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Margarito v. State Athletic Commission (Cal. Ct. App. - Oct. 14, 2010)

By Shaun Martin

I'm not a big boxing fan.  So maybe everyone "in the know" already knows about this.

But apparently, before the Antonio Margarito/Shane Mosley welterweight title fight in 2009, officials caught Margarito with a "plaster-like" substance strapped to both of his fists.  They confiscated them, and the fight went on, at which Margarito -- bereft of plaster of Paris knuckles -- was the victim of a "stunning upset" and lost on a TKO in the ninth round.

But that wasn't all for Margarito.  California then revoked his boxing license.  He hired Daniel Petrocelli to appeal, who argued that Margarito's Due Process rights were violated.  But the Court of Appeal didn't buy it.  At all.  (Nor do I.)  It affirms.

Not that this is fatal for Margarito.  Sure, it put his boxing career on hold.  But there are other states.  And, apparently, Texas is just fine with a guy (allegedly) caught white-handed with plaster of Paris in both of his boxing gloves.  Margarito's apparently scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao in Cowboys Stadium in Texas on November 13th.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is represented by Petrocelli in a defamation lawsuit against the Mayweathers for asserting that Pacquiao uses performance-enhancing drugs.  I wonder if that's in the conflict disclosures in Petrocelli's fee agreement?

Ah, boxing.  The Sport of Kings.

Full post as published by California Appellate Report on October 14, 2010 (boomark / email).