Reigning WBA Super Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto, left, of Puerto Rico and boxer Antonio Margarito, from Mexico, pose for pictures during a press conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Cotto will face Margarito in a World
Reigning WBA Super Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto, left, of Puerto Rico and boxer Antonio Margarito, from Mexico, pose for pictures during a press conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Cotto will face Margarito in a World Boxing Association boxing fight on Dec. 3 at The Madison Square Garden in New York. Ricardo Arduengo, Associated Press
By Associated Press

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

The Tijuana Tornado returns to the ring Dec. 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 2½ months ago to fix a cataract caused by the blow. But he was assured by doctors he can still fight.

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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.

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