By Mark Vester
Oscar De La Hoya spoke out for the first time on the situation with Antonio Margarito's license being revoked by the California State Athletic Commission. Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo had their licenses revoked [on Feb. 10] over an illegal substance that was found in Margarito's hand wraps before the January 24 fight with Shane Mosley. Mosley is a partner in De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.
Margarito claims to have had no idea what his trainer had placed on the wraps. De La Hoya called Margarito's story "baloney." De La Hoya says there is no way that Margarito was in the dark on what was being placed on his wraps. Other fighters in the last two weeks, including Miguel Cotto and Lennox Lewis, share the same opinion as De La Hoya.
"Fighters know who's wrapping our hands, and what's in there," De La Hoya told the Los Angeles Times. "What Margarito said about not knowing is baloney. . . . Boxing's dangerous. And when you have something like a rock in your hand wraps, that's criminal and disgusting to me."
As far as making a decision on returning to the ring or announcing his retirement - De La Hoya tells the paper that he is still mulling the final call. He is "60-40" in favor of retiring.
"I'm still confused. I'm torn between saying, 'It's over. 'Bye. I don't have it anymore,' and knowing if I'll be able to live with that. It's a tough decision, not easy at all," De La Hoya said.
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