By Mark Vester
According to the Los Angeles Times, former three time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito filed an application on Wednesday to have his license reinstated by the California State Athletic Commission. Last February the CSAC revoked Margarito's license to box when they found him liable for a January 2009 incident - when officials found two hard inserts containing a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps prior to a bout with Shane Mosley at Staples Center.
"We've asked for this to be heard on an expedited basis," before the commission's next scheduled meeting Sept. 20 in Los Angeles," said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum to The Times.
Margarito tried to apply for a license in Nevada a few weeks ago, but the Nevada Commission directed him to re-apply in California. If Margarito reclaims his boxing license in California, it's very likely that Nevada will issue him a license as well. Then Arum can stage a fight between Margarito and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on November 13. Las Vegas is Arum's top choice to stage the fight, but it can't happen until Margarito is issued a license in California.
Arum told the paper that other states have reached out and told him they would license Margarito - regardless of whether or not Margarito is licensed first in California.
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