Antonio Margarito's Biggest Fights

SI Staff | Nov 30, 2011

Antonio Margarito's Biggest Fights

Manny Pacquiao

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Margarito suffered a gruesome decision loss to Pacquiao in a showdown for the vacant WBC super welterweight title at Cowboys Stadium.

Shane Mosley

AP

Perhaps distracted by the career-threatening illegal hand-wrap revelation from before the fight, Margarito was comprehensively outclassed by Mosley, who won the WBA welterweight title with an 11th-round knockout.

Miguel Cotto

AP

Margarito vacated the IBF welterweight title by opting against a rematch with mandatory challenger Joshua Clottey, clearing the way for a showdown with Cotto, the undefeated WBA 147-pound beltholder. In one of the fights of the year , Margarito stormed from behind to score a devastating 11th-round TKO.

Kermit Cintron II

AP

Margarito became a two-time world titlist with a thrilling sixth-round knockout of Cintron, who'd gained the IBF welterweight belt since their first meeting.

Golden Johnson

Al Bello/Getty Images

Margarito returned to the win column with a first-round knockout of Johnson on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley main event in New York.

Paul Williams

AP

Margarito ceded the WBO title after losing a unanimous decision to Williams, the long-limbed challenger who connected with twice as many punches but didn't necessarily land the more damaging shots.

Joshua Clottey

AP

Ring rust from a 10-month layoff seemed to affect Margarito early in his seventh WBO title defense, but the Mexican heated up down the stretch and coasted to a unanimous decision over the stubborn Clottey.

Kermit Cintron I

AP

Cintron was 24-0 entering a highly anticipated showdown with Margarito for the 147-pound title, but suffered four knockdowns before his corner threw in the towel at 2:21 of the fifth round.

Antonio Diaz

AP

Margarito captured his first world title just two days before his 24th birthday with a 10th-round TKO of Diaz for the WBO welterweight belt. He'd defend the title seven times over the next five years, including five knockouts.