Access Denied: Margarito's return to boxing put on hold

Contrary to prior reports that disgraced boxer Antonio Margarito would be making his comeback against Carson Jones on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Clottey card, Texas has denied his boxing license. Top Rank frontman Bob Arum was extremely confident in Margarito’s return, evident in his selection of Carson Jones as an opponent and the contract being sent to Jones’ representatives prior to the reinstatement hearing. Margarito was suspended following his knockout loss to Shane Mosley on January 24, 2009, adding insult to injury. As a rule of thumb, when a boxer is suspended in one state, all other states uphold that commission’s ruling. California’s ruling called for a minimum ban of one year, after which time the boxer can apply for reinstatement. Arum opined, “It was just taking too long in Texas…and we couldn’t wait any longer,” citing his reasoning for removing Margarito from the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard. Until Margarito’s license is fully restored, Arum has decided to add him to the undercard of a May 8 “Latin Fury” production in Aguascalientes, Mexico, against Carson Jones. “We decided that rather than go to a hearing, which looked like they were going to require, that we would, when we had more time, go back another day,” said Arum. “We want to put Carson Jones back in. We want to propose that he fight in Aguascalientes against Margarito.” Taking Margarito’s place on one of the biggest fight cards of the year will be Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KO). He is set to square off against one-time Pacquiao victim David Diaz (35-2-1, 17 KO). The bout will be for the right to claim the recently-vacated (by Edwin Valero) WBC lightweight title. http://boxing.fighthype.com/2010/02/margarito-off-pacquiao-vs-clottey-fight-card-could-return-to-mexico-instead/