Antonio Margarito banned for a year for illegal wraps

Search

New member
Joined
Apr 21, 2002
Messages
28,149
Tokens
Antonio Margarito’s boxing license was revoked for at least one year Tuesday by the California State Athletic Commission for the illegal wraps discovered on the former welterweight champion’s hands before his loss last month to Sugar Shane Mosley.

The commission’s decision effectively bans Margarito, a California-born fighter who lives in Mexico, from boxing in the U.S., since other states generally uphold such suspensions under federal law. Margarito’s trainer, Javier Capetillo, also lost his license for at least one year despite claiming he made an innocent mistake while wrapping Margarito’s hands.

The decision stunned and infuriated Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who attended the hearing in Van Nuys. Arum, Capetillo and Margarito all insisted the boxer had no knowledge of the illegal nature of the wraps, which contained a plaster-like substance nestled tightly inside the usual tape on a fighter’s fists.


“It’s an absolute outrage,” Arum told The Associated Press. “It’s something that I never thought would happen in the United States, where somebody who is totally and completely innocent, has no knowledge what happened, and didn’t do anything wrong, gets his license taken away because his trainer allegedly did something wrong. Everybody is blown away. It’s absolutely crazy.”

A few minutes before Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) entered the ring in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, officials discovered the plaster-like substance when Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, ordered Margarito’s hands to be unwrapped. A hardened substance like plaster can give a fighter heavier hands, putting extra power on his punches.

“The conduct of both Mr. Margarito and Mr. Capetillo was unacceptable and threatened the health and safety of another licensee,” said Carrie Lopez, the director of the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs, which licenses fighters. “Today’s action shows that both the Department of Consumer Affairs and the California State Athletic Commission take the issue of boxer safety very seriously, and will move quickly when a licensee’s actions threaten the safety of others.”

Mosley stopped Margarito in the ninth round of their bout at Staples Center to claim Margarito’s WBA welterweight title. The largely pro-Margarito crowd was the biggest in the arena’s history.

Arum said Capetillo “deserved what he got,” but strenuously objected to Margarito’s punishment. Margarito and Capetillo must apply with the California commission for reinstatement before their licenses can be reinstated.

Margarito could challenge the ruling in the California courts, or he could apply to the Association of Boxing Commissions to get permission to fight in states other than California.

Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, told the AP it’s too early to say whether such a strategy would allow Margarito to fight in Las Vegas in the next year. Kizer previously has said Nevada is likely to honor any ban from California.

Arum said it’s more likely Margarito’s next fight will be in Mexico, where several cities already had contacted him about hosting one of the nation’s most popular fighters despite his recent loss.

“There are legal remedies, but there are practical remedies that would keep him fighting,” Arum said.

Arum doesn’t expect Margarito to be back in the ring until June at the earliest after absorbing ample punishment from Mosley, who won every round on many observers’ scorecards in an upset victory. The result was shocking to fans who watched Margarito’s punishment of previously undefeated Miguel Cotto last summer to win the WBA belt.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,901
Messages
13,439,380
Members
99,344
Latest member
arshman4757
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com