Arum speaks out for fighter

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Antonio Margarito’s promoter and lawyer think it’s time for the disgraced welterweight to reclaim both his reputation and his U.S. boxing licenses.

Promoter Bob Arum and lawyer Daniel Petrocelli renewed their criticism of the California State Athletic Commission on Monday for its decision last year to revoke Margarito’s license, which still hasn’t been restored since glove-loading allegations derailed the former welterweight champion’s career in January 2009.

“He sat on the sidelines, and now he wants to move forward,” Petrocelli said.

Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) will return to the ring against Roberto Garcia in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on May 8 in his first fight since two suspect knuckle pads were confiscated moments before the former welterweight champ’s knockout loss to Sugar Shane Mosley early last year.

A later test determined the wraps contained elements of plaster, but Petrocelli insists the pads weren’t the hardened weapons many have suggested. He also says the ingredients detected by the test — including sulfur and calcium — can be found in many substances.

Petrocelli insists Margarito had no knowledge the knuckle pads contained anything illegal.

The pads had been made before the fight by trainer Javier Capetillo, who also had his license revoked and no longer works with Margarito.

While much of the boxing community has condemned Margarito and cast suspicion on his string of impressive victories, Arum has loudly maintained Margarito knowingly did nothing illegal.

“People who really know very little about the fact would like to sentence this guy to purgatory for the rest of his life, and that’s really outrageous and wrong,” Arum said.

Arum considered putting Margarito on the undercard of Pacquiao’s bout with Joshua Clottey last month in Texas, but wasn’t included in the show after criticism from the national Association of Boxing Commissions reached the Texas commission.

Yet Arum confidently predicts Margarito’s next fight “is going to be in the United States,” perhaps in Texas this summer.