Mexican all poised to seek redemption

DALLAS – Overweight or overtrained or not, Antonio Margarito is ready to fight.

“The time is here and there’s no excuses. I’m ready for this fight,” said the heavy Mexican who squares off with the world’s best fighter Saturday evening at the Cowboys Stadium.

Things have been said about Margarito’s weight or that he had overtrained for this showdown for the vacant WBC super-welterweight crown.

But the Mexican camp said none of these are true.

“I’m the best I’ve ever trained and I’m the best I’ve ever been for a fight,” said Margarito, coming off a long layoff that was cut short by a 10-round session with Robert Garcia in Mexico last May.

Margarito is getting the biggest paycheck of his career, $3 million and even more when all else comes in, for fighting the pound-for-pound champion from the Philippines.

But he said it’s really not about the money.

He said it’s the opportunity to fight the best, clear his name and get the bigger fights later on.

“The money is not important to me. I just want to continue with my career and get those kind of purses in the future. The layoff didn’t bother me because the only thing I’ve been thinking off the last 18 months is to get back in the ring,” he said.

“What’s in the past is in the past, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m right now in the present and thinking about the future,” said the boxer who got into a nasty handwraps in issue January of 2009, and took a one-year suspension.

Top Rank’s Ricardo Jimenez joined Pinoy scribes in a table hours after the weigh-in, and brushed off all the talk the Margarito had great trouble making weight.

“He (Margarito) said this is the best camp he can ever remember because he was eating everyday. He said he felt so good and that he was playing with two pounds all week long (and not eight pounds as others claimed).”

Margarito said he woke up at around 6:30 in the morning Friday and was just a little over 150, and at around three hours later he was at 150.

“He said he felt great and that he felt real strong. He said ‘I needed to weigh 150 so I came in at 150,’” Jimenez said.

“Training is the key for winning this fight. I couldn’t feel any better than I do. I’m very motivated for the fight. I don’t think of any problems. He’s faster but we are prepared. This is my best preparation ever for a fight,” Margarito said.

Freddie Roach thought Margarito looked drawn during the weigh-in.

“Margarito was really drawn and a little weak, and Manny was at his natural weight. He’s a little bit light (at 144.6) but he’s fine,” he said.

Roach was told of what Margarito said after the weigh-in, and the celebrated trainer smiled.

“Good. We’ll see tomorrow,” then politely, he walked away.