By Lem Satterfield

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has issued a response to Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, who believes Antonio Margarito should receive a lifetime ban from the sport of boxing. De La Hoya was pleased with the recent decision by the California State Athletic Commission to deny Margarito's application for a boxing license. He sees Margarito as a disgraced fighter who doesn't deserve a shot at Manny Pacquiao on November 13.

"I mean, look, I've already stated what I've said, and I'm going to stick to what I believe. I mean, my sport of boxing, which we all appreciate and which I love, and which I participated in inside of that ring for many years, you know, this is a dangerous sport," De La Hoya said.

"And if any body in any which way tries to tamper with anything having to do with the fists or the gloves, you know what? You should be banned for life. That's my stance and that's my position. There's no if's or buts. Like, 'Oh, I've learned from my mistakes.'"

Arum counters. He says there is no evidence to support the theory that Margarito knowingly loaded his hand wraps with hard plaster-laced inserts before a scheduled fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009. He directs De La Hoya to read the transcript of last February's hearing when Margarito's license was revoked. And if De La Hoya feels so strongly about Margarito not being a suitable opponent for Pacquiao, Arum wants him to surrender his percentage from the profits. 

"It's clear to anybody who read the transcript of the California hearings that Margarito was not responsible personally for those hand wraps. And the California commission didn't find him responsible for the hand wraps," Arum said. "It's clear what they found. And, I guess, like Margarito said, 'how would I know that things were in there, when I didn't even have an opportunity to test my wraps by hitting anything?'

"And, you know, five of the best trainers in the sport said that they could slip things into the gloves without the fighter knowing. So the idea that Margarito was trying to cheat, not that his corner was trying to cheat, but that he, himself, was trying to cheat, that was not established and it's not a fact."

"And, if Golden Boy feels that Antonio Margarito doesn't deserve to fight Manny Pacquiao, then, remember, they still get a piece [25 percent] of Manny Pacquiao's profits from the promotion because of their settlement with Pacquiao. So let them give up that piece, and we'll give it to charity. If they feel so high and mighty, then let them put their money where their mouths are. And don't give it to me. I don't want their piece. Let them give it to charity."

Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.