Antonio Margarito's chances of fighting Manny Pacquiao have been handed a blow after he was denied a licence to fight in California.
Pacquiao fight in the balance following decision
Antonio Margarito's chances of fighting Manny Pacquiao have been handed a blow after he was denied a licence to fight in California.
Margarito was suspended after an illegal plaster substance was wrapped around his hands before his WBA welterweight title fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009.
After having his hands re-wrapped, Margarito lost the fight at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, and was subsequently banned from the ring for at least a year.
Margarito insisted he knew nothing of the wraps and blamed trainer Javier Capetillo, who he later fired, but the state athletic commission did not accept his excuse.
The commission held a hearing for over five hours on Wednesday and decided to withhold Margarito's licence.
Responsible
"There is a concept in business that you can delegate authority but not responsibility," Commissioner Steve Alexander said. "I hope that the message that goes out here is that the commission operates fairly, openly and transparently.
"Public protection is at the heart and soul of this commission. Period."
Promoters Top Rank had hoped to pit Margarito against Pacquiao on November 13 in either Las Vegas or at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas - where the Filipino fought Joshua Clottey - but his application to fight in Nevada was tabled pending a decision in California, and Texas may also deny him a licence.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum did not comment and it was left to Margarito's attorney Daniel Petrocelli to comment on the decision.
"You're not dealing with someone who is a so-called repeat offender," Petrocelli told
Associated Press. "You're dealing with someone who was found guilty for the first time.
"Prior to the events of last year, Mr Margarito had fought 42 fights, including 15 title bouts, and prior to last year he had a spotless disciplinary record, he was never accused of cheating. He had an exemplary reputation in the boxing world."
Margarito and Top Rank will now consider their options, which could include fighting outside of the USA, but it is unsure whether this will include a big showdown against pound-for-pound king Pacquiao.
