatic brain injuries 122 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: and chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, a degenerative brain condition. 123 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: Ct can lead to symptoms like memory loss, confusion, aggression, 124 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: and eventually severe dementia. The dangers of traumatic brain injuries 125 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: and CTE are not just theoretical. They've been experienced by 126 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: some of the greatest names in boxing. Muhammad Ali, who 127 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: was widely considered to be the greatest of all time 128 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in nineteen eighty four, a 129 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: condition linked to the repeated head trauma he suffered during 130 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: his career. Ali's painful decline was a stark reminder of 131 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 1: the price even the top boxers can pay for their 132 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: time in the ring. Another tragic case is that of 133 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: Jerry Quarry, a popular heavyweight in the nineteen sixties and 134 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: nineteen seventies. Jerry developed dementia pugilistica, a form of CTE, 135 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: and by his mid fifties he was unable to perform 136 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: daily tasks. According to The New York Times, when Jerry 137 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: Quarry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame 138 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: in October nineteen ninety five, he was so disabled that 139 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: he could not sign his name for autograph seekers. Jerry 140 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: eventually died at the age of fifty three, his brain 141 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: ravaged by years of punishment in the ring. More recently, 142 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: the story of Meldrick Taylor, who won the nineteen eighty 143 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: four Olympic gold medal in the featherweight boxing competition, has 144 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 1: made waves, detailing the long term effects of repeated head trauma. Meldrick, 145 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: known for his incredible speed and skill suffered from slurred speech, 146 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: memory loss, and other symptoms consists with CTE as he 147 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: aged a stark contrast to the vibrant athlete he once was, 148 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: and when Meldrick was arrested on June fourth, twenty nineteen, 149 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: after threatening a man at gunpoint and then engaging in 150 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: a ninety minute stand up with police, his irrational and 151 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: dangerous actions were also attributed by many to CTE. Given 152 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: these examples, it's clear that the risk of brain damage 153 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: is already high in boxing under normal circumstances, and that 154 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: if such an injury is sustained, it has the capacity 155 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: to destroy the fighter's life and the lives of those 156 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: around them. It's devastating now understanding that, you can appreciate 157 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: why Shane Moseley's trainer, Nazem Richardson, was so horrified at 158 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: the discovery of Antonio Margarito's plaster wraps. Under normal circumstances, 159 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: the gloves and hand wraps that fighters use are designed 160 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: to protect both the fighter's hands and their opponents head 161 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: cushioning the impact and spreading the force of the blow 162 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: to lessen its impact. Just imagine if that cushion was 163 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: removed and if instead of soft padding, the opponent's gloves 164 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: hid something hard, something that would almost certainly turn their 165 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: punch into a lethal weapon. Plaster of Paris, when wet, 166 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: can be molded and shaped. Once it dries, it hardens 167 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: into a solid mass. If Nazim hadn't caught its use, 168 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: and if Antonio's wraps had been allowed to harden under 169 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: his gloves, it would have been like having his fists 170 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: encased in concrete slabs. Every punch he threw at Shane 171 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: Mosley would have inflicted far more damage than usual, with 172 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: a much higher risk of causing severe injury or even death. Now, 173 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: Antonio Margarito had always been known as a brutal fighter, 174 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: but the idea that he might have intentionally tried to 175 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: weaponize his fists was chilling. It wasn't just about gaining 176 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: an unfair advantage in the ring. It was about putting 177 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: another man's life in jeopardy. As Nazine Richardson explained, if 178 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: that stuff had gone unnoticed, we could have been looking 179 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: at a tragedy. The seriousness of the potential violation couldn't 180 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: be overstated, and the incident was instantaneously scandalous. This wasn't 181 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: just cheating. It was reckless endangerment at the highest level. 182 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: Officials acted swiftly removing Antonio's hand wraps and then rewrapping 183 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: his hands under careful supervision. The fight would go ahead, 184 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: but the damage to Antonio Margarito's reputation was done. Shane Moseley, 185 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: who was aware of what had happened in the locker room, 186 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: entered the ring at Staples Center determined to prove a point. 187 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: He was myopically focused on his performance, unlike Antonio, who 188 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: seemed uncharacteristically distracted. Shane dominated Antonio throughout the match, and 189 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: in the ninth round, he unleashed a barrage of punches 190 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: that overwhelmed the Tijuana Tornado, leading the referee to stop 191 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: the fight and declared Shane Moseley the winner by technical knockout. 192 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: The loss was a major blow to Antonio Margarito's career, 193 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: and immediately following the fight, the California State Athletic Commission 194 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: launched an investigation into his hand wraps. Plastergate wasn't just 195 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: going to disappear. In meeting with the Commission, Antonio Margarito's trainer, 196 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: Javier Capetillo, attempted to shield his fighter from the fallout, 197 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: explaining that he'd accidentally put the wrong inserts into the 198 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: hand wraps and that he just reached for the wrong 199 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: pads in his equipment bag. I committed a big mistake, 200 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: Javier Capatio told the panel and standing room only crowd. 201 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: I don't want this young man, Antonio Margarito, to have problems. 202 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: I'm here to cover any responsibility. I take full response ability. 203 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: I committed this innocent mistake, but the California State Athletic 204 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: Commission wasn't so sure that it had been an innocent mistake, 205 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: and on February tenth, two thousand and nine, after thorough 206 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: examination and a vote of seven to none, their organization 207 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: announced that trainer Javier Capitio's license was permanently revoked and 208 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: that Antonio Margarito's boxing license was revoked, banning him from 209 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: fighting in the United States for at least a year. 210 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: The conduct of both mister Margarito and mister Capeitia was 211 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: unacceptable and threatened the health and safety of another licensee. 212 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: Carrie Lopez, the director of the state's Department of Consumer Affairs, 213 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: which licensed its fighters, told the Associated Press today's action 214 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: shows that both the Department of Consumer Affairs and the 215 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: California State Athletics Commission take the issue of boxer's safety 216 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: very seriously and will move quickly when a licensee's actions 217 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: threaten the safety of others. The Commission's decision split opinion 218 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: in the boxing world, with some believing that the ban 219 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: on Antonio, who claimed not to have been aware of 220 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: the plaster in his wraps, was unfair, while others felt 221 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: he should have been kicked out of the sport for good. 222 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: Promoter Bob Aerram told ESPN that the commission's ruling was 223 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: the most bizarre thing I've ever experienced and that it's 224 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: not going to hold up. The commission determined that Antonio 225 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: knew nothing and did nothing wrong, but that he is 226 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: head of his team, so he is responsible for the trainer, 227 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: and therefore it is appropriate to revoke his license. How 228 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: can you revoke somebody's license when they didn't do anything 229 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: wrong or attempt to do anything wrong. Javier Capatillo admitted 230 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: that he made an inadvertent mistake and said Antonio knew 231 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: nothing about it. Antonio Margarito is a nice guy and 232 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: deserves better than this. But legendary coach Freddie Roach took 233 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: the opposite opinion of Bob Aaron, saying, the Commission gave 234 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: Antonio one year suspension, but deep down, you know, I'm 235 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: the kind of person who thinks that if you do 236 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: something like that, you should be suspended for life. I 237 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: thought the sentence was light. Regardless of conflicted opinions on 238 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: the Commission's ruling, one thing was for sure in the 239 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: boxing community, Antonio Margarito had gone from a champion to 240 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: a pariah overnight. Many fighters stepped up to express their 241 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: doubts about previous matches, questioning the legitimacy of his past victories. 242 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: Among the boxers demanding a look at Antonio's historic wins 243 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: was Miguel Coto, who had been undefeated before his contentious 244 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight fight with the Tijuana Tornado, questioning 245 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: the match that he was most proud of for its legitimacy. 246 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: Must have been a blow to Antonio's ego that win 247 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: at the MGM grand had been the pinnacle of his career, 248 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: but Miguel Coto insisted that the match added up for 249 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: him then and that it certainly didn't now. His defeat 250 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: had been so physically devastating, with his face battered and 251 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: swollen from the relentless punishment delivered by Antonio. At the time, 252 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: many had marveled at Antonio Margarito's seemingly superhuman power, and now, 253 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: in the wake of Plastergate, that power was being scrutinized. 254 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: Was it possible that Antonio had used illegal hand wraps 255 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: in his two thousand and eight fight with Miguel Coto, 256 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: giving him an unfair and dangerous advantage. Miguel Coto's trainer, 257 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: Joe Santiago, certainly thought so. When asked by The La Times, 258 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: Joe said, quote, there's no doubt Antonio used illegal raps. 259 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: Look at Miguel's face after that fight. Miguel Coto's father, 260 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: Miguel Cotos Senior, was also convinced of Antonio's wrongdoing. There's 261 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: a picture after the two thousand and eight fight where 262 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: there appears to be a split in Antonio's Such a 263 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: split would have been unlikely to happen with just normal gauze, 264 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: and according to Miguel Coto Senior, that photo therefore provides 265 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: overwhelming evidence that his son's two thousand and eight opponent cheated. 266 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: The only people who can tell you for sure if 267 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: those inserts were in there is Antonio Margarito and his trainer. 268 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: But you have the picture now so people know, Miguel 269 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: Coto Senior said. Miguelkoto himself was also enraged, saying, playing 270 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: with the health of somebody else, of a human being, 271 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: playing with his health is attempting to kill because he 272 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: used plaster on his wraps. To me, that's really like 273 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: a criminal because he used a weapon in this sport. 274 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: You can only use your skills in your conditioning. If 275 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: you have another name to call Antonio besides criminal, please 276 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: tell me what kind of words I can use. Kermit Centron, 277 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: remembering his face off with Antonio Margarito in two thousand 278 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: and five, through similar shade this old world boxing news 279 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: that two days after the fight with Antonio, both of 280 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: my eyes were closed shut. No other fighter in my 281 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: fifty fight career could have done the same. Why why? Indeed, 282 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: since the fights were historical, no direct evidence could be 283 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 1: brought forward to prove that Antonio Margarito himself had loaded 284 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: or been aware of loading his wraps in previous matches. 285 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: But the credibility of Antonio's entire career was now at stake, 286 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: with many suspecting that he'd used illegal tactics throughout his 287 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: winning streak. Freddie Roach, who once viewed Antonio as an 288 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: up and coming talent on the boxing scene, now viewed 289 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: him with disgust, telling The New York Times that he'd 290 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: gone so far as to try to hide plaster in 291 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: one of his own fighters wraps to prove that it 292 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: would have been impossible for Antonio not to know about 293 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: the cheating. As soon as my fighter closed his hand, 294 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: he knew, Freddy Roach said he could feel the plaster. 295 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: While plaster Gate certainly turned the boxing world on its head, 296 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: Antonio Margherito wasn't the first boxer to be accused of 297 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: using illegal gloves. One of the most infamous cases occurred 298 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: in the nineteen eighties involving boxer Luis Resto and his 299 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: trainer Panama Lewis. During a fight against Billy Collins Junior 300 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty three, Luis's gloves were found to have 301 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 1: been tampered with. Much of the padding had been removed, 302 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: and his wraps had been soaked in plaster of Paris, 303 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: leaving his opponent, Billy Collins Junior, to absorb the full 304 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: force of his hardened punches with little protection. The brutal 305 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: fight left Billy Collins Junior with permanent injuries, ending his 306 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: promising career. Luis Resto and Panama Lewis were convicted of assault, conspiracy, 307 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: and criminal possession of a deadly weapon. Both men served 308 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: time in prison for their crime. Had Antonio Margharito dared 309 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: to follow in their criminal footsteps, even knowing the possible 310 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: repercussions were other fighters flying under the radar and playing 311 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: dirty two, the boxing community decided that more rigorous enforcement 312 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: needed to be implemented. Immediately, recognizing that dangerous boxing history 313 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: might well be repeating itself, Athletic commissions across the United 314 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: States introduced more stringent protocols for the inspection of hand 315 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: wraps and gloves on the heels of Antonio Margarito's exposure. 316 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: The new measures mandated that both the fighters hand wraps 317 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: and gloves be inspected not only by the commission's officials, 318 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: but also by a representative from the opposing fighters camp. 319 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: This dual inspection process was designed to ensure transparency and fairness, 320 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: making it much more difficult for any illegal tampering to 321 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: go unnoticed. Additionally, the California State Athletic Commission introduced tougher 322 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: penalties for fighters and trainers found guilty of using illegal 323 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: substances or engaging in other forms of misconduct. This included 324 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: longer suspensions, much higher fines, and, in some cases, as 325 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: they had done with Antonio Margarito, the revocation of licenses. 326 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: The goal was to create a stronger deterrent against cheating, 327 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,439 Speaker 1: reinforcing the message that such behavior would not be tolerated 328 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: and would be met with severe consequences. While the changes 329 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: that have been introduced since the Antonio Margarito scandal have 330 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: undoubtedly improved oversight and accountability in boxing, plaster Gate remains 331 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: a cautionary tale about the need for constant vigilance. The 332 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: integrity of boxing depends on the strict enforcement of its 333 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: rules and the ethical behavior of all its participants. Okay, 334 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: so what happened to our dirty player in this scandalous sip. 335 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: Well After serving his one year suspension, Antonio made a 336 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: determined effort to revive his boxing career. His return to 337 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: the ring came on May eighth, twenty ten, when he 338 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: faced Roberto Garcia, who held the IBF Junior lightweight title 339 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 1: from nineteen ninety eight to nineteen ninety nine, in Agua Calientis, Mexico. 340 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: The match was widely anticipated as Antonio's chance to prove 341 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: that he was still a legitimate contender. In the moments 342 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: before the fight, Antonio addressed his suspension in an interview, 343 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: saying that the year had not altered his perspective. He 344 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: still saw no reason to apologize for the illegal hand 345 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: wraps discovered at the two thousand and nine fight against 346 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: Shane Moseley because he hadn't known his former trainer, Javier Capatillo, 347 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: was breaking any rules by using forbidden substances in the raps. 348 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: All these people that say things about me don't know me, 349 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: don't know my history, Antonio insisted, through a translator, The 350 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: way I box has always been clean. Nobody has a 351 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: clear idea what happened that night, and now I'm going 352 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: to show who I am. The Tijuana Tornado was back, 353 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: but perhaps downgraded to a tropical storm. While Antonio won 354 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: his comeback match against Roberto Garcia, the fight lacked the 355 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: dominance and ferocity that at once defined his career. The 356 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: scandal and time away from the sport had clearly taken 357 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: a toll. Still, Antonio pressed on towards the most high 358 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: profile fight of his attempted comeback the November thirteenth, twenty 359 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: ten WBC Super Welterweight Championship match against Mani Pacquiao at 360 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: AT and T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This fight was huge. 361 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: It generated sixty four million dollars in revenue and boasted 362 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: an attendance of forty one thousand, seven hundred and thirty 363 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 1: four spectators. There's no question I can beat Manipaqiao, a 364 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: puffed up Antonio told anchor Karen Bryant as he prepared 365 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: himself for one of boxing's biggest stages. But his grandiose 366 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 1: words did nothing to rattle Andy Pachiel, who delivered a 367 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: definitive win, taking the WBC's super Welterweight title and leaving 368 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: Antonio Margarito severely injured with a fractured orbital bone and 369 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 1: significant damage to his right eye. The match ended in 370 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: a unanimous decision, and many questioned whether Antonio should continue 371 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: his career given the extent of his injuries. Manny revealed 372 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: that he hadn't even brought his top game into the 373 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: ring against Antonio, saying he held back during the final 374 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: round of the fight because quote boxing is not for 375 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: killing unquote, but Even in the face of resounding defeat, 376 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: Antonio Margarito, whom promoter Bob Arrom had once described as 377 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: having no quit in him, did not give up. He 378 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:51,479 Speaker 1: was determined to regain his place in the sport, so 379 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: in twenty eleven, Antonio faced Miguel Coto in a highly 380 00:25:55,280 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: anticipated rematch. This fight was particularly significant because of the 381 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: suspicions that it clouded these two fighters first encounter in 382 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight. It was also particularly brutal. Miguel 383 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: Coto delivered a commanding performance and the fight was stopped 384 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: in the tenth round due to severe damage to Antonio's eye. 385 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 1: The match effectively marked the end of Antonio's attempts to 386 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: return to the top of the boxing world, had he 387 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: only ever risen to the top because of his loaded 388 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: gloves or worth. These humiliating comeback losses attributable to stepping 389 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 1: away four year during suspension and losing his edge. By 390 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: twenty twelve, Antonio Margarito had largely stepped away from boxing, 391 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: and after briefly attempting to resuscitate his career in Mexico 392 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen, he officially retired from the sport. In 393 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen. Today, Antonio Margarito is married to professional model 394 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: Lorraina Vidalas, is a father of two children and lives 395 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. While some fans remember him for his 396 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: many accomplishments, his legacy is forever marred by the Plastergate 397 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: scandal that defined the latter part of his career. That's 398 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: it for today's Tale on Tap. Join me your host 399 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: in Brave Marista, Jay Harris next week for another episode 400 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 1: of Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. Playing Dirty Sports Scandals is 401 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: a production of Dan Patrick Productions, Never Ever Productions and 402 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: Workhouse Media from executive producers Dan Patrick, Paul Anderson, Nick Panela, 403 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clary. Hosted by Jay Harris, Written 404 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: and produced by Jen Brown, Francie Haiks, Maya Glickman, and 405 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: Jennifer Clay.