By Mark Vester

Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward says the one year ban on former two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is too severe. On Tuesday, Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo had their licences revoked for one year by the California State Athletic Commission - due to a plaster-like substance being found inside of Margarito's hand wraps before he stepped in the ring to fight Shane Mosley on January 24. 

Because Capetillo testified that he accidentally placed the wrong pads/wraps on Margarito's hands, Steward feels that Capetillo should have received the one year and Margarito should have received a six month sentence at most. He says a year is too much.

“I think everything that has gone on is probably proper and just,” Steward told PA Sport. “The year’s suspension, I would have not suspended the fighter for a year but the trainer was more to blame.

“Sometimes I know the fighters really don’t know what you’re putting on their hands so on the fighter’s part it was a little severe. I think the fighter should maybe have had about a six months suspension… but a year’s suspension for the trainer is fair.”

“It’s not good for boxing. Performance-enhancing substances are such a grey area but to actually create danger with your weapons, the two things that do all the damage in the fight, the hands, that is serious."

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