By Jim Dower: Former International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) is hoping that his ban from boxing be lifted in September by the California State Athletic Commission. Margarito, 31, hasn’t fought since losing his WBA welterweight title to Shane Mosley in January 2009. Before the fight, a substance was discovered by Mosley’s trainer on Margarito’s hand wraps.

The wraps were later tested and it turned out to contain some of the same ingredients that make plaster. Margarito was then subsequently banned for year from boxing by the California State Athletic Commission. However, Margarito thinks that his ban will be lifted since he was unaware that his trainer had put the plaster like substance on his wraps.

Apparently, Margarito has been staying in shape all this time and is looking forward to trying to avenge his defeat at the hands of Mosley. However, the chances of getting both the ban lifted and a fight with Mosley might be slim at this point, because even if Margarito’s ban is lifted by the California State Athletic Commission, Mosley is looking to get a fight with Manny Pacquiao and might not be interested in going over old ground with a fight against Margarito.

Margarito never did seem to get in the fight against Mosley, because he was too slow to match up against Mosley’s fast hands and slashing attacks. Mosley clinched as soon as he would get his shots off, thus preventing Margarito from countering him with his big shots.

It’s unknown why Margarito would want to fight a rematch with Cotto other than to get a good payday, because he already stopped Cotto in the 11th round last year in July. It would seem that Cotto should be the one that is looking to get revenge for his brutal beat down by Margarito.