On December 3rd, Antonio Margarito will face WBA junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto in what is one of the most anticipated and controversial rematches in recent years. Right now, it has nothing to do with the suspicious circumstances that may or may not have taken place during their first fight back in July 2008. Cotto-Margarito II could still take place at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York, where it was originally scheduled by Top Rank in the late summer. However, the New York State Athletic Commission ruled late last week that they would not be licensing Margarito due to medical concerns over his right eye, badly damaged last year in his November bout with Manny Pacquiao.
Margarito?s plight was certainly no secret to those in the industry. There was no way the NYSAC couldn?t have known of the procedure Margarito went through courtesy of noted ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Crandall.
In fact, this jurisdiction seemed to be on board with this promotion which, from the very beginning, took off at the box-office. Its lead chairperson spoke with Tim Smith of the New York Daily News a day after the opening press conference back in September (http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-09-20/sports/30202192_1_javier-capetillo-antonio-margarito-plaster-of-paris-type-substance/2). Smith wrote, ?There was no hearing in New York in order for Margarito to get his license to fight Cotto at the Garden. Melvina Lathan, chairwoman of the NYSAC, said she reviewed the hearing notes from Margarito?s relicensing application in California and didn?t see anything there that would cause her to turn down his application in New York. She is also honoring Margarito?s Texas license, which he got for his fight against Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium last Nov. 14. ?We?re giving him the same opportunity that we give any other boxer who comes to the state to fight,? Lathan said.?
It?s interesting to note that not only was Lathan at this press conference, she was seated on the podium with the participants and spoke glowingly about this event. This seemed more than just a taciturn endorsement of this fight. Lathan even gave a very public pronouncement, ?Whenever Bob [Arum of Top Rank] comes to town, he comes to town and really throws out the red carpet. That?s what we need in New York. I can?t tell you how proud, how happy we are at the commission to have such a beginning of Madison Square Garden- once she has a new facelift that is- that we are going to be the ones to help open it. This is a great show. Both shows are going to be a great show [which included Nonito Donaire vs. Omar Narvaez on October 22] and we?re just really looking forward to these exciting- both evenings of boxing,? later adding, ?I have a great crew, which in part helps to maintain and make sure that everything is safe as far as the welfare, the safety of the boxers are concerned. Without that crew and their dedication, the state athletic commission just would not be, and I am very happy to have them on my team. I applaud them myself. Come out to the show; know that everything is going to go well and best of luck to both participants. Thank you again.?
