Part 2, Will Banned In California Antonio Margarito Be OK’d To Fight In Texas?
The Texas expression for some loudmouth who has no substantial financial assets is “all hat, no cattle.”
Texas Governor Rick Perry has been getting an earful from various people about giving Antonio Margarito a boxing license so he can fight on the Joshua Clottey-Manny Pacquiao undercard March 13 in Arlington (Cowboys Stadium).
You can be sure one of those talking to the governor directly or through an emissary is the NFL franchise’s powerful owner, Jerry Jones. Jones, in the Lone Star vernacular, has the hat and the cattle, he’s a self-made billionaire.
I’m not sure which way Texas officials are going on the “Margocheato” application, frankly, because the California commission, whose one year revocation period for the Mexican fighter ended Thursday, and the Association of Boxing Commissions have both advised Texas not to issue a license to Margarito now.
“Mythical” poster, will this fight ever happen?
George Dodd is the new guy running the California boxing board and he’s barely settled into the office in Sacramento after relocating from the Washington State Athletic Commission.
I spoke to Dodd Wednesday and his remarks were not encouraging for the Tijuana Tornado.
“We;ve given our side of the story to Texas,” Dodd said. “We’ve explained to them what must be done as far as we’re concerned, what our requirements are.”
Speaking for the ABC, its leader, Tim Lueckenhoff of Missouri, is resigned to Texas greenlighting Margarito mainly due to tax revenue reasons. I spoke with him also on Wednesday.
That’s shorthand for money talks and bullbleep walks which I know as a New York expression. If big hitters such as Jones and Mexican American political leaders are lining up in favor of Margarito, then it will be most difficult for Perry to ignore such important people.
“In these trying economic times, state governments are naturally concerned with tax revenue, we all know that,” Lueckenhoff said. “I’ll be shocked if they don’t license him in Texas, probably sometime next week.”
Margarito promoter Bob Arum is also dangling the idea that if Margarito and Manny Pacquiao both win on March 13, they could return to Cowboys Stadium to fight each other in the fall.
That would mean additional tax money and tourism industry income in the Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington Metroplex area.
Lueckenhoff said he and some of his ABC colleagues felt the one year ban by California for trying to use illegal handwraps was insufficient.
But the boxing adminstrator also sees the situation from the fighter’s viewpoint.
“He should have gone back to California to lay the groundwork,” Lueckenhoff said
“But he also did his one year term, did not fight elsewhere, and he missed one or two bouts and the potential to earn millions. He followed the terms of the suspension but I think going back to California first would have been wise.”
Lueckenhoff noted that the Mexico-based World Boxing Council honored the California ban for a six month period.
Although he thinks Texas will okay Margarito, Lueckenhoff said there should be a public airing of the controversy.
“They shouldn’t make it look like a done deal, a rubber stamp,” Lueckenhoff said. “I’m sure there is a lot of political pressure, you have a big Hispanic population and Jerry Jones. I think they will make a decison next week and it will be to give license. But Texas should have a hearing on it.”
It was explained to me by Todd that technically Margarito’s right to box in California remains “revoked” until such time as he applies for relicensing in the state.
Having a fighter who is “revoked” in California get a license in Texas certainly does not put boxing in any good light.
Part 3, Did Top Rank’s Arum Arrogantly Bungle The Margarito Situation?
CSAC Press Release of Feb. 4, 2010, Announcing Dodd’s Appointment
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has named George Dodd as its new Executive Officer. Dodd, 40, most recently served as program manager for Washington state’s Department of Licensing’s Professional Athletics Division, where he has been regulating professional boxing and mixed martial arts.
He has been involved in combat sports for the last 31 years, as either a participant or an official. “The Athletic Commission will continue to make great progress under the direction of its new executive officer, George Dodd,” said DCA Director Brian Stiger. “His background and his leadership skills will be of immense value to the Commission as boxing and mixed martial arts continue to grow in popularity and attendance in California.”
Dodd, a native of Washington state, began wrestling when he was nine years old. After high school, he joined the United States Navy, retiring in 2007 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service. While in the military, George was involved in wrestling either as a participant or as an official for the sport. He has been a high school wrestling official for the past 17 years in Naples, Italy, San Diego, and in Washington state. He then began working for the state of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services before moving to that state’s Department of Licensing.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at the Athletic Commission,” said newly-minted Executive Officer George Dodd. “I look forward to furthering the progress initiated by interim Executive Officer Dave Thornton and his staff.”
In his spare time, Dodd is very dedicated to promoting youth sports and is also an avid softball player. He and his family will reside in Sacramento.
