Manny Pacquiao says he believes Antonio Margarito tried to use illegal hand wraps in his last US fight, which resulted in the Mexican boxer being banned from the sport for one year.
Pacquiao scoffed on Tuesday at Margarito’s explanation that he didn’t know his trainer was putting a plaster-like substance in his gloves prior to a fight last year against Shane Mosley.
“He is just making some alibi,” Pacquiao said.
Filipino superstar Pacquiao, 31, is expected to face Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight title on Nov. 13 in Dallas, Texas.
“He is the one who wraps his hands and he doesn’t know what is in there?” Pacquiao asked. “Of course he knows. What do you think? My belief is he knows that.”
Margarito was granted a license last week to fight in Texas. He hasn’t fought in the US since the Los Angeles Mosley incident after his license — along with that of former trainer Javier Capetillo — was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission. The ban was upheld by other state boxing commissions.
The two fighters held a joint news conference on Tuesday at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Margarito, who upset Miguel Cotto six months before the Mosley fight, has always insisted he had no knowledge of what his trainer was doing.
“Everything that happened is now in the past,” said Margarito, who has 38 wins, six losses and 27 KOs.
He refused to comment on Tuesday on Pacquiao’s latest claims, but his new trainer Robert Garcia and fight promoter Bob Arum both defended Margarito.
Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38KOs) has asked officials to allow them to send an extra person from his camp into Margarito’s dressing room prior to the Dallas fight to observe the taping.
“I am requesting that two people be allowed to watch them bandage his hands,” Pacquiao said.
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