WBC praises one commission, criticizes another
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has issued a formal statement praising the Texas Boxing Commission for granting Antonio Margarito’s request to become a licensed boxer.
Last week, Margarito was issued a license by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations after repeated attempts at obtaining a license in California and Nevada proved unsuccessful.
In a statement on their website, the WBC said: “It gives great pleasure to the World Boxing Council to see the honest, respectful and positive attitude of the Texas Boxing Commission as they issued Mexican fighter, Antonio Margarito, a boxer´s license, and he will be able to fight Manny Pacquiao this coming November 13th, at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, in Texas.” The statement continued, “...the World Boxing Council and the Mexican boxing commissions respect the punishment given by the California State Athletic Commission of one year of suspension for Antonio Margarito, when we think that Margarito was not guilty of the bandages placed by his trainer, action that we do consider one of the biggest violations of boxing rules, reason for which the trainer was suspended for life.” A subsequent paragraph edges on criticizing the California State Commission for rejecting Margarito’s appeal for a license.
The incident in question involved a January 2009 bout between Antonio Margarito and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, where a hardened substance was found in Margarito’s hand wraps before the fight. The California Commission was immediately informed and Margarito’s license revoked soon after.
The WBC criticized the California Commission for holding Margarito accountable, when, according to them, Margarito’s former trainer Javier Capetillo was the culpable party. They refer to a letter signed by Capetillo in which the trainer, who was banned for life due to the incident, states that Margarito was unaware of hand wrapping procedures.
The November 13 bout between Pacquiao and Margarito will be for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.
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