?I am very disappointed by their decision,? said former world champion Antonio Margarito upon leaving the California State Athletic Commission meeting on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles after being denied a new boxing license. ?I spoke of what I knew and they were the ones who decided,? he stated.
His attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, who argued before the commission, also voiced his displeasure with the outcome.
?Obviously, we?re very disappointed with the decision,? said Petrocelli, who has tried cases involving high-profile clients including the 1997 wrongful death civil suit against O.J. Simpson. ?It?s a decision we have to live with. Tony came back to California where he wants to clear his name and also fight here. Tony continues to work hard to the best of his ability to meet and exceed expectations of him.?
Margarito had returned to California seeking to make things right with the California State Athletic Commission, the entity that revoked his boxing license two months after his knockout loss to Shane Mosley after it was found that Margarito?s handwraps contained pads treated with a sulfur-like substance.
Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo eventually had their licenses revoked with Capetillo receiving an indefinite suspension, while Margarito received only a year?s suspension in March of last year.
Margarito has always denied knowledge of Capetillo doing anything illegal with his handwraps.
At Wednesday?s hearing, State Commission attorney Karen Chappelle did not present any more new physical evidence to the commission. However, she pointed out the seriousness of what happened on the night of January 20th, 2009 and what she called ?the lack of responsibility and acceptance on his (Margarito?s) part.?
?Mr. Margarito has not taken any responsibility for what happened,? said Chappell during closing arguments. ?He sought to gain an unfair advantage?.He knew very well what was happening and he should have conducted himself as a gentleman. He blames his trainer of wrongdoing, but Mr. Margarito has never accepted full responsibility or offered forgiveness.?
Petrocelli offered a far different description of Margarito, a man who has done ?everything what was expected of him and much more.?
Petrocelli pointed out that Margarito could not have known what Capetillo put in his wraps as wraps could be put together before the day and place of the fight. Petrocelli even presented statements from respected trainers, including Richardson, that it is possible for trainers to slip a substance into the wraps without the knowledge of the fighter.
He also described Margarito of being sincerely apologetic for what happened. Margarito severed ties with Capetillo immediately after he was suspended, despite Capetillo being his trainer for about 11 years and being a father-figure to him. Margarito respected the commission?s original suspension, not even fighting in Mexico during that time period.
Margarito returned to action over a year later, defeating Roberto Garcia of Texas in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
However, Chappelle presented to the commission that Margarito and new trainer, former world champion Robert Garcia, were in violation of a very obscure California rule of training without a sparring license.
Margarito, Garcia, his managers, and his legal team were unaware of any such rule.
After about five hours of presentations, rebuttals, and closing arguments, the commission voted five to one to deny Margarito a license. Commission chair John Frierson (a former fighter and the only member with any boxing experience) was the only one who voted to grant Margarito a license.
Most of the commission members who voted to deny Margarito a license expressed concern that Margarito was not rehabilitated and that it was too late for Margarito to apologize for his actions. During testimony, Margarito was apologetic and ?throwing myself at the mercy of the commission and not allowing for this to happen again.?
After the hearing, Margarito weighed his options.
?We will sit down with the team and decide what is next.?
Although California denied Margarito a license, he is free to apply for a license in any state. He could apply for a license in Texas, where a proposed fight on November 13th between him and Manny Pacquiao is almost done (a source close to the Margarito camp stated that Margarito has yet to sign a contract to fight Pacquiao).
Top Rank, who promote both Pacquiao and Margarito, issued a statement immediately after the ruling.
?Top Rank has complied with the wishes of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC). Top Rank will soon make an announcement about Margarito at the end of the week.?
