I find it amusing that in the world of boxing the sport’s pound for pound best fighter can be accused of taking performance enhancing drugs with no direct proof, while a man that was caught red handed in an attempt to break rules has his promoter battling to fight again in America.
While Manny Pacquiao has never tested positive for any banned performance enhancing drugs, Floyd Mayweather, Golden Boy Promotions, and many boxing fans are asking him to take Olympic-styled drug tests if a bout with Mayweather is to ever take place.
At the same time, Pacquiao’s promoter appeared on a media conference call today, along with attorney Daniel Petrocelli, telling those willing to listen the Antonio Margarito should be allowed to fight in the United States after being caught with a hand wraps that had plaster-like elements before his 2009 bout against Shane Mosley.
Some might say the beating Mosley handed Margarito was punishment enough, but the fighting pride of Tijuana and former trainer Javier Capetillo, were well on the way to hardening the fists of Margarito in attempt to inflict damage to Mosley; this is considered by many as one of boxing’s cardinal sins.
Yet Arum spits in the face of fans who think that Margarito’s attempt was borderline criminal and bends the lines of common decency by trying to bring Antonio’s act back to the United States before the end of 2010.
As it stands, Margarito will be featured on a Top Rank pay per view against Roberto Garcia from Aguacalientes, Mexico.
Arum, forever a promoter, has publicly stated he could pit Pacquiao against Margarito during 2010, if a bout with Mayweather falls through the cracks.
So one a man who tried to cheat will be returned to America, if allowed by the United States’ Association of Boxing Commission, and then be rewarded with a multi-million dollar pay day against one of the sport’s biggest, if its biggest star?
Sounds like another ugly black eye for the sport of boxing.
