Javier Capetillo still 'accompanying' after Margarito controversy
On Saturday Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon will take on Giovani Segura in a junior flyweight unification bout. As good as that fight is shaping up to be, a story related to it is stealing its spotlight. Well-known boxing analyst Dan Rafael reported yesterday that Segura arrived in Puerto Rico last weekend safely for the fight, but that he was reportedly also in the company of one Javier Capetillo, the trainer who allegedly padded Margarito’s gloves illegally back in January last year.
Rafael said: “Yes, that Javier Capetillo. That would be the human disgrace who loaded Antonio Margarito's gloves prior to his fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009.”
Capetillo was fired by Margarito immediately after the fight, and portrayed by the media as the culprit behind the controversy. While Margarito denied knowledge altogether or the loaded wraps, Capetillo claimed that old wraps must have somehow been misplaced in Margarito’s gym bag and used by accident.
Rafael explained that Capetillo has continued to work and manage fighters in Mexico despite the controversy, and that he will also be allowed to manage in Puerto Rico, which is “shameful.”
Almost immediately after the news leaked, Segura himself felt compelled to weigh in on the events, saying that he wishes to make clear Capetillo has never wrapped his hands.
Apart from Rafael’s column, Calderon’s trainer allegedly informed boxing authorities immediately when made aware Javier Capetillo was part of Segura’s entourage that he should be nowhere near Segura at preparation time before the fight.
OK, so admittedly it doesn’t look so great to show up for a fight with a guy who’s just been accused of the biggest offense in boxing. But Segura told reporters that Arturo Mota, the son of his manager Richard Mota, is the one who has always wrapped his hands, and will continue to do so.
As far as Capetillo goes, "Actually, he has never wrapped my hands [...] It's been that way throughout all of my career that he has wrapped my hands," said Segura. About the hand wraps, it's always been Arturo Mota who has wrapped my hands. He's very good on doing it and I've never had a problem with it. I've felt good and I've felt confident, so why change it."
According to Segura, Capetillo is his conditioning trainer. Because he isn’t licensed he will be unable to be in Segura’s corner during the fight.
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