The Tijuana Tornado Touches Down In Oxnard as Training Camp Continues

Added on Sep 28, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

Typically when a fighter begins to train for a fight the duration of the camp will often be held in a single location.

Then again, it’s not often that a fighter is preparing for the biggest fight of his career against Manny Pacquiao, as is the case for Antonio “The Tijuana Tornado” Margarito.

Two weeks into camp, Margarito, along with head trainer and former IBF junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia, have packed up from the City of South El Monte and are heading 80 miles northwest to Oxnard, California.

“We got a lot done in the first two weeks and Tony looks great. I love his focus and intensity and our first phase of training camp was an eye opener for him and me. The first two weeks have been really terrific and productive,” said Garcia.

As they settle in to their new location, Margarito will continue the intense cardio that he opened up with and, in addition, will begin sparring sessions this week, which is where the real work begins. Margarito has just short of seven weeks to get himself in peak condition for when he takes on Pacquiao for the vacant WBC junior middleweight (154 lbs.) title at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Considering the way Pacqauiao has been steamrolling the competition as of late, Margarito is going to need to make the best of each passing day.

“I know how important this fight is to my career and to all of México. That is why I will prepare like never before and will defeat Manny Pacquiao, proving to everyone that I am one of the best fighters in the world,” said Margarito.

Pacquiao has, under the tutelage of famed trainer Freddie Roach, virtually steamrolled his competition as of late which has earned him international fame and success that is currently second to none.

Margarito, however, has made headlines for other reasons.

Following his 2009 bout Sugar Shane Mosley, Margarito was found to be guilty of using an illegal substance on his handwraps that would have hardened prior to the fight virtually giving him an advantage that a street fighter would have while wearing brass knuckles.

After an investigation by the California State Athletic commission, Margarito was given a suspension that would be upheld by virtually every other state in the US. While he didn’t get reinstated this year by the CSAC, he was granted a license to compete in Texas, making the bout with Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium a reality.

In addition to the investigation and the suspension, the wake of the Mosley loss left Margarito without the WBA welterweight title he held.

After previously failing to win a major world title in the 154-pound division against Daniel Santos in 2004, Margarito not only hopes to attain WBC gold in the junior middleweight division, but fully hopes to look good in doing so.

“The belt is very important to me, but the most important thing is to give the fans a great fight and one that they will remember for a long time. I love to fight and Manny has proven that he is a warrior. This fight is going to be a war,” Margarito claimed.

A war that Antonio “The Tijuana Tornado” Margarito will be fully prepared for.