Photos: Antonio Margarito, Paez Face To Face at Open Workouts

By Miguel Rivera

As previously reported, The return of former world champion Antonio Margarito has exploded with more than 10,000 fans expected to attend this Saturday's card at the Mexico City Arena. Margarito will take on the son of Mexican legend, Jorge 'Maromerito' Paez.

The two fighters came face to face earlier today, when they both took part in the open workouts for the press.

Margarito, 38-years-old, has been inactive since December of 2011. He was stopped in nine rounds in his last fight by Miguel Cotto in their rematch at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The Mexican veteran wants to prove that his skills are still the same and there are no issues with his right eye. He suffered a fractured orbital bone in his 2010 decision loss to Manny Pacquiao. After multiple surgeries, the eye quickly swelled up in the early rounds of his fight with Cotto and eventually led to the fight being stopped.

He retired after the loss to Cotto, fearing that his eye would create problems in future contests. Numerous medical exams in the last few months have cleared him to fight.

If the boxer looks good against Paez Jr. (39-7-2, 23 KOs), promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions may look to match him against the likes of Ramon Alvarez (brother of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez), or even a rematch with former world champion Shane Mosley.

"The sale of tickets has exceeded expectations, it seems that only Juan Manuel Marquez's fight against Serhiy Fedchenko was greater. So far we believe that it's going to be at least 10 thousand fans or a little more," stated a spokesman for Zanfer Promotions.

Margarito and Paez arrive Wednesday to Mexico City after ending their respective camps on Tuesday. Margarito prepared in San Diego, California, and Paez got ready in Jiquipilco, Mexico.