Antonio Margarito denied licence
First Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao falls through amid controversy, now Antonio Margarito v Pacquiao looks set to go the same way.
The shamed Mexican has been denied a licence to fight in the state of California as a result of the hand-wrap scandal prior to his fight with Shane Mosley last year, thus throwing a lucrative November 13th bout with “Pacman” into jeopardy.
Few will pity a pugilist who got caught with plaster of Paris on his wraps and after a five-hour discussion the California boxing committee voted 5-1 that Margarito will not be allowed to fight in their region.
This is quite embarrassing for Bob Arum and Top Rank promotions who were a bit sneaky throwing in the disgraced former welterweight champion. Most of boxing would have been opposed to man banned for wearing loaded gloves being given a world-title shot straight after a suspension, indeed a lot of fans will have been as well, so it was a very cocksure move by Arum that has the potential to blow up in his face.
Simply assuming that Pacquiao fans will pay to watch their boy fight anyone is a bit short-sighted and that may be reflected in terms of pay-per-view sales, if it’s not going to be someone competitive at least let it be someone respected.
This added blow may put an end to proceedings with other fighters more than ready to step in to face Pacman should this fight fall apart. Margarito had already been denied a licence in Nevada and the other option of Cowboys Stadium in Texas, where Pacquiao beat Joshua Clottey is also likely to end in refusal. The only other option would be to fight outside the US, but that won’t be popular with anyone other than Margarito’s camp and is not a very likely alternative.
The likes of Sergio Martinez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Paul Williams, Mosley and others will be monitoring this situation with hawk eyes seeing what Arum and Pacquiao do next. With a light-middleweight title on the line it would be exciting to see Pacman go for his eighth weight division, but it needs to be a worthwhile contest whoever it is. Clottey didn’t exactly stretch the little mans talents too hard and nobody wants to see another walk over.
It’s a tough one to swallow for Margarito but he may have to step aside. If they do look to replace him I don’t think Mayweather has anything lined up that day.
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