Antonio Margarito Montiel (born March 18, 1978) is a Mexican American former professional boxer who competed between 1994 and 2017. He held multiple welterweight world championships, including the WBO title from 2002 to 2007, the IBF title in 2008, and the WBA (Super) title from 2008 to 2009. He also challenged three times for a light middleweight world title between 2004 and 2011. Nicknamed El Tornado de Tijuana ("The Tijuana Tornado"), Margarito was known for his aggressive pressure fighting style and exceptionally durable chin. He is also known for cheating by putting plaster in his gloves for which he was banned for 1 year.
In 2009, just before his fight with Shane Mosley, Margarito was involved in an incident where he was caught with illegal hand wraps containing gypsum (calcium sulfate) which, when combined with moisture, forms plaster of Paris. His signature stoppage victory over Miguel Cotto in 2008 was subsequently called into question. Following consecutive losses to Manny Pacquiao (a fight in which Margarito sustained career-changing eye damage) and a rematch against Cotto, Margarito retired from boxing in 2012 but returned for three more fights between 2016 and 2017.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Antonio Margarito Montiel
- Born: March 18, 1978 — Torrance, California, U.S.
- Nationality: Mexican
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Reach: 72 in (183 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Jan 14, 1994 (Win by UD vs Jose Trujillo)
- Last bout: Sep 2, 2017 (Win by TD vs Carson Jones)
- Total rounds boxed: 304 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light middleweight
- KO percentage: 65.9% (27 KO wins in 41 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBO welterweight title March 16, 2002 – July 14, 2007 (won the vacant title from Antonio Díaz; seven defenses including Andrew Lewis, Kermit Cintrón and Joshua Clottey; lost to Paul Williams); IBF welterweight title April 12, 2008 (won from Kermit Cintrón, per the bout table; no IBF defense appears in the table); WBA welterweight title July 26, 2008 – January 24, 2009 (won from Miguel Cotto; lost, as the WBA (Super) title, to Shane Mosley) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 50
- Wins: 41
- Wins by KO: 27
- Losses: 8
- Losses by KO: 2
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 1
- Born: March 18, 1978 — Torrance, California, U.S.
- Nationality: Mexican
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Reach: 72 in (183 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 14, 1994 | Jose Trujillo | Win | UD | 4 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 2 | Jan 21, 1994 | Gilberto Plata | Win | UD | 4 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 3 | Apr 25, 1994 | Victor Angulo | Win | TKO | 4 (4) | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 4 | Jun 27, 1994 | Cesar Roland | Win | KO | 1 (4) | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 5 | Aug 5, 1994 | Francisco Lopez | Win | TKO | 3 (4) | Ensenada, Mexico |
| 6 | Oct 17, 1994 | Victor Lozoya | Loss | PTS | 6 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 7 | Jan 26, 1995 | Efrain Munoz | Win | PTS | 4 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 8 | Mar 18, 1995 | Carlos Palafox | Win | PTS | 4 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 9 | Sep 10, 1995 | Antonio Ojeda | Win | KO | 4 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 10 | Feb 26, 1996 | Larry Dixon | Loss | UD | 10 | Tijuana, Mexico |
| 11 | Apr 18, 1996 | Juan Yoani Cervantes | Win | KO | 4 (8) | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 12 | Jun 28, 1996 | Rodney Jones | Loss | UD | 10 | Culver City, California, U.S. |
| 13 | Oct 14, 1996 | Alfred Ankamah | Win | KO | 4 (10), 2:59 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| 14 | Dec 2, 1996 | Juan Soberanes | Win | UD | 10 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| 15 | Jun 26, 1997 | Horatio Garcia | Win | UD | 10 | Reseda Country Club, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 16 | Nov 29, 1997 | Cesar Valdez | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 0:42 | The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 17 | Apr 24, 1998 | Miguel González | Win | UD | 8 | Scottish Rite Event Center, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| 18 | Jun 27, 1998 | Javier Francisco Mendez | Win | KO | 10 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 19 | Dec 4, 1998 | Reyes Estrada | Win | KO | 2 | Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico |
| 20 | Jun 7, 1999 | Daniel Mendez | Win | KO | 3 | Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico |
| 21 | Jun 12, 1999 | Danny Perez | Win | SD | 8 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 22 | Oct 23, 1999 | Buck Smith | Win | TKO | 5 (8) | Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| 23 | Dec 15, 1999 | Efrain Munoz | Win | KO | 2 (10) | Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S. |
| 24 | Feb 19, 2000 | Sergio Martínez | Win | TKO | 7 (10), 2:57 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 25 | Jun 16, 2000 | David Kamau | Win | TKO | 2 (10) | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBO–NABO welterweight title |
| 26 | Sep 17, 2000 | José Luis Benítez | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 1:06 | El Gran Mercado, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| 27 | Dec 10, 2000 | Frankie Randall | Win | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | Shrine Building, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| 28 | Mar 30, 2001 | Robert West | Win | KO | 1 (10), 2:19 | Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| 29 | Jul 21, 2001 | Daniel Santos | NC | NC | 1 (12), 2:11 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico — ★ Title fight — WBO welterweight title at stake; Margarito cut from an accidental head clash |
| 30 | Mar 16, 2002 | Antonio Díaz | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 2:17 | Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO welterweight title |
| 31 | Oct 12, 2002 | Danny Perez Ramírez | Win | UD | 12 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 32 | Feb 8, 2003 | Andrew Lewis | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 2:31 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 33 | Oct 17, 2003 | Maurice Brantley | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:47 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| 34 | Jan 31, 2004 | Hercules Kyvelos | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 0:54 | Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 35 | Sep 11, 2004 | Daniel Santos | Loss | TD | 10 (12) | José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico — ★ Title fight — For WBO light middleweight title; Split TD: Margarito cut from an accidental head clash |
| 36 | Feb 18, 2005 | Sebastián Luján | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 2:57 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 37 | Apr 23, 2005 | Kermit Cintrón | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 2:12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 38 | Feb 18, 2006 | Jaime Manuel Gómez | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 1:14 | The New Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 39 | Dec 2, 2006 | Joshua Clottey | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO welterweight title |
| 40 | Jul 14, 2007 | Paul Williams | Loss | UD | 12 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBO welterweight title |
| 41 | Nov 10, 2007 | Golden Johnson | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:28 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title |
| 42 | Apr 12, 2008 | Kermit Cintrón | Win | KO | 6 (12), 1:57 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBF welterweight title |
| 43 | Jul 26, 2008 | Miguel Cotto | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 2:05 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA welterweight title |
| 44 | Jan 24, 2009 | Shane Mosley | Loss | TKO | 9 (12), 0:43 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Super) welterweight title |
| 45 | May 8, 2010 | Roberto García | Win | UD | 10 | Plaza de Toros Monumental, Aguascalientes City, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC International light middleweight title |
| 46 | Nov 13, 2010 | Manny Pacquiao | Loss | UD | 12 | Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant WBC light middleweight title |
| 47 | Dec 3, 2011 | Miguel Cotto | Loss | TKO | 9 (12), 3:00 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Super) light middleweight title |
| 48 | Mar 5, 2016 | Jorge Páez Jr. | Win | UD | 10 | Mexico City Arena, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 49 | Aug 13, 2016 | Ramón Álvarez | Win | SD | 10 | Baja California Center, Rosarito Beach, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO–NABO light middleweight title |
| 50 | Sep 2, 2017 | Carson Jones | Win | TD | 7 (10), 3:00 | Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua City, Mexico — Unanimous TD: Margarito cut from an accidental head clash |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBO welterweight title March 16, 2002 – July 14, 2007 (won the vacant title from Antonio Díaz; seven defenses including Andrew Lewis, Kermit Cintrón and Joshua Clottey; lost to Paul Williams); IBF welterweight title April 12, 2008 (won from Kermit Cintrón, per the bout table; no IBF defense appears in the table); WBA welterweight title July 26, 2008 – January 24, 2009 (won from Miguel Cotto; lost, as the WBA (Super) title, to Shane Mosley) — all dates per the bout table
- Jun 16, 2000 vs David Kamau: Won WBO–NABO welterweight title
- Jul 21, 2001 vs Daniel Santos: WBO welterweight title at stake; Margarito cut from an accidental head clash
- Mar 16, 2002 vs Antonio Díaz: Won vacant WBO welterweight title
- Oct 12, 2002 vs Danny Perez Ramírez: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Feb 8, 2003 vs Andrew Lewis: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Jan 31, 2004 vs Hercules Kyvelos: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Sep 11, 2004 vs Daniel Santos: For WBO light middleweight title; Split TD: Margarito cut from an accidental head clash
- Feb 18, 2005 vs Sebastián Luján: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Apr 23, 2005 vs Kermit Cintrón: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Feb 18, 2006 vs Jaime Manuel Gómez: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Dec 2, 2006 vs Joshua Clottey: Retained WBO welterweight title
- Jul 14, 2007 vs Paul Williams: Lost WBO welterweight title
- Nov 10, 2007 vs Golden Johnson: Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
- Apr 12, 2008 vs Kermit Cintrón: Won IBF welterweight title
- Jul 26, 2008 vs Miguel Cotto: Won WBA welterweight title
- Jan 24, 2009 vs Shane Mosley: Lost WBA (Super) welterweight title
- May 8, 2010 vs Roberto García: Won vacant WBC International light middleweight title
- Nov 13, 2010 vs Manny Pacquiao: For vacant WBC light middleweight title
- Dec 3, 2011 vs Miguel Cotto: For WBA (Super) light middleweight title
- Aug 13, 2016 vs Ramón Álvarez: Won vacant WBO–NABO light middleweight title
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Tony_Margarito.JPG?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=api&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-01.
