"Panama" Lewis to be licensed by Texas?
Twenty-seven years after being banned from professional boxing, the controversy of trainer Carlos “Panama” Lewis is still subject to new developments. Michael Marley of Boxing Examiner reports today the trainer is seeking a license in Texas, following Antonio Margarito’s recent relicensing from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
Lewis’s license was revoked following a fight on 16 June 1983 between his fighter Luis Resto and Irishman Billy Collins at Madison Square Gardens. After the fight it was determined that an ounce of padding had been removed from Resto’s gloves. As a result the New York State Commission revoked Resto and Lewis’ licenses, and both were forced to serve prison time.
Collins suffered permanently blurred vision, torn irises that forced him to retire and severe depression. He died in a car crash a year after the fight that many believe wasn’t an accident.
In years following both Pennsylvania and Florida have relicensed Lewis as a trainer, but have not renewed due to bureaucratic and political motivations.
According to Marley, Lewis is preparing to move to Texas, the Department of Licensing and Regulations of which has been lax enough to relicense fighters Antonio Margarito, Edwin Valero and Evander Holyfield when other Commissions would not.
Margarito was recently involved in a hand wrap controversy in a January 2009 bout with Shane Mosley. After losing his license, he reapplied to both the Commissions of California and Nevada only to be dismissed. Last month he successfully retrieved a license after sending in the mandatory $20 fee to the Texas division.
Lewis maintains that it was co-trainer Artie Curly who was aware of the unpadded gloves and not him. It is a fact that Curly wrapped both of Resto’s hands and put on his gloves the night of the incident.
Lewis is in relatively poor health after suffering a heart attack some years ago.