by James Slater: It seems there is a very good chance the upcoming November 13th battle between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and former welterweight champ Antonio Margarito will take place at The Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas; the scene of Pac-Man’s last fight.
According to Bob Arum, in speaking to ESPN.com, the promoter feels he and good friend Jerry Jones (owner of The Cowboys) will make a deal and get the intriguing light-middleweight clash on in Texas. The Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight back in March drew a massive crowd, and a fight between the Filipino dynamo and the disgraced Mexican warrior will have a great shot at attracting an even bigger live audience.
Of course, there is the small matter of Margarito still being suspended from boxing in America, but Arum believes “Tony,” will have a good chance of being reissued with a licence when he has his August 18th hearing before The California State Athletic Commission.
“We feel confident,” Arum told ESPN.com. “Whatever decision is made, the other states are free to act independently. I can’t talk for Texas, but I’m very optimistic. I don’t even think a hearing [in Texas] will be particularly necessary, but it’s up to them. If they want a hearing, that’s fine.”
So, if Arum is correct and his feeling of optimism is proven to be justified, Pacquiao will rumble with the much bigger Margarito in the fabulous stadium he last fought (and won on points) in. Also, according to ESPN, the November bout will contest “a vacant junior middleweight title.” It’s no secret that Sergio Martinez has vacated the WBC 154-pound belt so as to box at middleweight, and this is surely the belt that ESPN.com are referring to. Can Pac-Man win himself a world title in a record eighth weight class?
Despite all this talk of where the fight will take place, and for which title it will contest – many fans the world over are not happy at all with Margarito (dubbed “Margacheato” due to his now infamous hand-wraps scandal of Jan. 2009) getting such a high profile and lucrative fight. Should a known cheater be allowed to earn the type of money Margarito will earn in November? Sure, chances are Pacquiao will give the slower man – who will have to weigh-in at an agreed limit of 150-pounds – a fierce hiding, but should the fight be happening?
It will be interesting to see how Margarito’s hearing before the CSAC goes on the 18th of this month, but whatever the Commission’s decision, it looks likely that the former welterweight ruler will get it on with Pacquiao in Texas.