Despite complying with his one year ban by the California State Athletic Commission for using illegal hand wraps in his bout last year with “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Tijuana’s Antonio Margarito continues with out a license to resume his boxing career.
Margarito blames Oscar De La Hoya.
In an interview granted to ESPN Radio’s “A Los Golpes” and Notifight.com, the “Tijuana Tornado” accused De La Hoya of “sticking his nose” and stated:
“Many people have asked me why I think he is saying that I shouldn’t be given my license, how does it affect him?” Margarito asks. ”If I was suspended in California, why is he sending letters to others states asking them not to grant me a license? Besides, I complied with the year that they asked for. Now I don’t know what they want. Now it is their turn to comply. This is my job and I need to climb into the ring and not be inactive.”
Margarito announced that his plan is to fight on May 8th in Aguascalientes, MX, against the same opponent which he was going to face on March 13th in Dallas, TX, Carson Jones.
Margarito also has his sights set on Manny Pacquiao.
“Bob Arum is trying to get me a license in Nevada since everybody is asking me to face Pacquiao. I want to face him before the end of the year,” Margarito added. ”It might be in the welterweight division, many fans are asking for it since they call him the ‘Mexecutioner’. What other Mexican fighter can face him at welter?”
Margarito also took advantage of the forum to make his case for a license.
“I abided by the suspension that California set for me of one year, we didn’t fight in Tijuana, we didn’t fight in Mexico, we didn’t fight anywhere,” Margarito stated. ”I think that I have done my part with the punishment they handed me. If they don’t want to give me my license by now, they are just not going to give it to me. I don’t know what they are waiting for, I heard rumors that they wanted me to go and ask for forgiveness. They should have done that before, I was slated for March 13th, if that was the case, I would have gone and asked for forgiveness and not lost my chance to fight on that card.”
Finally, Margarito used the airwaves to thank the fans for their unconditional support.
Antonio’s license was “revoked” NOT “suspended” – giant legal difference making it all but impossible to get my guy a fight in the U.S.
This guy should not be allowed to fight again.