Antonio Margarito Gets Denied a Boxing License in California

Added on Aug 18, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

Despite being the latest winner of the Pacquiao sweepstakes, things have continued to go downhill for former Welterweight Champion Antonio Margarito outside of the ring following his early 2009 loss to future hall of famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Prior to the bout Mosley’s trainer Nazim Richardson cried foul as Team Margarito was wrapping his hands in front of the state athletic commission. His hands subsequently had to be rewrapped with the original wraps being sent out for further testing.

The tests would conclude that an unapproved substance, later to be revealed as Plaster of Paris, was used. For those that don’t know, as Plaster of Paris dries to hardens thus giving the hand wraps a cast like feel underneath the boxing glove.

Once Margarito, made his way out to the ring the night would go from bad to worse and Mosley picked him apart and systematically broke him down, eventually stopping the rugged Mexican fighter known as the Tijuana Tornado in the ninth stanza.

Four days following the loss to Mosley, both Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo were handed down suspensions by the California State Athletic Commission for a length of no less than a year.

Margarito made his return to the ring the past May as he took on Roberto Garcia in a 10 round bout in his native Mexico. Margarito picked up the WBC International Junior Middleweight crown as a result of his one sided decision victory over Garcia.

Besides the win over Garcia, the only bit of good fortune Margarito has encountered as a professional fighter this year was Top Rank founder Bob Arum choosing to pit Margarito against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao for a November clash that was to be held in either Las Vegas or Mexico depending on whether or not Margarito would be granted a boxing license in California.

Even though his license was suspended in California, most states including Nevada will uphold another state’s decision to suspend a fighter, making it difficult for a fighter with a suspension in a certain state to fight virtually anywhere in the country.

That being said, it was officially announced today that Margarito was denied a license to box in the state by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), thus shattering the hopes of anyone who was hoping to catch this event ringside in the town known as “The Fight Capital of the World”.

One state commission that reviews each fighter individually and not on the rulings of other commissions is that of Texas. Arum has recently stated that one of the options to host Margarito’s bout with Pacquiao would be at the new Cowboys Stadium. Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently collaborated to bring Pacquiao’s most recent bout against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington which drew around 50,000 fans.

If the Texas commission decides to pass on approving Margarito for a November bout, the final option, according to Arum, will be in Margarito’s home country of Mexico. If it does wind up in Mexico, the city of Monterrey appears to be the frontrunner thus far.

Some can say it’s been a tough year for Margarito with his suspension and loss to Mosley. Others will argue that he’s lucky to be allowed to fight at all, let alone recieve what will most likely be a career high payday against Pacquiao.

There’s a slight chance that it lands in the Lone Star State. Odds are, it will end up in Mexico.

One thing that is for sure is that it won’t be taking place in Las Vegas.

While Antonio Margarito and Javier Capetillo might want to blame the CSAC for the result. The rest of the boxing world would probably suggest that they have no one to blame except for themselves.