Tabled license request irks Margarito promoter -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By STEVE CARP, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Todd duBoef still is puzzled by the actions of the Nevada Athletic Commission in tabling Antonio Margarito's request to be licensed in the state.

The Top Rank president, who promotes the former welterweight world champion, said the four commissioners who voted to table the request in the 4-1 verdict might have misread Margarito's intent.

"He wasn't trying to make an end-run around California," duBoef said. "He has no plans to fight in California, so why would he go there to get a license? It doesn't make sense."

Margarito served a one-year suspension and had his license revoked after hard inserts were found within his hand wraps prior to his entering the ring for his Jan. 24, 2009, fight with Shane Mosley in Los Angeles. His suspension ended Feb. 10.

Margarito is a possible opponent for Manny Pacquiao should Pacquiao's proposed Nov. 13 megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fail to materialize. That fight is being targeted for Las Vegas, either at the MGM Grand Garden or the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I think the commission misunderstood Antonio's motive for appearing before them," duBoef said. "If he was going to fight in California, by all means, he should apply in California. But he's not fighting in California.

"His intention is to fight in Nevada, and that's why we went before the commission (Friday)."

When commissioner Francisco Aguilar asked Margarito during the two hours spent on the agenda item whether he had a fight planned, Margarito said no. DuBoef said he made a mistake in not stepping in at that point and clarifying the situation.

"I probably should have said something," duBoef said. "But the point is, (Margarito) has no intention to fight in California. He intends to fight in Nevada. So why go to California? Where is California's incentive to license Margarito if he's not going to fight there? They don't benefit at all by licensing him, so why would they?"

DuBoef said the plan for Margarito is to see what happens with Pacquiao-Mayweather. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum recently said that if Mayweather doesn't sign to fight Pacquiao by mid-July, Pacquiao will move on and they can revisit making the megafight in 2011. DuBoef said he thinks a decision will come by the end of this week.

If Mayweather passes, Top Rank is ready to make a Pacquiao-Margarito fight at the MGM Grand on Nov. 13. If Mayweather accepts, Margarito could face Miguel Cotto in a rematch of their July 26, 2008, fight at the MGM, which Margarito won. It also was the last time Margarito fought in Nevada.

"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," duBoef said. "The circumstances would be much different, and I'd be hopeful they would give him a license."

■ MARQUEZ-DIAZ OFFICIALS -- The NAC selected Vic Drakulich to referee the July 31 junior welterweight rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz at Mandalay Bay. The judges will be Patricia Morse-Jarman, Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge, all from Las Vegas.

Robert Byrd has been selected to work the WBO middleweight title bout on the card between Daniel Jacobs and Dmitry Pirog. The judges will be Las Vegas' C.J. Ross, Duane Ford and Paul Smith.

■ NEW INSPECTOR -- The commission approved Alex Aragonez as an inspector. Aragonez, 40, works for the Clark County School District as a technical specialist.

■ CLUB SHOWS -- After taking time off to regroup following the April 10 Evander Holyfield-Frans Botha fight at the Thomas & Mack Center, Crown Boxing plans to return to doing club shows at the Mardi Gras Ballroom at The Orleans, beginning Aug. 20. Crown also has an Oct. 22 show planned for The Orleans.

California promoter Roy Englebrecht also is coming back to Nevada, as he plans to host a fight card Oct. 16 at the Silverton Hotel and Casino.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.

Source: lvrj.com

Donaire is the only one who can carry torch after Pacquiao -- PhilBoxing

By Ed C. Tolentino, PhilBoxing.com

While it remains to be seen if Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will lace on the gloves again, it cannot be denied that the clock is winding down on his illustrious career. Pacquiao has already made the cross-over to the House of Representatives and with each passing day at the hallowed halls of Congress, the seven-time world champion is arguably getting more convinced that he has found life after boxing.

Which begs the 64-peso question: Who will carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao?

On Sunday, featherweight Bernabe Concepcion became the latest Pacquiao-wannabe to bite the dust. Looking to shave the lion (WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez) right inside his den (Puerto Rico), Concepcion ended up looking like a sacrificial lamb. Except for the Hail Mary left that nearly knocked the day lights out of Lopez in the first round, Concepcion did not really have a prayer, much less a solid offensive fight plan, in the fight and was predictably bamboozled.

Early in the card, super bantamweight Eden Sonsona blew a wide lead over Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo and ended up getting stopped in nine rounds. Sonsona was more than holding his own until the 5th round, when Oquendo nailed him with a huge blow to the breadbasket. Oquendo kept pounding the body until Sonsona wilted in the ninth round. While it may be argued that Oquendo was benefited by low blows and a referee who appeared to be suffering from some cataract problems, the fact remains that in a fight that was supposed to be a gut check, Sonsona ended up flat on his back.

WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire was the only Filipino to emerge from Puerto Rico with his head held high. Donaire methodically dissected Mexican power puncher Hernan “Tyson” Marquez before stopping him for good in the eighth with a solid left.

So clinical was Donaire’s demolition of Marquez that he should be, from hereon, labelled “Doctor Donaire” instead of the “Filipino Flash.”

Skill-wise, Donaire once again showed that he is the only Filipino fighter right now who can carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao archives the gloves. Donaire, however, needs to step up to the big leagues. An impending showdown with Fernando Montiel might just give his career back the momentum it lost after his spectacular knockout win over Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.

Outside Donaire, Philippine boxing is littered with prospects who want to be the next Pacquiao overnight.

Pacquiao has generously supported a host of promising Filipino fighters, including Concepcion. Pacquiao cannot do the fighting for them, which means these local prospects of ours must step up to the challenge and prove themselves worthy.

Thus far, only Donaire is moving to that direction.

Source: philboxing.com

Nonito Donaire Stops Hernan Marquez in Eighth Round -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champion Nonito Donaire dropped his rival with a left hook and left uppercut, respectively, in the fifth and eighth rounds -- the second time for good -- on the way to scoring his 24th victory against one loss, and his 16th knockout against challenger Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in Saturday night's Showtime-televised bout at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," the 27-year-old Donaire fought the first four rounds from a southpaw stance for the first time in his career, but, nevertheless, improved his winning streak to 23 fights with knockouts against eight of his last 10 opponents.

The 21-year-old Marquez, who was coming off of his first loss in March's unanimous decision to Richie Mepranum, slipped to 25-2 with 18 knockouts.

"You know, I wanted some more rounds. I knew that I could figure him out right away if I returned to my regular right-handed style. But I wanted to do my lefty style," said Donaire. "I really practiced for it, and everybody believed in me. I was very confident going in there. But he came out really tough. I couldn't counter him the way that I had done against other guys. So I took some beating, but I think that I needed that."

A Philippines native with long-range goals that include being a four-to-five division champion, the nearly 5-foot-7 Donaire has had trouble remaining at 115 pounds and said that Marquez represented his final fight at that weight.

In fact, from June of 2004 through November of 2005, Donaire fought six times as a bantamweight (118 pounds), going 6-0 with three knockouts.

In his last bout on Feb. 13, Donaire physically dwarfed 29-year-old Manuel Vargas (26-5-1, 11 KOs), whom he flattened in the third round.

A San Leandro, Calif. resident, Donaire constantly draws comparisons to his Filipino countryman, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), a seven-division titlist and current holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

Donaire would next like a shot at 31-year-old, WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) champion Fernando Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs), who has a July 17 clash with Rafael Concepcion (14-4-1, 8 KOs) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

Montiel is coming off of April's fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa, this after having scored February's first-round knockout over Ciso Morales.

"As of now, we have Montiel and we have other guys that we can work on fighting and to look ahead to," said Donaire. "This was a learning experience for me tonight."

In the first round, Donaire was troubled by Marquez's right hand early. Nevertheless, Donaire won the round over the latter stages largely with a big right hand.

Marquez, in his first bout under trainer Rudy Perez, had more second-round success out of his own southpaw stance with his right jab and follow-up left hooks. Donaire fought off of the ropes in the third round, landing telling left hooks and left uppercuts, yet again, late in the round.

Donaire went more to the left hooks and left uppercuts early in the fourth, even as he boxed, in retreat. Donaire landed two hard left uppercuts midway through the fourth, also following up with lead left hands and decent right jabs that began to cause swelling and puffiness beneath Marquez's eyes.

Donaire switched back to his right hand stance in the fifth round and enjoyed immediate success, nailing and dropping Marquez with a left hook to the temple. Marquez was up at the count of eight, but took more punishment.

"I definitely like my left hand side. I feel so much more power on my left hand side, but you haven't seen it yet," said Donaire. "It's just a matter of time where you are going to see a Pernell Whitaker or a Marvelous Marvin Hagler with that style. That's what I want to do."

Donaire wobbled Marquez early in the sixth with another left, and, later, a right hand that was followed by a left jab. Sensing that his man was ready to go, Donaire went more frequently with right hands to the head and body which repeatedly backed up Marquez.

Told by his corner not to "let Marquez survive," Donaire absorbed some early, seventh-round combinations before settling in with some nice head and shoulder movement while fighting tall from behind his left jab. Donaire punished Marquez with a left-right-left uppercut series late in the seventh, as well as a right-left-right volley before the bell.

The eighth saw more of Donaire's punishing left jab reaching the swelling face of Marquez, whom he also nailed with straight rights and right uppercuts. A looping right uppercut hurt Marquez, as did an assortment of subsequent right and left hands -- the last of which lifted and dropped Marquez.

Marquez rose, and intended to continue, but Perez signaled for the referee, Roberto Ramirez, to wave an end to the fight.

"I knew that I could make him miss, because he ducks down a lot. And every time that I made him miss, I was going throw an uppercut, and that's what landed every time," said Donaire. "Every time that he missed, he left himself open for an uppercut. And I knew that if I turned to the right hand, that I would get him right away."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Money Talks: The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather JR Superfight Complications -- Ringside Report

By Joe Wilson, Ringside Report

Over the past few months professional boxing has delivered some good match- ups. The first half of this year has not been that bad! Even though the biggest fight of the decade fell apart, the sport continued to stride. With the access of HBO Sports, Showtime and ESPN2, boxing is alive and well. There have been some exciting fights on all of these networks.

We enjoy HBO Boxing, HBO Boxing After Dark, Showtime’s Super Six and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Some of these events were with the best fighters boxing has to offer, such as; Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Joshua Clottey, Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather JR.

These fighters and there were some I didn’t mention here, have already fought in this first half of 2010. The sport is off to a good start. It seemed that most of the match ups went pretty well, even the negotiations.

Why is Floyd Mayweather JR. and Manny Pacquiao fight so complicated?

First of all, these two fighters are special, but human. Sometimes the bigger the demand, the more complicated it gets. The public has made these two special fighters immortals. To add to that, they know how important they are to boxing fans. Right now these two fighters are sitting at the very top of the world in boxing with their promoters strapped to their ankles.

Even though we have enjoyed some good fights this year, it seems the one everybody wants to see is Floyd “Money” Mayweather JR. vs. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. It seems the boxing public do not care what other good match ups are out there and I’m sure there are some. Right now it seems nothing can fill this void, except that fight. Fight fans are like junkies needing a fix when it comes to these guys. These two fighters know the magnitude of this fight and what it’s worth in dollars, which has somewhat made them gods.

They are so big that their promoters have very little power over them. Turn the calendar back five years and these two fighters were known only by boxing fans, now they are both household names. When you think of one, you automatically think of the other. That’s why this fight has to happen. They are forever linked together even if a fight never materializes.

I don’t believe either fighter is afraid of the other. Fighting is what they are trained to do, it’s their job. Some believe the media and all the hype around it is what delaying this match. The promoters and the way they have handled things has made this fight complicated. What happen to the days when a both promoters get the signatures of their fighter, and then put together a contract they both agree on, then make the announcement?

Say what you want about Don King, I must admit, I can’t remember any of the big fights that he promoted in the past (and he’s promoted some big ones); go through this kind of behavior. This is ridiculous! These two fighters are in the position to take part in one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport, and they continue to drag their feet.

Marketing a fight is a good thing, but enough already… This fight doesn’t need anymore marketing. If it was a fruit it would have fallen off the tree already, “it can only get so ripe.” These two fighters are at the very top of their game right now and it would be sad to see this fight fall apart for a second time.

There should be no questions regarding the conditioning of these fighters come fight time, because neither fighter has showed problems in the past. Floyd Mayweather, JR., is undefeated as a boxer. He has beaten everyone who’s stepped in the ring with him. Winning is all he knows. Mayweather JR. is one of the smartest fighters in the ring today. He usually figures his opponent out within the first few rounds.

By the middle rounds, he starts to punish his opponents. It’s like watching something on the Discovery Channel. There are certain animals like the lion for instance. I’ve seen the lion catch its prey and not kill it right away. They seem to enjoy seeing their prey struggle first, before taking it out. Floyd Mayweather, JR., has displayed this type of embodiment in the ring against his opponents.

What makes Manny Pacquiao different from Mayweathers JR’s past opponents?

It is his will to win. He is a southpaw who is more skillful and hits harder than Zab Judah, the last southpaw Mayweather JR. faced. Judah gave Mayweather, JR., problems early in their fight. Manny Pacquiao has improved tremendously over the past few years. He brings everything he has, when he steps in the ring and lately, he’s been beating up elite fighters, left and right.

Fight fans already know if anyone out there who can give Floyd some problems or maybe even his first loss, is none other than Manny Pacquiao. That’s what makes this fight so exciting! Pacquiao has speed and power which keeps most of his opponents on their toes. He brings the fight to his opponents and once he gets into a rhythm he usually takes them out.

The biggest problem I see for Pacquiao, if and when this fight takes place is his defense. Well, some would say a good offense makes up for a bad defense, and in most cases this would be true, but not with Mayweather JR. No one knows how well their offense will work until in the ring with him. He is hard to hit clean. During the Shane Mosley fight back in early May; Mayweather JR. got hit clean in round two, but never hit clean again throughout the whole fight.

He has a way of making adjustments in the ring. If Pacquiao doesn’t move his head while fighting Floyd, he will get beaten badly. Trainer Freddie Roach better put in some serious work regarding the defense and head movement, because Floyd’s hands are lightening fast. He will not let Pacquiao get out a single round without tasting some leather. That’s the type of fighter he’s dealing with in “Money” Mayweather.

This fight can become very ugly going into the later rounds, if it ends up there. Floyd Mayweather JR. lives for big moments when he can shut up his haters. It’s these kinds of fights that he shows up very big, and usually wins by a large margin. As a boxing fan myself, I like both fighters and what they share alike is; they both seem to be great athletes who will put it all on the line to be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Tell me what individual would want to live his life 30 to 40 years from now, knowing that he walked away from what could have been the biggest fight in the history of boxing, only because there was a disagreement regarding random drug testing. It’s a given, either way these two names will forever be linked together, so why not give the boxing fans what they want and also pocket one of the biggest paychecks in the history of the sport?

Source: ringsidereport.com

Manny Pacquiao Would Fight Antonio Margarito 'Outside of U.S.' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao would consider fighting WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) king Miguel Cotto or ex-world champion Antonio Margarito in a clash outside of the United States if a mega bout can't be made with undefeated welterweight (147 pounds) rival Floyd Mayweather, the Filipino titlist's adviser, Michael Koncz, told FanHouse on Friday.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 39 knockouts) has agreed in principle to put his WBO welterweight belt on the line against Mayweather, having given his unbeaten counterpart until mid-July -- or next weekend -- to sign the contract, Koncz said.

If agreed upon, Mayweather-Pacquiao would likely take place in Las Vegas on the proposed date of Nov. 13.

In the meantime, Koncz has begun to consider a rematch with Puerto Rico's Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) -- whom Pacquiao dethroned as WBO welterweight champ by 12th-round knockout in November -- or a match up opposite Mexico's Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs).

Margarito, however, still is not legal to fight in America, this after his boxing license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission following an illegal hand-wrapping scandal in January 2009. Margarito is coming off of May's 10-round, unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia in a junior middleweight clash that was fought in Mexico, which licensed him for the bout.

"As a matter of fact, we are looking at a venue outside of the U.S., and it doesn't make a difference whether it's Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto. It's not Mexico, but until I have a concrete deal in place, I don't want to divulge what country that is," said Koncz.

"But we're waiting on our options with Floyd Mayweather before considering either of those two as opponents," said Koncz. "And we have not made a decision as to whether Manny would be going to fight Cotto or Margarito."

Margarito had been suspended until Feb. 11 by the CSAC after a ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January 2009 dethroned him as WBA champion. Prior to the bout, Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovered that the Mexican's fist wrappings included a plaster-like substance that was subsequently removed and confiscated.

On Friday, Margarito (pictured at right) unsuccessfully applied for a license in Nevada, whose state athletic commission ruled that he must re-apply in California before attempting to fight anywhere in the United States.

Margarito testified to the NSAC that he had no knowledge of the wrappings -- instead blaming his trainer, Javier Capetillo, for the illegal substance in his gloves.

"The decision that the commission made on Margarito has a small bearing, obviously, in that it just eliminates Nevada from the picture," Koncz said. "But it doesn't eliminate a possible fight with Manny. If Manny decides to fight Margarito, just because he got denied in Nevada -- that's not going to squash the fight."

Koncz is in Puerto Rico in support of challenger Bernabe Concepcion, who will try to dethrone WBO featherweight (126 pounds) champion Juan Manuel Lopez there on Saturday night. While in Puerto Rico, Koncz said that he met with Cotto on Monday and discussed a potential rematch with Pacquiao.

"In a nutshell, I had a casual dinner with Miguel and Brian, Miguel's translator, who were both there. Some of it was just bull**** talk, and then, the rest was about the question of doing the rematch with Manny. That's the extent of what I want to reveal of our conversation," said Koncz.

"The question was whether Miguel is interested in a rematch with Manny, and the answer from Miguel was 'yes.' The rest of the conversation is private," said Koncz. "We agreed that we wouldn't talk publicly or disclose what else we had talked about."

Asked if he was expecting Mayweather to sign the contract for a bout with Pacquiao, Koncz said, "Read between the lines."

"If we thought that we were going to receive a contract next week, do you think that I would be looking around to see what our options are? Probably not. So we're considering all of our options because, in another week, we don't want to be caught with our pants down," said Koncz.

"If the fight is made with Floyd, and if he signs the contract, then so be it. And if he doesn't sign it, we're not sitting around waiting, as I have said many times," said Koncz. "So we're preparing to move on, looking at our options in the event that we don't receive a contract from Floyd next week."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Margarito rolls snake eyes, do we get stuck with Cotto-Pacquiao rehash? -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Exalting form over substance, the Nevada State Athletic Commission tabled the boxing license application of Mexican Antonio Maragrito Friday.

President Obama was in Las Vegas but, evidently, is not taking any position on this vital matter. Bam Bam was there to push for Congress to inject more money into “green energy” projects and to hold some fundraisers for Sen. Harry Reid.

The NSAC vote was 4-1 to defer the “Margocheato” request. The commission said that Margarito should go before the Calfornia commission, which handed him a one year boxing ban after he was caught in the dressing room before his loss to Shane Mosley with illegally loaded handwraps.

Margarito promoter Bob Arum has been as stubborn as a mule in steering the fighter, whose suspension time is over in the Golden State, everywhere but California.

There was an aborted application in Texas and now this fumble in Nevada. But note Nevada's deferral of his application was procedural and never got to the merits.

If Margarito goes hat in hand, as I've often suggested to California and gets their nod, you can bet his second appearance in Nevada will be successful.

Let's hope King Floyd Maywweather deigns by July 17 (next Saturday) to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 or else Arum will reheat and rehash Pacman-Miguel Cotto.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Haye bananas to snub split -- The Sun

By FRANK WARREN, The Sun

AMERICAN TV paymasters HBO have pulled the plug on heavyweight boxing.
They say not enough people are interested in the States.

It is a blow to the division and especially to the Klitschko brothers, who have benefited most from the broadcasters' money.

Yet they will not be on the breadline just yet. Their fights in Germany attract crowds in excess of 60,000, as well as getting massive viewing figures on German TV.

The only way HBO will reverse their decision is if one of the Klitschkos fights David Haye or an American star hits the scene.

At the moment, neither seems likely.

Both Vitali and Wladimir want the Haye fight but it looks like The Haye-maker is stalling. This week he said he would not bow to the brothers' unreasonable financial demands.

It appears the nub of their dispute is how television money should be split.

Haye wants all the British TV revenue and says the Klitschkos can keep all the German cash. But the Klitschkos want 50-50 across the board.

It does not seem a huge stumbling block to me, as that was the deal when Ricky Hatton fought Manny Pacquiao.

The Klitschkos are the bigger draw and Haye, if he wants the fight, should cede some ground.

After all, he has agreed to fight both brothers for less money in the past only to back out.

Haye also has only one of the world titles, with the brothers holding the other three. I don't see where else he is going to get a better offer.

Another problem is that German outfit Sauerland Promotions have a stake in Haye's next two fights, while Golden Boy also say they have the US rights to represent Haye there.

Kalle Sauerland said: "David is keen on fighting one of the Klitschko brothers. But the devil is in the financial details."

So what is Haye's next move? There was talk of a fight with Audley Harrison. But Haye poured cold water on the match by stating he would 'never' share a ring with Harrison because Audley did not deserve the chance.

A lot of people, me included, will agree. The question is, who will be in the opposite corner to Haye in November?

Source: thesun.co.uk

Margarito's plans stymied by tabling -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito's plans for a major fall fight in Las Vegas, be it with Manny Pacquiao or a rematch with Miguel Cotto, the two bouts promoter Top Rank has talked about, were dealt a serious blow Friday when the Nevada State Athletic Commission tabled his application for a boxing license.

After a spirited hearing that lasted nearly two hours, the panel voted 4-1 to table his application, telling Margarito that he must first reapply for a license in California before Nevada will again consider his request. By tabling the application, it was not outright denied. Had the commission formally denied it, Margarito would not have been eligible to apply in Nevada again for a year.

The California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito's license following his Jan. 24, 2009 ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in a welterweight championship fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles over a hand-wrapping scandal that erupted in the dressing room in the moments before he was supposed to walk to the ring.

Naazim Richardson, Mosley's trainer, objected to the way Margarito's hands been wrapped and when California officials eventually cut off the wraps to check them, illegal pads coated in a plaster-like substance, which had escaped the notice of the commission inspector who oversaw the wrapping procedure, were discovered in each wrap.

Margarito pleaded ignorance during the California hearing before it voted to revoke his license, as well as that of his trainer Javier Capetillo, who had wrapped his hands. Margarito, who has severed ties with Capetillo, pleaded ignorance again when questioned by Nevada commissioners.

"If I would have noticed there was something irregular or wrong I would have been the first person to say I can't go out and fight," Margarito said through a translator.

A year after the revocation, Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) was eligible to reapply for a license anywhere he wanted. Although he could have fought outside of the United States during the revocation, that likely would have reflected poorly on him when he came back to an American commission for a license. So he sat for more than a year before Mexican officials rubber stamped a license for him and he outpointed Roberto Garcia in a junior middleweight bout on May 8.

But the United States is where the big money fights are and rather than apply for a license in California, where Margarito has a lawsuit pending against the commission in the California Court of Appeals, he applied in Nevada, which is where Top Rank planned for him to fight.

While the Nevada commission could have licensed him, the feeling was that he should first go to California, which is most familiar with his case.

"I think he needs to go to California and clean this matter up," commissioner Raymond "Skip" Avansino said during the hearing. "They should be the first to rule."

Commission chairwoman Pat Lundvall, the lone dissenting vote, argued strongly on Margarito's behalf both for taking a vote and for licensing him.

"I do not think he has a duty legally or morally to go back to California," she said. "It is incumbent upon this commission to act upon the application. ... There is no value in kicking the can down the road."

In the end, Lundvall was outvoted despite her strenuous objection.

"We were hopeful that the commission would rule on the application after hearing our presentation and hearing Antonio answer all of their questions. He did and he did magnificently," David Marroso, Margarito's attorney, told ESPN.com after the hearing. "We're disappointed in their decision to, using their words, kick the can down the road, but we heard their instructions. Antonio, his family, the lawyers and Top Rank will huddle and decide what options we'll pursue.

"We believe he has paid his price. He's taken responsibility. We will assess our options and keep fighting just like he's always done. We will continue to fight. He didn't become Antonio Margarito by just staying down."

"I understand their position, but don't necessarily agree with it," said Top Rank president Todd duBoef, who was at the hearing while Top Rank chairman Bob Arum was in Puerto Rico promoting Saturday's Juan Manuel Lopez-Bernabe Concepcion featherweight title fight. "He has served his punishment in California and is not looking to fight in California, so why apply there for a license?

"The Margarito side doesn't believe the California commission was objective [when the license was revoked] and that they could not get an objective hearing from California now. They were hoping that Nevada would be more objective and see that a commission that Margarito is currently in litigation with would be compromised."

After Marroso made a presentation to the commission, Margarito was questioned at length about his hand wraps, the methods used to wrap his hands and about why he didn't apply in California before coming to Nevada.

"Before the fight, my trainer Javier Capetillo, my former trainer, put a knuckle pad made of gauze on my hand," Margarito said through a translator. "I learned later the knuckle pad had something irregular on the inside but I didn't know that truthfully in the moment. The knuckle pad didn't seem different to ones he had put on my hands before.


"I never felt anything hard or irregular. Everything I felt was that it was a knuckle pad that was normal. In that moment, I was focused on one thing and that was preparing myself to go out to the fight with Mosley."

Margarito said he had many opportunities to take fights out of the country during the time his license was revoked but elected not to out of respect for the American commissions.

"I thought about it and talked to my family and decided not to fight," Margarito said.

He told the commission he had severed ties with Capetillo and that "over the past year I have taken steps, spoken to my new trainer [Robert Garcia] about the wrapping process and about not breaking the rules. I have paid a very high price this past year. ... But I think I've earned the right to come before you and ask respectfully for a license to restore my reputation with the fans.

"I accept responsibility because they are my hands and that is why I have taken steps to make sure this never happens again."

When he was questioned about why he came to Nevada before going to California, Marroso brought up the pending lawsuit and Margarito said he had already served California's punishment.

"I think even today they probably wouldn't give me a license and I don't think that's fair," he said.

Marroso said despite Margarito's uneasy feelings about how he would be treated in California, that might be where they are headed.

"We could take the commission's instructions and proceed to California," he said. "This is not something we expected so it's not something we had thought through. We'll let Antonio digest this. We're going to digest it and huddle and come up with a game plan. It won't be long until the game plan is set and we act on it."

Margarito, 32, could go to California, he could fight again outside the United States or he could apply in another state.

"I think everybody was disappointed," duBoef said. "I think he's being victimized by red tape and a process prohibiting him from making a living. I sat next to his wife and you know she wonders where the next paycheck is coming from and that's very difficult."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Commission disables Antonio Margarito’s application for boxing license -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

Antonio Margarito appeared before the Nevada State Athletic Commission Friday to apply for a boxing license.

It appears he'll have to do so before the commission in California to get what he wants.

In a 4-1 vote, the commission tabled Margarito's application for a license and encouraged him to return to the California State Athletic Commission that revoked his license for a year in February 2009. Although there is no legal requirement Margarito receive his license there, those in favor of the decision stated California seemed to be a more appropriate venue for the discussion.

Margarito (38-6) received the one-year revocation after a California inspector found illegal substances placed in his hand wraps prior to a WBA welterweight title fight against Shane Mosley on Jan. 24, 2009, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Although the 32-year-old fighter has fully served that punishment, he and attorney David Marroso are hesitant to return to the California commission because of a pending lawsuit they filed as an appeal to its decision.

"We're very disappointed in the commission's decision," Marroso said. "We understand it though and we heard their suggestions. One thing I can tell you, and Antonio would agree with me, is we're not done fighting."

As he did during his February 2009 hearing with the California commission, Margarito stuck to his claim he had no knowledge that his trainer at the time, Javier Capetillo, had placed an irregular substance into his hand wraps for the Mosley fight.

The illegal substance was discovered when Mosley's trainer, Nazim Richardson, requested that Margarito's knuckle pads be inspected closer.

Margarito has replaced Capetillo with Robert Garcia and said he plans on paying closer attention to the details associated with his equipment before a fight.

"There's been a lot of misrepresentation on what happened in January," Margarito said. "I didn't have plaster casts on my hands like some people have commented.

"My former trainer put knuckle pads on that had irregular substances inside. I didn't know about them, truthfully. I would have been the first person to say, 'I can't go out and fight,' if I had known. But I didn't feel anything."

Marroso said he was unsure when Margarito would take his case to the California commission.

Margarito, who fought and won his most recent fight May 8 over Roberto Garcia in Mexico, said he has been waiting to negotiate the terms of his first fight back in the United States until after he's licensed.

It's been reported that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is looking to set Margarito up in a rematch with Miguel Cotto, whom he defeated via TKO in 2008. That fight likely would occur in Las Vegas in December, should Margarito receive his license by then.

In addition to disabling Margarito's request, the commission selected its officials for a lightweight title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz scheduled for July 31 at Mandalay Bay.

Referee Vic Drakulich will oversee the action in the ring. The three judges scoring the fight will be Patricia Morse Jarman, Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Arum: 'Gutless' Commission Makes Margarito Re-Apply in California -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Former world champion Antonio Margarito, whose boxing license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission following an illegal hand-wrapping scandal, must re-apply for his license in California before attempting to fight anywhere in the United States in accordance with Friday's ruling by a five-member panel of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) is coming off of May's 10-round, unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia in a junior middleweight (154 pounds) clash that was fought in Mexico, which licensed him for the bout.

The performance ended a more than one-year ring absence for Margarito, who had been suspended by the CSAC after a ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January of 2009 dethroned him as WBA champion.

Margarito's ring exile stemmed from the discovery by Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, that the Mexican's fist wrappings included a plaster-like substance that was subsequently removed and confiscated prior to the fight.

Margarito, whose suspension ended on February 11, testified to the NSAC that he had no knowledge of the wrappings, instead blaming his trainer, Javier Capetillo, for the illegal substance in his gloves.

"The commission ruled by a four-to-one vote that Mr. Margarito's application to the Nevada Commission be tabled until he applies and has had an application heard for a California license by its commission. He does not have to be licensed by California, however, before coming back to us. He just needs to apply and have his case heard by the California commission before he comes back to us," said NSAC director, Keith Kizer.

"How they [California] vote on it and what they decide is up to them, but whether he's denied or approved by the California commission, he can then come back to us," said Kizer, adding that Margarito was accompanied to the hearing by his wife, an attorney and Top Rank Promotions' president, Todd duBoef, among others.

"Whether or not he gets a license in Nevada is not contingent on him getting a license by their [California's] commission, but it's contingent on him going there and applying and having his case heard by the California commission," said Kizer. "My understanding is that I don't believe that he has a license right now from any commission in the United States that allows him to fight."

The lone vote in favor of Margarito came from chairwoman Pat Lundvall. Saying that she did not "see in any value" the NSAC "kicking the can down the road," Lundvall strongly disagreed with that decision but was out-voted by the other four members of her panel.

"The other thing that was critically important to me upon review of all of these materials is the fact that the California commission made no findings of responsibility. They made no finding of culpability on an individual or a direct basis by Mr. Margarito," said Lundvall.

"What they found is the culpability laying with his trainer, and that [Margarito,] as the captain of his ship, to use their language, was responsible for his team, and that he needed to accept full responsibility for his team's effort," said Lundvall. "And he has served out the punishment, and he has served out the time. I don't see why we should fault him because of his team-members. Therefore, that's why I would support his application."

The commission, nevertheless, tabled its decision on Margarito, whom it instructed to return to California, which "has all of the information, which held a hearing, and, get it cleared up first," according to one member.

The motion allows Margarito the possibility of being reinstated in Nevada, but only after after the CSAC has made a decision. A flat out denial of Margarito's license by the NSAC would have effectively resulted in another, year-long, nationwide ban.

"It would be my motion to accept this application. I think that this is a fighter who has served his time, so-to-speak. He's done his punishment. We are a society by which when someone has served whatever punishment has been meted out by that society, then what we do, is we accept him back into it," said Lundvall.

"We don't give them some type of permanent revocation of a license, or to give them some type of a permanent sanction that forbids them from engaging their livelihood," said Lundvall. "So the invididual who has come before us, asking us to make a decision, yay, or nay, on his application to Nevada, I think that he deserves that kind of an answer rather than to write it off on somebody else."

Margarito's promoter, Bob Arum, called Friday's decision "an absolute outrage," adding that it "only means that Margarito's next big fight will be is going to be in Mexico" against either seven-division champion and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Manny Pacquiao, in November, or newly-crown WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Miguel Cotto in December.

Pacquiao, however, is in negotiations for a potential bout against Floyd Mayweather that could happen in either November of May.

"The only person with an b**** on that commission is the chairwoman, Pat Lundvall, I mean, that is an absolute outrage not to have voted on this licensing decision. It's just an outrage," said Arum. "Pat Lundvall said it best: This demanded an up or a down vote. So I am totally, totally chagrined at how gutless the members of the commission are. The chairwoman was absolutely correct."

Margarito, who has filed a lawsuit against California, has fought in that state more than a dozen times during his career. But Margarito was not granted a license to return to the ring for the undercard of Pacquiao's March 13, unanimous decision victory over Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium. He would have fought Carson Jones (26-7-1, 15 KOs).

Arum said then that he believed that Margarito's next fight "will be in the United States," mentioning that he hoped "to get Margarito licensed in various states, as he should be," such as "Nevada, or Texas, one of those places."

"[Margarito] could apply in Texas, or apply for a license in any other state," said Kizer. "But his application here in Nevada would be held until he is heard in California and they decide however they see fit."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com