Manny’s foe turns to Texas for license

SPURNED BY the state of California, former world champion Antonio Margarito now tries to secure in Texas the fight license he needs for a megabuck bout with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. 
The California State Athletic Commission, voting 5-1 after more than five hours of deliberation, rejected the Mexican’s request to have his fight license reinstated in the United States.
The commission earlier revoked Margarito’s license and slapped him with a one-year ban after discovering a hardening substance inserted in his hand wraps when he fought and lost to Shane Mosley in January, 2009.
After serving his suspension, Margarito fought and beat countryman Roberto Garcia in a 10-round junior middleweight duel in Mexico, which granted him a license, on May 10.
Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Margarito, told FanHouse.com’s Lem Satterfield Wednesday that with the California ruling, every state is now free to either grant or deny the “Tijuana Tornado” a license.
Texas is more likely to give Margarito a license because of the economic windfall the fight, likely to be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, is expected to generate.
A huge crowd of 50,994 watched Pacquiao pummel Ghanaian Joshua Clottey over 12 rounds to retain his WBC welterweight crown at the same venue on March 13.
Owing to Pacquiao’s global appeal and Margarito’s hordes of Mexican fans, that figure is likely to be topped, with crowd estimates ranging from 60,000 to 70,000.
The Aug. 11 meeting between Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fueled speculations that the venue is already a set.
A promotional tour is set for the Pacquiao-Margarito clash, which is likely to be fought at a catch weight of 150-151 pounds.