Twenty bucks and Margarito can lace em’ up again
The guy who Oscar de la Hoya said should never be allowed in a ring again will, in fact, be allowed in a ring again. And he’ll box in it too.
Today former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) was granted a license by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations to fight WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. The two will square off at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, where it’s expected some 60,000 will come out to see the bout, which will be for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.
Susan Stanford, the public relations specialist of the department, confirmed that Margarito’s appeal was reviewed by “approximately three to four people” on Wednesday. As well, they received his application with a $20.00 check, which takes care of the mandatory “licensing fee.”
The bout will be televised on HBO and will be a top-lining, pay-per-view event. Pacquiao will be pursuing his eighth title in just as many weight classes, a feat many are hard pressed to believe can happen.
Margarito was banned in February of 2009 after his hand wraps were found to contain plaster before a scheduled bout with “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Margarito pleaded innocent and placed the rap on his now former trainer, Javier Capetillo. Mosley recently showed magnanimity by saying that he felt Margarito had been punished enough for the incident, and should be allowed to fight again.
Margarito had applied for a license in Nevada and California, but was turned down on both occasions. He was then free to apply to any other commissions nationwide, with Texas being the first after promoter Bob Arum made arrangements for the Pacquiao fight.
Arum told reporters recently that a press tour to promote the fight will kick off this week in Los Angeles, with stops in New York and Dallas.
Tags: