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California State Athletic Commission suspends Antonio Margarito for one year
By Zach Arnold | February 10, 2009
You’ll notice that in this LA Times article that Dr. Christopher Giza is quoted near the top for his admonishing of Margarito and the wrap job on his hands. Dr. Giza was the one person the CSAC appeals board who has been consistent in drug-related hearings for MMA, while the rest of the appeals board ranges from entertainment executives to individuals who don’t even close to sharing the same opinions as the good Doctor. Keep this in mind when you wonder why this same appeals board reduced the time of a steroid-related suspension for James Toney.
Kevin Iole, understandably, is upset. However, the mayor of Tijuana is not and wouldn’t mind Margarito fighting there soon. Dan Rafael has more details on the Margarito suspension today. Rafael’s report includes comments from Bob Arum explicitly stating that Margarito will be fighting in Mexico soon:
While trying to have the ruling overturned, Arum said he would set up a fight for Margarito in Mexico. Although other states will respect California’s ruling, other countries won’t necessarily adhere to it. Fighters banned in America have often found Mexico hospitable.
The ruling means that Margartio’s proposed June rematch with Miguel Cotto, whom he knocked out last summer to win the title, is off unless the ruling is reversed.
“We’ll figure out a fight for him in Mexico,” Arum said. “It will be on one of our pay-per-view shows this summer. I think we’d have the opportunity to do 200,000 or 300,000 buys.”
Will the NSAC or CSAC suspend Arum’s promoting license for doing this? Unlikely.
Topics: Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
What Margarito and his trainer did is sickening. That’s not boxing; it’s attempted battery.
FF
This is a joke and i’m my opinion the final nail in the legitimacy of the CSAC and they need have someone say enough is enought with this bs.
Sherk was right and I hope that Zuffa along with Arum never put on big fights in the state again until these idiots are removed from power and replaced with someone who knows what the hell they are doing.
If there was really plaster or some other hard substance in Margarito’s wraps, and it can be scientifically proven, he should really be charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
For once, I agree with Kevin Iole. Well written piece.
Imagine if Zuffa or Strikeforce took asuspended fighter and had them fight in another country. They would get wrecked by the fans. And rightfully so.
“Imagine if Zuffa or Strikeforce took asuspended fighter and had them fight in another country. They would get wrecked by the fans. And rightfully so.”
Well, Chris Leben fought on a British UFC event after he was arrested for a DUI, so that’s close enough. I wouldn’t put it past Zuffa to take a suspended fighter outside the USA. And considering that Strikeforce is probably doing a Bob Sapp vs. Kimbo Slice fight sometime this year, I wouldn’t put it past them either.
The same Chris Leben who tested positive for steroids in the UK, and is now serving a suspension for it? Are you serious? A DUI is not even close to the same, and has nothing to do with illegal activities while competing.
Chuck, your comment about Leben made no sense whatsoever.
My point is that he did something illegal, and wasn’t dealt the consequences by Zuffa. He was arrested for a DUI, and it was thought that the fight against Michael Bisping would be canceled. But nope, the fight went on as is. What I was getting at was that if a fighter can be arrested for something (Leben’s DUI, Quinton Jackson’s “Rampage”, etc.) and are not punished by Zuffa, then what would stop Zuffa from having a fighter suspended in the States fight in another country? THAT is my point.
45, you say that a DUI has nothing to do with illegal activities while competing. True, but what if a fighter drank heavily before a fight? Doesn’t that give a fighter an edge? Beer Muscles and dulled pain.