Margarito Makes Super Welterweight Limit For Paez Fight

Margarito Makes Super Welterweight Limit – Former IBF, WBO and WBA Welterweight world champion Antonio Margarito weighed in at the Super Welterweight limit of 154 pounds  (69.7 KG) for this Saturday’s match-up with Jorge Paez Jr. The Arena Ciudad de Mexico in the Mexican Capital hosts the match-up, which will be the first time in more than four years that Margarito has fought.

Paez Jr, the veteran second-generation warrior who brings a 39-7-2 mark to the table, also tipped the scale just under the 154 lbs super welterweight limit (69.5 KG).

The sportbooks have installed Margarito as a comfortable -750 favorite, with the comeback on Paez Jr paying back +525.

At 28 years old, Paez Jr is 10 years younger than Margarito, and he has been active, going 2-2 in 2015. In fact, he has gone 10-3-1 in the time span since Margarito’s last fight, but most observers feel Paez Jr’s better days are behind him.

For Margarito, the return fight is not something he envisioned, as he negotiated with Top Rank and several other American promotions to make his return, but a deal could not be made. Margarito needs a successful return against Paez to fuel the demand for his return to the big fights he is seeking. Margarito has faced the likes of Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley in his career, and he would like to get back into the tax bracket those type of fights provided.

Margarito is a controversial figure in some boxing circles, as he has been suspended for a serious eye injury and he was involved in a controversy over loaded hand wraps.

Promoter Fernado Beltran and his Promociones Zanfer are expecting a house of more than 10,000 fans in the live audience, and they are presenting a full night with 13 fights on the schedule.

The fight is airing on TV Azteca in Mexico and on the Spanish language channel beIN in the United States, with the broadcast scheduled for 8PM Pacific time.

Check out this video about Antonio Margarito return at The Boxing Channel