By Dan Ambrose: In news that will sadden a lot of boxing fans former IBF/WBA/WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (38-8, 27 KO’s) has reportedly retired after a string of injuries that has slowed his effectiveness in the ring. Margarito was a fine fighter. He really spanked Miguel Cotto in their first fight in 2008, and likely would have done it again in their rematch last year if the ringside doctor hadn’t halted the bout just when Margarito was starting to give it to Cotto.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said to RingTV “Margarito gave us a heads up that he was going to retire. He said that his body was breaking down. We certainly encourage him to retire.”

Margarito was scheduled to face Abel Perry next month on July 21st at the Casino Del Sol, in Tucson, Arizona.

Margarito suffered a broken right orbital bone in his 12 round decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2010 in a bad beating. Margarito went through three separate operations on his right eye before he was able to make a comeback a year later against WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto in December of last year.

Margarito’s surgically repaired right eye closed up quickly with Cotto targeting it with his shots. Eventually the fight was halted after the 9th round because Margarito’s right eye had almost completely closed.

The skin around Margarito’s right eye is still tender, making him susceptible to cuts, says his manager Sergio Diaz.

Margarito’s retirement comes just days after Shane Mosley and Ronald “Winky” Wright’s retirement from the sport.

Margarito is still a fine fighter and if there was a way for his right eye not to swell up when hit, he likely would be a major player in the junior middleweight division. His recent bout against Cotto seemed to be following along the same lines of their first fight when the ringside doctor decided to have the fight halted after the 9th round. If Margarito’s right eye had held together, he would have had a great chance of knocking Cotto out again. It’s too bad because Margarito is such a fine fighter. Perhaps he can come back if the eye stabilizes at some point in the near future.