Antonio Margarito's License Remains Suspended After Appeal
The Nevada State Athletic Commission declined to reissue a license Friday to former welterweight boxing champion Antonio Margarito. He was instead instructed to obtain approval from California, where his license was revoked last year.
On hearing the news, Margarito’s infamous promoter, Bob Arum, said: “They should've given an up or down vote on it, not sent us back to California.”
Pat Lundvall, Nevada’s head commissioner, expressed alacrity to re-license Margarito at Friday’s hearing, said the Nevada commission’s executive officer Keith Kizer.
Appearing at the hearing with his wife, Margarito was suspended in February 2009 along with then-trainer Javier Capetillo after Shane Mosley’s trainer and California authorities discovered seized plaster inserts inside Margarito’s hand wraps before a defence fight against Mosley in January. The wraps were confiscated for the fight, and Margarito suffered a ninth-defeat by TKO.
Tests done on the wraps confirmed that they contained plaster of Paris, a substance that would continue to harden as Margarito’s hands sweated during the match. The plaster also contained calcium and sulphur.
Arum mentioned that Margarito’s lawyers will determine if they will attempt to regain the license in California, a commission which has been viewed as adversarial and tough, according to the boxer’s handlers.
Arum wished to have Margarito fight in December against current world super-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, whom Margarito defeated in 2008. After the plaster incident with Mosley, Cotto has stated on the record that he believes he lost to a fighter with loaded gloves.
Despite the setbacks, Arum was full of powerful suggestions, a second being that Margarito go to Mexico City to fight No.1 rated Manny Pacquiao in November, if the latter’s planned super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fails to happen.
“Mexico has made a heck of an offer to get Pacquiao,” Arum said.
On July 26th the California commission is expected to meet and discuss Margarito. The fighter also may attend.
Top Rank president Todd Duboef, who supports Margarito, had this to say about reapplying to commission: “If we have something tangible with a signed deal for Margarito to fight in Las Vegas, I can’t see Nevada punting again if we go back to them.”
The Nevada Athletic Commission voted 4-1 against Margarito getting his license back, and suggested that he go to California. It is unclear what recourse the two-time champion will take in the future.
Many argue that the Nevada commission was right in directing Margarito, and that common sense dictated returning to the state where the incident occurred.
The discovery of the illegal hand wraps the night of the Mosley fight immediately cast suspicion on Margarito’s other bouts, especially those against Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, both of whom suffered devastating knock outs. In the case of Cotto, the beating he took may have done long-term damage to his career.
Margarito himself claimed he was unaware of the plaster wraps and had his trainer, Javier Capetillo take the fall (he has since fired the trainer).
Many argue that this kind of justification is not warranted, as Margarito should know exactly how he is fighting. For many it is simply a question of responsibility. Fighters should be well aware if their hand wraps feel unusual.
A similar argument was put forth by Luis Resto, who claimed that Panama Lewis pulled stuffing from his gloves without his knowledge before his fight with Billy Collins Jr. in 1985. Resto finally admitted responsibility in his horrific beating of Collins in the documentary “Assault in the Ring.” Both Resto and Luis were banned for their actions.
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