Shortly after the decision of the California State Athletic Commission to deny Antonio Margarito a new boxing license in the state of California, world-class trainer Freddie Roach revealed that he's not a big fan of the disgraced boxer and that the one-year suspension he served was too lenient. "The Commission gave him a one-year suspension, but deep down, you know, I'm the kind of person who thinks that if you do something like that, you should be suspended for life," Roach would tell Gareth A Davies of The Daily Telegraph. "Panama Lewis was suspended for life. I thought the sentence [for Margarito] was light." Roach's comments come somewhat as a surprise considering that at the time of the suspension, he was one of the lone supporters of Margarito, believing in his innocence and going out of his way to help him. In fact, Roach went so far as to contact the Commission himself, representing Margarito as his trainer, to request a second trial in hopes of getting the suspension reduced.
"He promised me that he didn't do it. He asked me if I would train him and take him over. He told me, he swears to me that he didn't do it; he had nothing to do with it. He feels like the year off is going to hurt him badly, so, the thing is, I told him I'll do my best to help him out," Roach would tell FightHype's own Nick Diaz in the above video from March of 2009. "I'd like to believe him...He's a pretty nice guy and I think he's a stand-up guy and I think he's telling me the truth," Roach continued, "I did call the commission and asked them if we could have maybe another trial in six months and with me being his trainer, being the sole trainer, and with my reputation, maybe they'll be lenient with him."
Roach's recent comments are a complete 180 from his opinion last year, when he was willing to be the new trainer of Antonio Margarito and stand by his side in front of the California State Athletic Commission to appeal the suspension. "He swears to me he didn't know. He's a pretty stand-up guy and he's always been that way with everyone in boxing," Roach would add. "You know, the way he talked to me, he was almost in tears, so I believe him." So why the sudden change of heart? Perhaps, for whatever reason, Roach no longer believes the sincerity in Margarito's story that he had nothing to do with the illegal wraps. Then again, with a November 13 showdown on the horizon, maybe Roach is just singing a different tune now that Margarito has become Public Enemy #1 for Team Pacquiao. Either way, come November 13, it's clear that Roach plans on delivering his own justice via the fists of Manny Pacquiao. "Manny will start fast with this guy, and we will finish with him fast," he remarked!
