Margarito Vs. Pacquiao Fight Is Now On

10:29 PM // 0 comments // Ian Purugganan // Category: Margarito , Pacquiao //

Antonio Margarito was granted a Boxing License and is now eligible to fight Manny Pacquiao in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas on November 13. Bring it On!

TWO-time world champion Antonio Margarito is about to make the richest fight of his colorful but controversial boxing career.

And to think it was only a year ago when he was banned from fighting and branded as one of the most disgraced figures in the rich history of the sport.

Margarito’s title bout with Manny Pacquiao was formalized Thursday when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation granted the Mexican the license to fight in the state, paving the way for the Nov. 13 duel to go on as scheduled at the multi-billion Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

The fight will be the first in the U.S. for the ‘Tijuana Tornado’ in more than a year since losing a ninth round technical knockout against Sugar Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in January of 2009.

The 32-year-old Margarito was caught with a loaded hand wraps prior to the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight bout, a major offense that resulted in the revocation of his license and being banned from fighting for a year.

It also led to the parting of ways between him and long-time trainer Javier Capetillo, the veteran corner man and father figure to Margarito, whom he accused of being responsible for the loaded hand wraps he had for the Mosley fight.

But now, he’s back and all set to face the fighter universally regarded as the best in the world, pound-for-pound. Pacquiao is expected to earn $15 million and more from the fight, while Margarito could take home as much as $4 to $5 million.

“I have dedicated my life to giving the fans of the sport entertainment and excitement. On Nov. 13, this great opportunity will ultimately be fulfilled when I battle Manny Pacquiao,” said Margarito in a statement.

The Mexican also expressed his gratitude to the state of Texas for granting him a boxing license, something denied of him by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission when he tried to re-apply shortly after his one-year suspension was over.

“I want to thank the state of Texas for granting me a boxing license which enables me to continue my passion for the sport of boxing in the United States,” added Margarito, whose first comeback fight following the lifting of his suspension was a 10-round unanimous decision against Roberto Garcia in Mexico.

Unlike in the CSAC case when it held a hearing to determine the fate of Margarito, the Texas commission just went through the Mexican’s completed application, checked his proper medical paperwork and made him pay the $20 fee before being granted a license.

“After a thorough review of his application it was determined Mr. Margarito met the requirements of the Texas Combative Sports Act and Rules,” said William Kuntz, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

None was happy for Margarito than Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who holds the promotional rights on both the Mexican and Pacquiao.

“For me, it was like a terrible nightmare, this whole thing, and now the sun is shining,” said Arum in an interview by ESPN from France where he is currently vacationing.

“I really believe that it will be a very competitive fight. One guy is much bigger and stronger (Margarito) and the other guy (Pacquiao) is quicker and hits with both hands. It will be a fascinating fight to watch.”

Arum already has contingency plans if and when Margarito fails to get a license in Texas, mentioning Mexico or Abu Dhabi as possible alternative site for the fight.

But with Texas acceding, Arum is taking the fight at the Cowboys Stadium, with hopes of surpassing the record crowd of 50,994 – one of the largest in U.S. boxing history – that watched Pacquiao’s lopsided win over Joshua Clottey last March for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

“I think the crowd will be much bigger and Jerry (Jones) – owner of the Dallas Cowboys team - thinks it will also,” Arum said. “The last fight (Pacquiao-Clottey) was not during football season. This one is, and we have all the Dallas Cowboys assets they use during the season to help this time.

“We have a lot of stuff that we didn’t have for the Clottey fight. With Margarito being Hispanic, and this is North Texas, which has a huge Hispanic population, that will make this even bigger.”

The veteran promoter said Margarito is set to sight the contract by weekend, after which Pacquiao follows suit as he is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Monday from Manila, where he currently sits as a member of the House of Representative.

A whirlwind press tour will then be held, taking both Pacquiao and Margarito to California, New York and finally, Texas.

[Boxing News Source: Gerry N. Ramos]