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California appeals court upholds revocation of Margarito’s boxing license

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Antonio Margarito‘s attempt to have his license revocation decision by the California State Athletic Commission tossed has been denied by a state appeals court.

The appeals court ruled the California commission ruled appropriately when it slapped Margarito with a suspension for accepting strict liability as leader of his boxing team before his scandal-plagued loss to Shane Mosley in January 2009 at Staples Center.

Illegal plaster-caked inserts were confiscated from inside both of then-welterweight world champion Margarito’s hand wraps before the Mosley loss. Margarito’s trainer, Javier Capetillo, explained at a following commission meeting that he must have accidentally tossed the inserts in a gym bag that then ended up in his fighter’s wraps.

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Margarito, who testified he had no idea anything illegal was in his wraps, argued in his appeal there was no evidence of his own liability in the matter and asked the court to overturn the revocation -- which was extended another year at an athletic commission meeting earlier this year. Margarito attorneys told the court the commission violated the boxer’s due process rights by punishing him for someone else’s mistake or deceit.

The appeals court denied Margarito’s objections, writing in its Thursday decision that professional boxing rules allow the commission to hold the boxer strictly liable, and the court ruled no due process violations had occurred.

Additionally, the court ruled Margarito must reimburse the commission for its legal fees in this matter.

‘I’m delighted justice has been served,’ said Karen Chappelle, the assistant attorney general who argued for Margarito’s punishment at commission meetings in February 2009 and again this year.

The ruling will not affect Margarito’s scheduled Nov. 13 junior-middleweight world title fight against Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Texas commission opted to give Margarito a boxing license despite California’s discipline.

Margarito’s promoter, Top Rank, has yet to comment on the ruling. His attorneys were not immediately available.

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-- Lance Pugmire

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