Antonio Margarito is one of the biggest names in boxing and due to his success, Antonio Margarito net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His career lasted for 20 years, with 52 official fights, of which he won 40, resulting in 29 knockouts. Antonio has boxed opponents such as Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley, enhancing his career and increasing his bank balance too! Antonio made a lot if money from boxing but he also did endorsements and partnerships with major brands such as Under Amour and Everlast. Antonio’s hard work has really paid off and his millions are admirable – Antonio Margarito is no doubt doing something right!
What’s Antonio Margarito’s Net Worth?
Antonio Margarito, a retired professional Mexican boxer with a net worth in excess of $15 million, is Mexican-American. Between 1994 and 2017, Antonio Margarito fought for several boxing organisations, including the WBO and IBF. He was a champion at welterweight and challenged for the title of light middleweight. Margarito was caught with illegal hand wraps containing calcium sulfurate in 2009. This revelation reaffirmed his victory over Miguel Cotto that year.
Early Life
Antonio Margarito Montiel was born March 18, 1978 in Torrance (California). He moved to Tijuana with his family at the age of 2 with his parents. There he boxed with his brother. Margarito had a brief career as an amateur fighter, where he amassed an 18-3 record.
Start Your Professional Career
Margarito became a professional sooner than he would’ve otherwise because of financial difficulties. He made his debut against Jose Trujillo at the age of 15. He won by decision. He later recorded his first knockout in a fight against Victor Angulo.
Margarito lost his first bout to Victor Lozoya five months later. His financial situation improved after he posted a 4-2 record in his six next bouts. He went on to go 28-2. Margarito won against Sergio Martinez and David Kamau as well as Alfred Ankamah and Frankie Randall.
WBO Welterweight Title
Margarito was up against Daniel Santos in 2001, when he attempted to win the WBO welterweight title. The fight was stopped after both fighters sustained deep injuries from a head to head clash. Santos was awarded the welterweight title, which he later gave up to make way for him in the weight class.
Margarito was then given another chance to win the WBO welterweight title against Antonio Diaz. He defeated Diaz by knockout to become WBO’s new welterweight champion. Margarito then defended his title by defeating Danny Perez Ramirez and Andrew Lewis. He defended his title until 2007, when he lost it to Paul Williams, who was undefeated.
WBO Light Middleweight Challenge
Margarito’s debut in light middleweight was made by Maurice Brantley in late 2003. He faced Santos, his old rival, for the WBO title of light middleweight. He lost by technical decision.
IBF/WBA Welterweight Titles
Margarito faced Kermit Cintron, his ex-contemporary for the IBF Welterweight title. He won by knockout in the sixth round. The IBF ordered Margarito to face Joshua Clottey in a mandatory defense. Margarito, however, vacated his IBF title to avoid having to fight Clottey. He instead agreed to fight WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. It was a memorable match, Margarito fighting back from an early deficit to win via technical knockout in round 11. In early 2009, he lost his WBA welterweight title against Shane Mosley.
WBC Light Middleweight Challenge
Margarito fought Roberto Garcia in his return fight for the vacant WBC International light middleweight title. Ultimately, Margarito won by unanimous decision. After a heavy defeat by Pacquiao, he faced Manny Pacquiao to win the WBC light-mediumweight championship. Margarito was taken to the hospital immediately after the fight.
Retirement, further injury, and comeback
Margarito was matched against Miguel Cotto, his former opponent in a rematch that took place in late 2011. Margarito was defeated by Miguel Cotto via TKO by doctor stopping Margarito. Margarito had lost his right eye and needed surgery to close it. Margarito declared his retirement from boxing after the fight.
Margarito briefly resigned in 2016 to win two fights in Mexico. He beat Carson Jones the next year.
Illegal Wrap Scandal
The trainer of Mosley noticed something white in Margarito’s hand wraps before Margarito’s 2009 fight against him. The substance turned out to be calcium sulfate. This is what forms plaster of Paris when it is combined with moisture. Professional boxing does not allow this. Margarito and his trainer claimed ignorance about hand wraps but their licenses were suspended. This effectively prohibited them from competing in the USA.
Personal life
Margarito wed his high school sweetheart Michelle in 1999. He married Lorena after their divorce. They now live in Los Angeles, California.