Boxing officials suspend Margarito’s licence

SACRAMENTO – Mexico’s Antonio Margarito had his California boxing licence suspended following complaints about the way his hands were wrapped prior to Saturday’s title fight against Shane Mosley.

The California State Athletic Commission announced the suspension of Margarito and his corner man Javier Capetillo on Wednesday. Mosley’s trainer Nazim Richardson complained to the commission after noticing a foreign substance on Margarito’s hands during a pre-fight inspection. The 30-year-old Margarito had to have his hands re-wrapped three times during the inspection. Mosley engineered a nine-round demolition of Margarito, who was making the first defence of his welterweight title he won six months earlier by beating Miguel Cotto. Wet pads were found in Margarito’s wraps, which were compared to a plaster-like substance, and given to Dean Lohuis of the California Boxing Commission for further study. The substance found in the wraps is being analyzed by the California Department of Justice. It also raises questions about his victory over Cotto. An initial hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 10. – Nampa-AFP