One way or another, Top Rank?s stacked pay-per-view card will still go on as planned for December 3.
The greatest question at the moment is where the show will be held.
?Can you believe this? We?re 2,000 tickets away from a complete sellout, and the New York State Athletic Commission wants to pull this nonsense,? stated an enraged Bob Arum when approached by BoxingScene.com on Thursday afternoon over the status of Antonio Margarito?s license for his rematch with Miguel Cotto.
Original plans called for the highly anticipated rematch to their July ?08 thriller ? won by Margarito via 10th round stoppage ? to take place at the world famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. The promotion began in early October, and was also used as a platform to help draw more attention to bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire in his own NYC debut a few weeks ago.
Donaire?s showcase was a rousing success at the box office, drawing over 5,000 fans into The Theatre at MSG for his October 22 win over previously unbeaten Omar Narvaez. The fight itself was largely forgettable, but the buzz was a sight to see (and hear), serving as a preview for the big show to come to town six weeks later.
Those plans are now in serious jeopardy, however, as the vibe Top Rank received upon Wednesday?s hearing was that Friday?s announcement will reveal that Margarito will be denied a license to fight in the state of New York.
The troubled Mexican has struggled to pick up the pieces in his career following the fallout from his handwrap scandal prior to his January ?09 loss to Shane Mosley. In addition to catching what was then a career-worst beating and a humiliating stoppage loss, Margarito subsequently had his license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission, along with a minimum suspension of one year before he could apply anywhere else.
