The fate of the Dec. 3 Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito rematch - and whether the anticipated fight moves to another city such as El Paso - should be known sometime late Tuesday.
A New York State Athletic Commission hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Tuesday to determine whether Margarito's surgically-repaired right eye meets commission standards for obtaining a license to box in New York.
Margarito was examined by a opthalmologist appointed by the commission on Monday, and those findings will be revealed to the commission on Tuesday. If the commission decides that Margarito's eye - injured in his Nov. 13, 2010 fight with Manny Pacquiao - is not healthy enough for combat, promoter Top Rank will have to act fast to move the show elsewhere.
El Paso is one of two other cities that would be considered for the fight if it moves. The others are Southhaven, Miss., and Denver.
Texas fight coordinator Lester Bedford said of all the venues available, the Don Haskins Center is the best.
"The number one goal for Top Rank is keeping the fight in New York," he said. "It's already sold out, and to move it will cost a few million dollars. It belongs in New York. But, if it leaves, it could belong to El Paso in a hurry."
Bedford has been responsible for most of the big fights that have happened in El Paso over the past 20 years, including the 1998 Oscar De La Hoya-Patrick Charpentier fight that drew more than 45,000 people to the Sun Bowl.
Wake me up when you stop picking the Mexican fighter in all your fights.
Posted by: boxing fan | 12/04/2011 at 12:00 PM