Margarito feared eye injury from Pacquiao bout could end career

Reigning WBA Light Middleweight Super Champion Miguel Cotto, of Puerto Rico, left, and Mexico’s boxer Antonio Margarito pose for a photo during a news conference to promote their upcoming WBA boxing fight in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Margarito and Cotto will fight next Dec. 3 at The Madison Square Garden in New York City. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

NEW YORK—Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito said he was worried his career might be over after Manny Pacquiao’s punch fractured his orbital bone last November.

The Tijuana Tornado returns to the ring December 3 in a rematch against Miguel Cotto for the Puerto Rican star’s WBA super welterweight title at Madison Square Garden.

The 33-year-old Margarito considered retirement after surgery to repair the fracture and another procedure about two and a half months ago to fix a cataract caused by the blow. But he was assured by doctors he can still fight.

He still can’t shake talk about what happened in January 2009 when Margarito was found to have a plasterlike substance in his hand wraps before a loss to Shane Mosley.