Antonio Margarito Licensed By Texas, Will Fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13
California and Nevada decided Antonio Margarito hadn't learned enough from getting caught with loaded hand wraps before his 2009 fight with Shane Mosley. Texas, apparently, has no such qualms.
As predicted by those in the know, Texas granted Margarito a license today, ironically clearing the way for what will almost certainly be the biggest money fight of his career just a year and a half after the hand wrap controversy. That's because it will be against Manny Pacquiao in palatial Cowboys Stadium outside of Dallas on November 13.
Promoter Bob Arum had mentioned Las Vegas, Atlantic City and even Abu Dhabi as potential hosts for a Pacquiao-Margarito fight, but it was clear from early on that the site would be dependent on which state would be the first to grant Margarito a chance to fight again. The WBA light middleweight titleholder has fought just once since getting suspended following the Mosley fight, and that was in Mexico three months ago.
Though Nevada decided to punt on a decision to license Margarito and California barely even seemed to deliberate before denying him, Texas was equally quick to say he was okay to fight. Arum's smug confidence that his fighter would be good to go looks justified now, for better or worse.
So everyone wins: Margarito gets to fight again, Pacquiao has a chance to win another title in another weight class (however dubious) and Arum gets another event to put on in Cowboys Stadium - and without having to negotiate with another promoter. It remains to be seen if the fans will come around, since people haven't exactly been clamoring to see this match-up.
But in a year that has featured one of the least exciting boxing slates in recent memory, they just might.
