With so many viable opponents besides Floyd Mayweather Junior, it is mind boggling as to why promoter Bob Arum hand-picked Antonio Margarito to fight his prized pugilist Manny Pacquiao on November 13, 2010.
Due to Margarito being indefinitely suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for attempting to bring plaster-laced hand wraps into a fight against Shane Mosley in January, 2009, the locale for the fight with Pacquiao is in limbo.
Margarito recently appeared before the Nevada State Athletic Commission in an attempt to apply for a boxing license. The commission told Margarito he needed to go back to and clear-up his situation with California?s body.
Arum speaks publicly about taking the fight to Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, or to another United States territory which would not honor California?s ruling.
For some reason with so many alleged options, Arum is having Margarito re-apply for a licence in California and asked the commission to rule on the matter before their September meeting.
If you do not need the blessing of California Mr. Arum, why the rush and procedural filing?
Saying your going to take a fight out of the country is easier said than done. Arum knows broadcasting the fight outside the United States would likely keep HBO (Home Box Office) from distributing it and thus negatively effecting pay per view sales.
Producing a boxing show is doable for Arum and Top Rank, but without HBO, they lack a distribution juggernaut that cannot be easily replaced or manufactured over night.
If California sticks to their suspension and holds Margarito accountable for attempting to commit one of boxing?s most serious sins, it will be difficult for Nevada to okay Margarito without receiving a heavy amount of negative backlash.
Any other commission flirting with the idea of sanctioning Margarito in the United States would be heavily questioned if both California and Nevada pass on providing Margarito the necessary credentials.
Where would Arum find himself then?
Arum could have avoided this situation by pitting Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley, Andre Berto, or Paul Williams.
The veteran promoter thumb his noise at the fans who fell that Margarito does not deserve one of boxing?s biggest paydays after attempting to break the rules.
California needs to do what is right, stick to their guns and send Margarito and Arum packing elsewhere.
