You have to admire the oft-maverick attitude of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR), the regulatory body that governs combative sports here in the Lone Star state. When the state of New York placed the late Edwin Valero on indefinite suspension, the TDLR bucked the trend of following other commissions’ leads and granted the Venezuelan a license to box. Going against the grain has always been a source of pride to Texans. Hell, it’s why we remember the Alamo and cherish the singular star on the state flag.
But with such a contrarian ideology come its fair share of criticism. The TDLR is far from perfect. Their instance on not testing fighters for illicit drugs prior to fighting in mixed martial arts is not only irresponsible, but dangerous. But in light of the criticism volleyed at the TDLR, the commission continues to march to the beat of their own drum.
All of which it should have come as no surprise when news broke Thursday afternoon that the TDLR has approved disgraced pug Antonio Margarito’s application for a boxing license in the state of Texas. Margarito, you may remember, was given a year-long suspension by the state of California when his former trainer Javier Capetillo was caught trying to place a plaster like substance in Margarito’s hand wraps prior to his 2009 bout with Shane Mosley. While Margarito claimed he had no knowledge of Capetillo’s intentions, California revoked his license, thus banning the Tijuana-based boxer from fighting in the Unites States.
With the year-long suspension having passed, Top Rank, Margarito’s promoter, had tried to get him licensed to fight in Las Vegas but the Nevada boxing commission insisted that Margarito first reapply for a license in California. However, California denied Margarito’s application for a license. It was at this time that Top Rank contacted the TDLR who stated they would take a look at Margarito’s application after hearing all the facts from his previous hearings in Nevada and California.
Seems that the TDLR was content in Margarito’s claims of ignorance and after deliberating over his application this week agreed to grant him a license. Margarito’s licensing sets the stage for a November 13 showdown with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium. Pacquiao drew nearly 51,000 people to the stadium this past March in his title defense against unheralded Joshua Clottey. Margarito, a much bigger draw than Clottey, is expected to contribute to a draw that would exceed the Clottey fight.
Word on the street is that Top Rank will hold a press conference in Dallas next Friday to officially kick off the promotion.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
