By Jim Dower: Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (40-8, 27 KOs) will be back inside the ring this Saturday night in facing journeyman Carson Jones (40-11-3, 30 KOs) in 10 round fight at the Gimniso Manuel Bernado Aguirre, in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Margarito, 39, hasn’t seen action since his close 10 round split decision win Ramon Alvarez last year on August 13, 2016. It’s been 1 year since Margarito last fought. It’s difficult to imagine how Margarito will look Saturday night. He struggled in his last fight before taking the year off. The time out of the ring couldn’t have helped his skills any.
Margarito’s career has really hit rock button since after he won his biggest win of his career in stopping Miguel Cotto in an 11th round TKO victory on July 26 in 2008. Margarito has lost 3 fights since that time to Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
Jones, 31, is a beatable opponent for Margarito. Even if all Margarito has left is 40 percent of the skills he possesses during the prime of his career 9 years ago, he should be able to beat Jones without any problems. Jones looked really poor in losing to Brian Rose by a 12 round unanimous decision in their rematch 2 years ago on August 1, 2015.
This is a great opportunity for Jones to pick up the biggest win of his 13-year pro career. Up until now, Jones’ best win of his career was a 1st round knockout of former No.1 WBO 154lb. contender Brian Rose on February 14, 2015. Rose was a flawed fighter, and he never was able to capture a world title. Rose beat Jones by a 2 round unanimous decision in their rematch in 2015. Since that disappointing defeat, Jones has won his last 3 fights beating Mikel Williams, Starr Johnson and Ben Hall.
Jones came close to beat Kell Brook in their fight on July 7, 2012. The fight took place in the UK, and Brook was given a controversial 12 round majority decision. Jones fought well enough to deserve a decision. It’ too bad he didn’t get the victory, because it would have been a great feather to sick in his cap.
If he was going to be that inactive, he might as well have stayed retired rather than coming out of retirement following a 5-year absence from the ring in March of last year. Ramon Alvarez is one of Golden Boy Promotions star Saul Canelo Alvarez. Ramon doesn’t have the hand speed, power or the talent of Canelo. He does throw punches like him though.
It’s going to be difficult for Jones to beat Margarito, because there’s a fairly wide gulf in talent between the two fighters. Margarito is a legitimate former 2 time world champion with boxing skills that Jones has never possessed. Margarito should win this fight unless his time out of the ring and his advanced age has taken its toll on him.
Margarito vs. Jones will be televised this Saturday night on September 2 on beIN Sports Espanol.