Photos: Antonio Margarito Survives Knockdown To Edge Paez

By Jake Donovan

Antonio Margarito's comeback isn't likely going very far, but his first night back in more than four years provided non-stop entertainment in barely edging Jorge Paez Jr. over 10 rounds Saturday evening in Mexico City.

Scores were 97-92, 96-93 and 95-94 in favor of Margarito, whose last win came nearly five years ago. 

He had to climb off of the canvas in order to earn this victory. That moment came towards the end of round six, when a right hand froze the former welterweight champ and a left hook put him flat on his back. 

The sequence was part of a competitive main event all the way through, a point of concern if you had any stock in Margarito's comeback extending beyond Saturday evening. 

The occasion was enough to arouse the public in capital city, with well over 10,000 in attendance to bear witness to the questionable return of a fighter whose face and mechanics suggest damaged goods.

Margarito suffered a broken orbital bone and a detached retina following 12 brutally one-sided rounds versus Manny Pacquaio in Nov. '10. The lingering damage was nearly enough to prompt the New York State Athletic Commission to pull the plug on his eventual Dec. '11 rematch with Miguel Cotto, who by his own admission treated Margarito's damaged eye as a bulls-eye in forcing a stoppage after nine rounds. 

It was the last time he stepped foot in the ring for a sanctioned prizefight, having dropped three of his last four fights dating back to his knockout loss to Shane Mosley. The Jan. '09 encounter came with the backdrop of a handwrap scandal, when Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo were busted and severely disciplined for attempting to load hardened substances into his wraps prior to the fight. 

A year-long suspension ended with a May '10 win over Roberto Garcia, the last time Margarito had his hand raised in victory prior to Saturday evening. 

It should have been a much easier time than was the case versus a fleshy Paez Jr., who moved up from welterweight where he already looked soft. Given how far gone Margarito is - although his most ardent supporters will claim ring rust and plead for one more fight before passing judgment - Paez Jr. stood as great as chance as any in pulling off the upset.

The second generation boxer was 2-3-1 in his previous six starts - a stretch that included a shocking points loss to the badly faded Vivian Harris, a 12th round knockout defeat in an undeserved title shot versus Jose Benavidez and a lopsided 10-round decision to unbeaten Carlos Ocampo last November. 

He certainly wasn't at his physical best on Saturday night, but simply just needed to be able to fight back in order to stand a favorable chance at shocking the world. Margarito hoped to jump out to a quick and easy start, but by round two found himself in a toe-to-toe war. 

His natural size difference wouldn't be enough on this particular night; the veteran boxer from Tijuana - who turns 38 later this month - had to shoot his way out of a foxhole in order to prevail. 

Those tense moments included having to overcome his first trip to the canvas since his loss to Mosley more than six years ago. The lone knockdown of Saturday's bout came as the two were trading blows in center ring, with Paez Jr. buckling Margarito with a right hand shot before putting him flat on his back with a left hook. 

Margarito beat the count and made it out the round. Paez Jr. never let up for as long as his stamina would allow him to throw punches. Both fighters looked spent by round nine, but dug deep to give the fans their money's worth - at least those who came to see pure unadulterated violence, as opposed to any semblance of hope for either fighter threatening to make a run at 147 or 154 lbs. 

A scare was averted at fight's end, more so when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. delivered the three scorecards in favor of Margarito. The win is his first in nearly five years, his record moving to 39-8 (27KOs). 

Just don't expect the former two-time welterweight titlist to make a run towards another belt. 

The same can be said for Paez Jr., whose hopes long ago disappeared of capturing any form of the magic enjoyed by his father, former featherweight champion Jorge Paez Sr. The 28-year old journeyman from Mexicali falls to 39-8-2 (23KOs), valiant in defeat but having now suffered four losses in his last seven ring appearances. 

The fight aired on TV Azteca in Mexico and beIN Sport Español in the United States. 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox