By Michael Swann

The Antonio Margarito saga continues. He was given a one year suspension in late January by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) along with his trainer, Javier Capetillo, based primarily on visual evidence of the hand wraps found in his gloves prior to his bout with Shane Mosley. The suspension was sustained after a February 10 hearing in spite of the fact that the results of the tests on the wraps were not completed.

Last week the Los Angeles Times reported that the findings of the investigation were in:

“A California Department of Justice senior criminalist who inspected the wrappings under stereoscope and x-ray fluorescence spectrometer reported calcium and sulfur were discovered, noting the elements make plaster of Paris with the addition of oxygen.”

Okay, now that sounds like a legal slam dunk, right? Just pick them up and charge them with assault with a deadly weapon, then issue that lifetime ban that they both so obviously deserve. Even if you’re buying Margo’s story about being unaware of those extra hard wrap inserts, you must admit that it’s quite a stretch to think that a fighter wouldn’t notice a foreign object on something as important as his hands. And Capetillo’s fairy tale that the hardened pads were accidentally picked up from his Montebello gym is weaker than the dog ate the homework.

Obviously Capetillo is falling on his sword for his fighter, and it just seems curious to naturally suspicious folks like me out there that Margarito isn’t shouting his displeasure at the trainer for completely ruining his reputation and legacy.

You would think that there would be more of an outcry to ban these jokers from the sport, particularly from the Knights of the Keyboard, but apparently not everyone sees it as clearly as Mosley promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions.

“It was obviously not an accident, they added something to the gauze and I think this is potentially a criminal act,” Schaefer was quoted in the Times. “There’s no excuse for this whatsoever. This should be dealt with the strongest possible legal consequence.

“This guy should never be in a corner again. As for the fighter, I believe they need to do a further investigation about what he knew. Talk to other fighters. Would they know something was different in their hand wraps if something this hard was stuck in there?”

During the license revocation hearing Supervising Deputy Attorney General Karen Chappelle unsuccessfully attempted to introduce into evidence a photo of Margo’s hand wraps following the fight with Miguel Cotto last July that were similar in appearance to the pads in question. Like Schaefer, Cotto too has vociferously condemned Margarito, saying that he should never step into a boxing ring again. 

For what it is worth to the curious, Capetillo trained former WBC featherweight titlist Alejandro Gonzales, 49-5-1 (33), who last fought in 2003. He also trains Jesus Soto Karass, 23-3-3 (16), a tough welterweight who scored a sensational knockout over David Estrada last summer. No point is being made here--no one is guilty by association.

Margarito carries on, saying that his lawyers (Daniel Petrocelli no less…Thank you , Mr. Arum) are trying to overturn or shorten the one year suspension imposed by the CSAC.

 I’m certain that a man of Petrocelli’s talents would be keenly aware that the new evidence makes it look mighty bad for the defense, and personally, I’d hold off on that appeal. But if they absolutely insist, in my opinion it’s a better defense to mention the chain of custody of the evidence on that first night. It seems as if everyone in California touched those wraps that night.

Throw up the smoke and mirrors, forget the facts.

Despite the new evidence, Margo says he plans to fight by July in Mexico. Okay, give him a slingshot and send him after the drug cartel. You could make a strong case that it’s about the same chance his opponents were given.

NEW AND OLD CALIFORNIA

According to sources, California has chosen the final four finalists for the position of Executive Officer of the CSAC. The men in the running to replace the deposed Armando Garcia at the April 14 committee meeting in Los Angeles are:

Bill Douglas-- Now serving as interim co-executive officer, he is the assistant EO. While this gives him certain advantages, it’s a bit of a burden as well.

Ron Scott Stevens-- Formerly the boxing chief in New York where he was widely acknowledged to have been an excellent administrator. The main drawback is being an outsider in a state that has picked poorly in the past.

Ron Arnold-- Retired attorney said to be very knowledgeable. He has done legal work behind the scenes for boxing events in California. A dark horse.

Pat Russell-- The noted referee and judge was runner up to Garcia in 2005 by a controversial 3-2 vote. Russell is simply the most ethical man I have ever met.

As for the exiled Garcia, he turned up Saturday in Tijuana as a judge on the Latin Fury 8 card. You could say he was never gone, he was just away. In fact he was away on Decatur Blvd in Las Vegas, working as an insurance investigator for the Duane B. Ford insurance adjusters.

Yes, Duane Ford the judge and long time Garcia pal has employed his old friend. Ford was frequently brought to California to work big fights at $1600 a pop during the Garcia reign. Ford also acted as Garcia’s “bag man,” picking up Armando’s illegal payments from seminars given to sanctioning bodies and state commissions, a clear violation by Garcia of the Ali Act, a federal law. By accepting these payments, Ford helped Garcia cover up this “minor detail.” 

The two men, along with ABC president Tim Luekenhoff, were seen observing fights from coast to coast at ringside, yet none of the trips, transportation, accommodations or expenses were ever disclosed on Garcia’s “Conflict of Interest” report through three years.

Another interesting Garcia story is the Tale of the Two Armandos.

US judge Armando Garcia is listed by BoxRec from 1994 to 2004, or just before he was installed as executive officer of the CSAC.

Nicaraguan judge Armando Garcia comes on the scene in 2005 with a different Global ID number and was originally listed as the official on the Latin Fury card.

But eye witnesses saw US Garcia in Tijuana.  BoxRec says it was an error and immediately corrected it. Still…interesting… both Garcias officiate frequently in Nicaragua. Could they be one and the same? Could US Garcia have scooted down to judge a fight while working for the state of California? I’m just asking.

California has a strong field competing for the CSAC executive officer position, and they need it because the state has one of the top two or three boxing programs in the country yet somehow problems seem to just seek them out. Right now, in addition to the Margarito matter, the commission further has its hands full with the amateur problem.

A Bay Area TV station uncovered information that private clubs were hosting amateur fights “where gambling and alcohol consumption occurred while boxers as young as eight boxed.” In addition there were reports of ring card girls being used in these bouts with minors. The CSAC issued a press release announcing that it was temporarily suspending USA Boxing’s authority to regulate boxing in the state.

It seems as if everywhere you look there is something corrupt or incompetent going on in California. I don’t have a vote but if I did I would lean toward the selection of Mr. Russell, the genuine Mr. Clean.

He’s a local candidate, living in San Diego. He’s an ex-cop, and has the sharp mind of a detective. As previously mentioned he’s an ethical man in a state that needs just that.  And furthermore, anyone who has seen him perform in the ring (remember Vasquez-Marquez?) knows that he’s not afraid to make a decision.

He should have been selected four years ago. He wasn’t but he never complained and now he’s back in 2009. It’s really an easy choice.