Arlington, TX (Sportsbooks) - Antonio Margarito received a license to fight in the state of Texas on Thursday and will battle Manny Pacquiao November 13 at Cowboys Stadium for the vacant WBC 154-pound title. The two men came to terms on fight deal last month, but without a venue. Pacquiao couldn't finalize a pact to take on undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. Instead, the title holder in seven different weight divisions will face Margarito, who had been denied a license in California. This was due to a suspension stemming from a plaster-like substance that was found in his hand wraps prior to a January 2009 fight against Shane Mosley in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old Margarito, a former three-time welterweight champion, (38-6, 27 KOs) later lost the bout against Mosley via ninth-round TKO, but then won a 10-round unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia in May of this year in Mexico. "On Monday, August 23, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation received a complete application for a Texas Professional Combative Sports Contestant license from Antonio Margarito. After a thorough review of his application it was determined Mr. Margarito met the requirements of the Texas Combative Sports Act and Rules," Executive Director William Kuntz said in a statement. Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who will turn 32 in December and recently became a congressman in his native Philippines, is the noted pound-for-pound champion, having racked up 12 straight wins. He scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Joshua Clottey in front of nearly 51,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium in March of this year. Bob Arum of Top Rank is the promoter for both Pacquiao and Margarito. |
