Margarito signs to fight Pacquiao but needs license

Manny Pacquiao and former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito have agreed to fight Nov. 13 at the MGM Grand Garden, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said Friday.

But the deal is contingent on Margarito being licensed to fight in Nevada.

Top Rank is attempting to get Margarito’s license request on the agenda for the Nevada Athletic Commission’s Aug. 9 meeting.

The NAC voted 4-1 to table the matter July 9 when Margarito sought a license. Instead, it advised him to seek licensing in California, where Margarito had been suspended for a year after hard inserts were found in his hand wraps before a January 2009 fight with Shane Mosley.

Margarito is suing the California State Athletic Commission, claiming it suspended him without due process.

“We still have a site problem,” Arum said. “We’ve asked for a hearing with Nevada, because when we went to California like (Nevada) asked us to, California said they’d give (Margarito) a hearing, but only if he drops his lawsuit.

“Even if (Nevada) wants to give him a one-fight conditional license, fine. But there’s no reason why they shouldn’t go forward with this. (Margarito) has served his suspension. He’s not fighting in California. He’s fighting in Nevada. It makes absolutely no sense to go to California, especially when they’re telling him he’ll get a hearing, but only if he drops his lawsuit. Why should he have to give up his rights?”

Margarito was too late to get on the CSAC’s meeting agenda Monday, and the panel doesn’t meet again until September. His attorney, David Marroso, was drafting a letter to the NAC explaining the situation and hopes to have Margarito’s request appear as an action item on the Aug. 9 agenda.

NAC executive director Keith Kizer said Friday he was awaiting the letter from Marroso.

He said he didn’t know if Margarito’s attempt to meet with the California commission would satisfy the four Nevada commissioners who voted to table his earlier request.

“As far as I know, nothing’s changed,” Kizer said. “The commissioners felt by going back to California, Mr. Margarito would be showing remorse for his actions. And even if California didn’t give him a license, at least he made the attempt to resolve things. I think that’s what they were looking for.

“Would they respond differently? I can’t answer that. But if what his attorney says is true, that they tried to appear before the commission there and couldn’t or that they want him to drop his lawsuit before they acted on a license, that might put things in a different light. But that would be up to our commission to decide.”

Arum said allowing Margarito to fight makes financial sense for Nevada.

“Why would the commission turn down the chance to bring millions of dollars in revenue to Las Vegas and for the state of Nevada?” he said. “This is a big-money fight. I want the fight in Vegas. The town needs this fight.”

Arum didn’t disclose details of the fight contract. It would be televised by HBO Pay-Per-View.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.