Seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao told BoxingScene.com that he doesn't believe Antonio Margarito's claims that he didn't know about the illegal, plaster-like substance that was in his gloves prior to Margarito's January 2009 ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Unable to fight on American soil since his license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission following the loss to Mosley, Magarito, whose suspension officially ended on Feb. 11, had tried to file for a license in Nevada. The Nevada State Athletic Commission directed Margarito to return to the CSAC for a ruling, where, after a nearly six-hour hearing on Aug. 18, the Mexican-born fighter was turned down, yet again.
Margarito was licensed to face Pacquiao in Texas last week, however, and will do so on Nov. 13 in an HBO pay-per-view televised fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the vacant WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) crown as Pacquiao pursues his eighth crown in as many different weight classes.
"I don't believe him [Margarito]. Of course he knows about that [illegal hand-wraps]. It's his hands, and he watches the taping," Pacquiao said of Margarito, who blamed then-trainer Javier Capetillo for the wraps, which were confiscated prior to his entering the ring against Mosley.
Pacquiao made his assertion during Tuesday's press conference in Los Angeles, part of a three-city promotional tour for the fight that will take him and Margarito to New York on Wednesday and Dallas on Friday.
"We're happy that Antonio Margarito got licensed in Texas. It takes a lot of the stress away about whether or not the fight is going to happen," said Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz of Margarito, who, like Pacquiao, is promoted by Top Rank Promotions.
"We made an effort to get him licensed in Nevada in a time of economic need and suffering for the state of Nevada," said Koncz. "The MGM Grand people treated us very well over there. But you know, Nevada is losing all of the tourism and profits every time we fight somewhere else."
Pacquiao told BoxingScene.com that he believes Margarito denied knowledge of the impropriety because he was "looking for a way out so that his reputation won't be damaged among his fans."
Pacquiao, nevertheless, went to bat for Margarito when the fighter failed to be reinstated for a boxing license by the CSAC, lobbying the NSCAC on Margarito's behalf, along with Koncz.
Pacquiao said that Margarito "paid his dues by sacrificing and not fighting for one year," adding, "I hope that he learned his lesson and will not repeat the same mistake."
On the night of their fight, however, Pacquiao says "we can watch his hands being wrapped because our agreement is that we will have two representatives led by my coach [trainer Freddie Roach] to watch the taping."
Does Pacquiao want to punish Margarito in the ring for his actions?
"No, I can't do that. He is good fighter," said Pacquiao. "He's big and skilled and also has power. We will do what we are capable of so that we will win for our country."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
