Margarito, Garcia, Nava honored! March 4, 2006 By Lee Bates

All Photos: Lee Bates

World champions Alejandro Garcia, Jackie Nava and Antonio Margarito

Antonio Margarito

Gustavo Magallanes

Juan Carlos Burgos, Roberto Sandoval and Alejandro Garcia

Alirio Rivero and Roberto Sandoval

Omar Salado

The Boxing Commission

Tijuana Mayor Jorge Hank Rohn

The famous Tecate Girls

The Boxing Commission in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, honored world champions Antonio Margarito, Alejandro "Terra" Garcia and WBC female champion Jackie Nava for their victories in 2005 on Wednesday night at the Pueblo Amigo Hotel in Tijuana.

The Mayor of Tijuana Jorge Hank Rohn, was on hand to give a speech in honor of the fighers. Rohn is as famous in Mexico as current California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger is and Rohn owns not only the hotel but the chain of Caliente Sportsbooks all over Mexico and Latin America.

Margarito, Garcia, and Nava all received "Fighter of the Year" awards. Nava was the first female boxer to receive such an award. Garcia´s Manager Roberto Sandoval received "Manager of the Year" award for the fourth time in five years while Garcia´s stablemate Juan Carlos Burgos (nephew of former world champion Victor Burgos) received the "Newcomer of the Year" award going (8-0, 7 KOs) in 2005.

Rounding out the awards were Gustavo "Cubanito" Magallanes who received the honor for "Most Dramatic Fight of the Year." Fightnews.com was live at that fight. (click here for the fight report). In his bout with Rene "The Hammer" Arostegui, Magallanes entered the bout undefeated 28-0, and had to pull himself off the canvas three times before stopping Arostegui in the third round.

"Prospect of the Year" went to second generation fighter Marcos Geraldo Jr. whose father fought the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvis Hagler losing a decision to both, but in a fairly close decision to Hagler. Omar Salado and Aliro Rivero rounded out the individual awards both winning individual honors. Guilty Promotions received the award for best promoter of 2005.