Mexican fans also going for Pacquiao
Roy Luarca
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Mexican boxing fans either hate or love Manny Pacquiao. Very few don’t care.
This was evident Tuesday when they outnumbered and outscreamed the Filipinos during Pacquiao’s press workout at the Longhorn Exhibit Hall E of the Gaylord Texan Hotel here.
Though many of them came primarily to watch their compatriot and Pacquiao foe Antonio Margarito, who worked out at the same makeshift ring an hour earlier, majority stayed behind to watch the pound-for-pound king give a sample of what he can do to the former two-time world champion today at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
And they never left.
As a result, the crowd and the media tripled in size when Pacquiao started his training routine under the guidance of chief trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning expert Alex Ariza and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez.
Occasionally chanting “Manny, Manny,” the crowd even urged the media to “Let Manny go,” as members of the press held Pacquiao captive for more than 20 minutes at the edge of the ring after the workout.
Afer the two-hour workout, that included banging the heavy and the double-end bag, they waited to either get his autograph or take his pictures.
Margarito also showed his drawing power when about 200 fans showed up for his workout with trainer Robert Garcia.
Still donning a sweatsuit, despite Garcia’s pronouncement that he weighed an exact 150 lb Tuesday morning, Margarito did his exercises, skipped ropes, shadow boxed and worked with the mitts hour in a one-hour routine.
Fernandez monitored Margarito’s workout and was hardly impressed.
“We’re smaller, but we definitely have the edge,” Fernandez said. “Soon, they will know that Manny never runs from a fight.” inquirer.net
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Pacquiao: Razor-sharp or too light?
Recah Trinidad
MANNY PACQUIAO missed his target poundage in yesterday’s weigh-in but the world’s pound-for-pound boxing king readily shrugged off the discrepancy in his mega bout against Antonio Margarito, who was perfect on the scales.
Pacquiao, trumpeted to check in at 148 pounds, was only 144.6 during the official weight check.
Margarito, who would have been fined heavily had he exceeded the catch weight, hit it on the dot—150 lb—in one try.
As could be expected, Pacquiao fans hereabouts were both mystified and worried over the weigh-in results.
His unusual smallness, many Pacman devotees fear, could leave him a willing victim of his bigger, taller foe who has vowed to push and bully the Filipino boxing superstar.
Pacquiao, however, assured he would be extra sharp and speedy in today’s fight with the burly Mexican three-time world champion.
“He is a hundred percent, he did what he needed to be, as fast as can be,” trainer Freddie Roach informed Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times who also said Pacquiao can be expected to rely on the “speed of lightness.”
However, there were those who felt Pacquiao might have overworked himself.
“He got caught in the excitement of the fight that he failed to stick to his normal four or five meals a day,” explained Pacquiao close-in aide Michael Koncz.
Another reliable Team Pacquiao insider said the Pacman really poured it on in the remaining days in order to gain sufficient stamina, so hard that he readily burned out everything he would eat.
Here at home, lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud, respected boxing expert and founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, said Pacquiao’s lightness was a little unusual.
“But I still expect him to prevail with his superior skills and speed, not to mention his tested warrior’s heart,” Salud told the Inquirer.
Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, trusted sports medicine expert, said Pacquiao should find no problem rehydrating.
“It’s a bit unusual but he and his handlers know what’s best for him,” Canlas said.
Meanwhile, not a few among those who had put a bet on a Pacquiao knockout win started having second thoughts upon learning of yesterday’s weigh-in results in Texas.
There were two prevailing local contentions as we went to press:
Pacquiao could either be razor-sharp, or too light for today’s monumental bout.
source: inquirer.net
Pacman's biggest test
By Abac Cordero
DALLAS – Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, firmly established as one of the greatest boxers of all time, reaches out for another place in history against a fighter trying to redeem an image once tarnished and wrapped in controversy.
Pacquiao, long considered as the most exciting fighter to come out of his generation whose exploits could range with those of the sport’s past heroes, goes for the vacant WBC super welterweight crown against Mexican Antonio Margarito – probably the Filipino’s biggest and toughest challenge in a long and storied career.
Six months after a big win in the political arena, the Filipino icon returns to the boxing ring Saturday (Sunday noon in Manila) to shoot for a record eighth championship in as many weight divisions.
Last May, during the Philippine national elections, Pacquiao made history by beating a heavyweight opponent and becoming the first boxer to be elected to Congress.
When he climbs the ring at the Cowboys Stadium before an expected crowd of 60,000, he’ll be chasing history once more.
On the other corner of the ring will be Margarito – taller, bigger and supposedly stronger than all of Pacquiao’s previous opponents.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said Pacquiao.
After the official weigh-in at the East end zone of the $1.2-billion football stadium, Pacquiao liked his chances even more, hinting that Margarito may have killed himself making weight.
“I’m happy coming in at 144.6 (lbs) and Margarito did not look good,” he said of his opponent, who came in at exactly 150 lbs, looking gaunt and weak he had to put his arm on his trainer getting off the stage.
Pacquiao is the only boxer with seven world titles in seven different weight classes, almost unbelievably moving up as champion in the flyweight, super-bantam, featherweight, super-feather, lightweight, light-welter and welterweight divisions.
He won his last four crowns in his last six fights, with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Only Marquez managed to last the distance, the three others suffered knockouts early, midway and late in the fight.
A victory over Margarito, almost five inches taller, and with a 73-inch wingspan as compared to Pacquiao’s 67, would cement the Filipino boxer’s status as the greatest of his era, and to some the greatest of all time.
Wise money says it’s Manny
Despite his shortness in height and reach, the 31-year-old Pacquiao, just a shade under 5-foot-7, is the overwhelming favorite in this cold November showdown.
On the eve of the fight, while it was 11 degrees outside, he was at -500, and Margarito down at +350.
he Filipino southpaw, who has floored opponents bigger than he is, was at -650 in the betting stations a month ago, meaning you need $650 just to win a hundred bucks. Even at -500, it’s no longer nice or wise to place a bet.
Pacquiao, according to Bob Arum of Top Rank, is guaranteed $15 million for this one, and when everything comes in, the boxing icon from the province of Sarangani can earn as much as $20 million.
Margarito will get the smaller share of $3 million guaranteed. Still, it is the biggest purse in his entire career. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain, knowing that a victory will put him back on top of his division.
Pacquiao trained for seven weeks for this bout, starting off in Manila then Baguio then at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. But all the distractions around him can easily take another week off in his training program.
The last two weeks in LA, however, were the hardest of all, and Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it was enough to bring the reigning pound-for-pound champion to where he is right now, at his usual best.
The last few days at the gym it was pretty clear that Pacquiao’s speed, both with his hands and feet, is there.
Margarito, on the other hand, trained longer and harder, but may have had great difficulty making the 150-lb catchweight for the 154-lb division.
With the Mexican struggling to make weight, Pacquiao should be the stronger boxer on top of the ring.
Friday evening, as usual, Pacquiao took in a big number of visitors at his suite at the Gaylord Texan Hotel here. Saturday morning, he’d take a short walk, hear mass, and stay in until his call time at around seven in the evening.
Once he walks out of his dressing room, the Filipino champion will face a huge crowd like he’d never seen before – even more than the 51,000 that came to see his fight against Clottey – and greater expectations.
The fight, to be preceded by 10 others, including those featuring Filipinos Dennis Laurente, Richie Mepranum and Juan Martin Elorde, grandson of the legendary Filipino champion, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
The entire Filipino nation of over 90 million will stand behind Pacquiao as he battles Margarito, each one of them hoping and praying for another victory by Pacquiao, now being hailed as a possible future president.
Pacquiao has a ring record of 51 wins, three losses, two draws and 38 knockouts. He hasn’t lost a fight over the last five years, since that cold, bloody night of March 19, 2005 when he fell to Erik Morales in a 130-lb contest that went the distance.
Margarito, just months older than Pacquiao, has a ring record of 38 wins with six losses, a no-contest and 27 knockouts. He was knocked out by Shane Mosley in January last year, and just minutes to the fight he was caught with illegal hand wraps.
The native of Tijuana, actually a stablemate of Pacquiao’s at Top Rank, served a long suspension, and only managed to return to the ring in May this year, with a 10-round picnic against Roberto Garcia in Mexico.
But all that is water under the bridge now.
After this one, granting that he wins, Pacquiao can start weighing his options. He can either retire and focus on politics, chase the elusive fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., or face someone else in May.
“It’s his call,” Arum was quoted as saying the other day.
But that’s getting ahead of this fight, the biggest ever for Pacquiao.
Source: philstar.com
By Abac Cordero
DALLAS – Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, firmly established as one of the greatest boxers of all time, reaches out for another place in history against a fighter trying to redeem an image once tarnished and wrapped in controversy.
Pacquiao, long considered as the most exciting fighter to come out of his generation whose exploits could range with those of the sport’s past heroes, goes for the vacant WBC super welterweight crown against Mexican Antonio Margarito – probably the Filipino’s biggest and toughest challenge in a long and storied career.
Six months after a big win in the political arena, the Filipino icon returns to the boxing ring Saturday (Sunday noon in Manila) to shoot for a record eighth championship in as many weight divisions.
Last May, during the Philippine national elections, Pacquiao made history by beating a heavyweight opponent and becoming the first boxer to be elected to Congress.
When he climbs the ring at the Cowboys Stadium before an expected crowd of 60,000, he’ll be chasing history once more.
On the other corner of the ring will be Margarito – taller, bigger and supposedly stronger than all of Pacquiao’s previous opponents.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said Pacquiao.
After the official weigh-in at the East end zone of the $1.2-billion football stadium, Pacquiao liked his chances even more, hinting that Margarito may have killed himself making weight.
“I’m happy coming in at 144.6 (lbs) and Margarito did not look good,” he said of his opponent, who came in at exactly 150 lbs, looking gaunt and weak he had to put his arm on his trainer getting off the stage.
Pacquiao is the only boxer with seven world titles in seven different weight classes, almost unbelievably moving up as champion in the flyweight, super-bantam, featherweight, super-feather, lightweight, light-welter and welterweight divisions.
He won his last four crowns in his last six fights, with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Only Marquez managed to last the distance, the three others suffered knockouts early, midway and late in the fight.
A victory over Margarito, almost five inches taller, and with a 73-inch wingspan as compared to Pacquiao’s 67, would cement the Filipino boxer’s status as the greatest of his era, and to some the greatest of all time.
Wise money says it’s Manny
Despite his shortness in height and reach, the 31-year-old Pacquiao, just a shade under 5-foot-7, is the overwhelming favorite in this cold November showdown.
On the eve of the fight, while it was 11 degrees outside, he was at -500, and Margarito down at +350.
he Filipino southpaw, who has floored opponents bigger than he is, was at -650 in the betting stations a month ago, meaning you need $650 just to win a hundred bucks. Even at -500, it’s no longer nice or wise to place a bet.
Pacquiao, according to Bob Arum of Top Rank, is guaranteed $15 million for this one, and when everything comes in, the boxing icon from the province of Sarangani can earn as much as $20 million.
Margarito will get the smaller share of $3 million guaranteed. Still, it is the biggest purse in his entire career. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain, knowing that a victory will put him back on top of his division.
Pacquiao trained for seven weeks for this bout, starting off in Manila then Baguio then at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. But all the distractions around him can easily take another week off in his training program.
The last two weeks in LA, however, were the hardest of all, and Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it was enough to bring the reigning pound-for-pound champion to where he is right now, at his usual best.
The last few days at the gym it was pretty clear that Pacquiao’s speed, both with his hands and feet, is there.
Margarito, on the other hand, trained longer and harder, but may have had great difficulty making the 150-lb catchweight for the 154-lb division.
With the Mexican struggling to make weight, Pacquiao should be the stronger boxer on top of the ring.
Friday evening, as usual, Pacquiao took in a big number of visitors at his suite at the Gaylord Texan Hotel here. Saturday morning, he’d take a short walk, hear mass, and stay in until his call time at around seven in the evening.
Once he walks out of his dressing room, the Filipino champion will face a huge crowd like he’d never seen before – even more than the 51,000 that came to see his fight against Clottey – and greater expectations.
The fight, to be preceded by 10 others, including those featuring Filipinos Dennis Laurente, Richie Mepranum and Juan Martin Elorde, grandson of the legendary Filipino champion, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
The entire Filipino nation of over 90 million will stand behind Pacquiao as he battles Margarito, each one of them hoping and praying for another victory by Pacquiao, now being hailed as a possible future president.
Pacquiao has a ring record of 51 wins, three losses, two draws and 38 knockouts. He hasn’t lost a fight over the last five years, since that cold, bloody night of March 19, 2005 when he fell to Erik Morales in a 130-lb contest that went the distance.
Margarito, just months older than Pacquiao, has a ring record of 38 wins with six losses, a no-contest and 27 knockouts. He was knocked out by Shane Mosley in January last year, and just minutes to the fight he was caught with illegal hand wraps.
The native of Tijuana, actually a stablemate of Pacquiao’s at Top Rank, served a long suspension, and only managed to return to the ring in May this year, with a 10-round picnic against Roberto Garcia in Mexico.
But all that is water under the bridge now.
After this one, granting that he wins, Pacquiao can start weighing his options. He can either retire and focus on politics, chase the elusive fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., or face someone else in May.
“It’s his call,” Arum was quoted as saying the other day.
But that’s getting ahead of this fight, the biggest ever for Pacquiao.
Source: philstar.com
"Tornado" Margarito says he'll blow Pacman away
by: Ed Tolentino
Much like his nickname “Tornado,” Mexican Antonio Margarito loves to huff, puff and blow away his opponents with vicious haymakers. Since turning professional in 1994, Margarito has compiled a record of 38-6 with 27 knockouts. Margarito’s 60 knockout percentage underlines his search and destroy persona in the ring. The former two-time world welterweight champion comes to the ring offering little science in his style, preferring to rumble regardless of the consequences.
Margarito’s devil-may-care approach in the ring actually mirrors his personal life. “When you live in a border town [Tijuana], everything is always a little tougher,” said Margarito. “Everything in life is a little tougher. You have to work hard for everything you get. I think it shows in everything, especially in boxing.”
One of five children (three sisters, two brothers), Antonio Margarito Montiel was born on March 18, 1978 in Torrance, California but grew up in Tijuana. To provide food on the table, Margarito’s father sold mattresses. As a toddler, Margarito played soccer and basketball, but started developing an interest in boxing at age 8, after his father brought him to several fights.
“My father was a big boxing fan, and he took me to the fights” said Margarito. “That’s how I became interested in boxing. I started soon after that. I had 21 amateur fights, with a record of 18 wins and 3 losses.”
Margarito turned professional in January 1994, scoring a four-round decision win over Jose Trujillo. He won his first five fights before suffering his first loss in October 1994 by way of a decision loss to Victor Loyoza.
Margarito fought his first 10 fights in Tijuana before relocating to California, USA to pursue his fistic dreams. “My father doesn’t have the papers to cross the border,” said Margarito. “He has never seen me fight in person.”
Life away from Mexico was struggle early on for Margarito. He remembers one fight where he climbed the ring shortly after being informed that his brother had been murdered. As if things cannot get any worse, Margarito, owing to his size (5’11”) and fearsome punching power, was avoided like a disease by the champions in the welterweight division.
Margarito did not win a world title until March 2002, when he stopped Antonio Diaz in 10 rounds for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. Margarito lost the belt on points to Paul Williams in July 2007. Unperturbed, he became a champion again in April 2008, stopping Kermit Cintron with a debilitating body shot in the sixth round for the International Boxing Federation welter plum. Margarito added the World Boxing Association welterweight title to his collection in July 2008, when he knocked out Miguel Cotto in 11 rounds.
Just when it seemed his career was finally taking off, Margarito hit a huge roadblock in January 2009, when the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) discovered that he had tried to use tampered gloves before his title defense against American Shane Mosley. Margarito’s hands were rewrapped, but he lost his focus and was stopped in nine rounds by Mosley. Shortly after the fight, the CSAC suspended Margarito and revoked his boxing license.
Margarito’s career hit rock bottom. Banned from fighting in the US, he resurfaced on May 8 in Mexico, scoring a lackluster decision over Roberto Garcia.
Margarito was drifting into oblivion when promoter Bob Arum sought his services. When the proposed showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao fell through, Margarito emerged as a substitute foe for the Filipino. Margarito immediately sought his reinstatement in the US, but the CSAC denied his application for a boxing license. Surprisingly, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ignored the CSAC’s ruling and issued the required boxing license to Margarito.
Margarito is heading to the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas looking at the fight with Pacquiao as his ticket to redemption. Margarito is a heavy underdog, but the Mexican couldn’t care less. As Margarito puts it, he has been through hell to be intimidated by the PacMan. Margarito has his eyes fixed on winning the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title. For the record, it will be Margarito’s second attempt to win the 154-pound crown. In September 2004, Margarito lost by technical decision to Daniel Santos in a battle for the WBO super welterweight crown. The fight was stopped in the 10th round because of a deep cut in Margarito’s right eye. Santos was ahead on points at the time of the technical stoppage and was declared the winner.
“I’m still very hungry. I’ve always wanted to be a WBC champion. Pacquiao’s a great fighter. I expect a tough fight but I’m going to win this fight,” quipped the Tijuana Tornado.
Source: manilatimes.net
by: Ed Tolentino
Much like his nickname “Tornado,” Mexican Antonio Margarito loves to huff, puff and blow away his opponents with vicious haymakers. Since turning professional in 1994, Margarito has compiled a record of 38-6 with 27 knockouts. Margarito’s 60 knockout percentage underlines his search and destroy persona in the ring. The former two-time world welterweight champion comes to the ring offering little science in his style, preferring to rumble regardless of the consequences.
Margarito’s devil-may-care approach in the ring actually mirrors his personal life. “When you live in a border town [Tijuana], everything is always a little tougher,” said Margarito. “Everything in life is a little tougher. You have to work hard for everything you get. I think it shows in everything, especially in boxing.”
One of five children (three sisters, two brothers), Antonio Margarito Montiel was born on March 18, 1978 in Torrance, California but grew up in Tijuana. To provide food on the table, Margarito’s father sold mattresses. As a toddler, Margarito played soccer and basketball, but started developing an interest in boxing at age 8, after his father brought him to several fights.
“My father was a big boxing fan, and he took me to the fights” said Margarito. “That’s how I became interested in boxing. I started soon after that. I had 21 amateur fights, with a record of 18 wins and 3 losses.”
Margarito turned professional in January 1994, scoring a four-round decision win over Jose Trujillo. He won his first five fights before suffering his first loss in October 1994 by way of a decision loss to Victor Loyoza.
Margarito fought his first 10 fights in Tijuana before relocating to California, USA to pursue his fistic dreams. “My father doesn’t have the papers to cross the border,” said Margarito. “He has never seen me fight in person.”
Life away from Mexico was struggle early on for Margarito. He remembers one fight where he climbed the ring shortly after being informed that his brother had been murdered. As if things cannot get any worse, Margarito, owing to his size (5’11”) and fearsome punching power, was avoided like a disease by the champions in the welterweight division.
Margarito did not win a world title until March 2002, when he stopped Antonio Diaz in 10 rounds for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. Margarito lost the belt on points to Paul Williams in July 2007. Unperturbed, he became a champion again in April 2008, stopping Kermit Cintron with a debilitating body shot in the sixth round for the International Boxing Federation welter plum. Margarito added the World Boxing Association welterweight title to his collection in July 2008, when he knocked out Miguel Cotto in 11 rounds.
Just when it seemed his career was finally taking off, Margarito hit a huge roadblock in January 2009, when the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) discovered that he had tried to use tampered gloves before his title defense against American Shane Mosley. Margarito’s hands were rewrapped, but he lost his focus and was stopped in nine rounds by Mosley. Shortly after the fight, the CSAC suspended Margarito and revoked his boxing license.
Margarito’s career hit rock bottom. Banned from fighting in the US, he resurfaced on May 8 in Mexico, scoring a lackluster decision over Roberto Garcia.
Margarito was drifting into oblivion when promoter Bob Arum sought his services. When the proposed showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao fell through, Margarito emerged as a substitute foe for the Filipino. Margarito immediately sought his reinstatement in the US, but the CSAC denied his application for a boxing license. Surprisingly, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ignored the CSAC’s ruling and issued the required boxing license to Margarito.
Margarito is heading to the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas looking at the fight with Pacquiao as his ticket to redemption. Margarito is a heavy underdog, but the Mexican couldn’t care less. As Margarito puts it, he has been through hell to be intimidated by the PacMan. Margarito has his eyes fixed on winning the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title. For the record, it will be Margarito’s second attempt to win the 154-pound crown. In September 2004, Margarito lost by technical decision to Daniel Santos in a battle for the WBO super welterweight crown. The fight was stopped in the 10th round because of a deep cut in Margarito’s right eye. Santos was ahead on points at the time of the technical stoppage and was declared the winner.
“I’m still very hungry. I’ve always wanted to be a WBC champion. Pacquiao’s a great fighter. I expect a tough fight but I’m going to win this fight,” quipped the Tijuana Tornado.
Source: manilatimes.net
By: By Roy Luarca
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Manny Pacquiao takes another bold step toward sports
immortality when he tangles with Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight crown on Saturday night (this morning in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington City.
The 31-year-old representative of Sarangani province and holder of a record seven world crowns in as many divisions will make history as the first nationally elected official to compete in a boxing championship
as soon as he trades punches with the taller and bigger boxer from Mexico.
The Philippines’ pride, despite yielding 4 1/2 inches in height, 6 inches in reach and more than 10 pounds in weight by fight night, is an overwhelming 5-1 favorite to trounce Margarito and remain the world’s pound-for-pound king.
From Yokohama, Japan, where he is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, President Benigno Aquino on Saturday said Filipinos continued to hope and to expect that Pacquiao would “bring honor” to the motherland.
“And I would like to let him know that I am among those praying for his victory,” the President said in Filipino.
Prayers will be particularly strong in the Cebu Archdiocese, where the episcopal vicar, Msgr. Esteban Binghay, has included in his Saturday and Sunday-morning Masses a prayer for Pacquiao.
“Manny’s victory will also be our victory,” Binghay said on Saturday.
Invader
The Filipino champion started as a puny 106-pounder in 1995 and went on to capture the WBC flyweight (112 lbs), International Boxing Federation super bantamweight (122), Ring featherweight (126), WBC super featherweight (130), WBC lightweight (135), International Boxing Organization junior welterweight (140) and World Boxing Organization welterweight (147) titles.
Now he is invading the 154-lbs territory, where, at 5 feet and 6 1/2 inches, he is deemed a pygmy, and at 144.6 lbs during weigh-in, severely malnourished.
So as not to sacrifice his speed and whirlwind attacks, Pacquiao will not bulk up too much and will enter the ring no heavier than 149 lbs.
The 5’11” Margarito weighed in at exactly 150 lbs—the catch weight agreed upon—but will rehydrate to over 160 lbs for the 12-round bout to be beamed all over the globe by HBO pay-per-view (PPV).
As usual, Pacquiao is not focusing on personal glory and is dedicating the fight to his country and the 96 million countrymen rooting for him back home.
Deadly with both hands
The Fighter of the Decade, who holds a 51-win, three-loss, two-draw slate spiked by 38 knockouts, is gunning for his 13th straight victory since losing to Mexican Erik Morales in 2005, when he was basically a heavy-hitting lefty.
Under the guidance of four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, Pacquiao has become deadly with both hands, exacting vengeance over Morales twice, and opponents that included Hall-of-Fame-bound Mexicans like Oscar de La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao drew 50,994 fans to the Cowboys Stadium when he fought and beat Ghanaian Joshua Clottey last March 13.
Top Rank founder and promoter Bob Arum expects Pacquiao—with some help from the Latino fans of Margarito, who is seeking redemption after serving a yearlong ban for using a hand-wrap containing a hardening substance in a losing effort against Shane Mosley early in 2009—to draw an even bigger crowd.
Pacquiao has been guaranteed $15,000,000, which stands to increase significantly if the bout exceeds the 700,000 PPV hits posted by the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.
8 or less
Roach has predicted a knockout victory for his prized ward in “eight rounds or less,” and hinted that a first-round knockout was a possibility.
Not to be outdone, Margarito’s trainer Robert Garcia predicted that Pacquiao would fall in 11 rounds.
While Pacquiao has refused to guarantee a knockout, Margarito (38-6 with 27 KOs) has said he would beat the Filipino and salvage Mexican pride.
Three other Filipinos, led by Juan Martin “Bai” Elorde, grandson of the late great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Dennis Laurente and Richie Mepranum will figure in the undercard of the 90-round card.
Elorde will fight Angel Rodriguez in a four-round super featherweight bout; Laurente, Rashad Holloway in an eight-round super lightweight encounter; and Mepranum, Anthony Villareal in an eight-round flyweight tussle.
Zyrene Parsad will sing the Philippine anthem.
Not even on TV
President Aquino will not be able to watch the Pacquiao-Margarito fight because of his “full schedule,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said in Yokohama.
On the last day of the Apec summit today, Mr. Aquino and other Apec leaders are to attend a last leaders’ retreat and a luncheon before they issue a joint declaration to cap the three-day conference.
Carandang said some Cabinet officials in the President’s delegation might watch the fight on cable TV and invite Filipinos in Yokohama to join them.
Malacañang said Mr. Aquino was to speak before the other Apec leaders at around the time of the Pacquiao-Margarito bout.
“It depends on his schedule but what I see is that he has engagements at that time,” Abigail Valte, the President’s deputy spokesperson, said over radio dzRB when asked about the probability that Mr. Aquino would miss Pacquiao’s first fight under his administration.
“We are united with our fellow Filipinos in rooting and praying for Manny to beat Margarito and bring more honor to our country,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said in a statement issued Saturday.
Faith
Pacquiao’s colleagues in the House of Representatives are confident that he will win because of his “strong faith in God.”
“His strength, months of training and belief in the Filipino spirit of dependence on God will lead him to victory,” said House Deputy Speaker Ma. Isabelle Climaco.
Rep. Simeon Datumanong said Pacquiao was fully prepared for the fight—“physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
Said Rep. Roilo Golez, a boxer in his younger days at the Philippine Navy: “I believe that with Pacquiao’s speed, punching power, stamina and ability to deliver nonstop, vicious combinations, he will KO Margarito in six rounds or less. That’s assuming Margarito doesn’t run like (Miguel) Cotto or cover up like (Joshua) Clottey.” With reports from Norman Bordadora and Michael Lim Ubac in Manila; Christine O. Avendaño in Yokohama, Japan; Jhunnex Napallacan and Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas
Source: inquirer.net
Paquiao vs. Margarito : How boxing experts see this fight,
Here’s how boxing experts think how the fight would go in the modern-day David and Goliath clash.
Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Manny, with that speed and his punching power and his ring smarts against a much slower opponent, at some point, you know, gets the job done.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer of boxing champ Devon Alexander
Manny Pacquiao has too much hand speed. I mean, he has superior hand speed and good foot movement. I think that he will outbox the bigger Antonio Margarito and that he will win a 12-round decision.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
This one could be tough for Pac-Man. He just might hit the bigger Margarito until he can't hit him anymore, and then fade in the late rounds. Nonetheless, Pacquiao should win on points. Manny's a fighter with limitations, not a miracle-worker, so don't expect fireworks this time.
Thomas Hauser, SecondsOut Boxing News
Margarito is a big strong guy. He takes a pretty good punch, he hits hard and Manny is going to have to walk through some difficult territory in this fight.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
This fight comes down to one thing: Speed. Manny Pacquiao has it and Antonio Margarito does not. Margarito is tough, he hits hard and he's expert at putting on pressure. If Margarito is somehow able to corner Pacquiao or pin him on the ropes, it would be a very different fight, but trainer Freddie Roach will never allow that to happen.
Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
In a fight that will be much more competitive than most believe, I think that Manny Pacquiao wins by decision over Antonio Margarito. But that he will have to work all 36 minutes to do so.
Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao should stop Antonio Margarito by the 10th round. Despite training camp concerns, and the fact that he is facing a height and weight disadvantage, Pacquiao's speed should overwhelm the slower former champion from Mexico, who will struggle to find the seven-division champ.
Lou DiBella, veteran boxing promoter
As much as it truly pains me to say this - because I don't think Margarito deserves this situation - I make him a very live underdog. His whole life will change if he wins, economically, physically he's much bigger and I've long concluded that Pacquiao will eventually lose to someone much bigger. With the personal appearances, TV shows and everything, I wonder if he is as fit and 100 per cent hungry as he usually is. That said, Pacquiao by a close decision but it would be no surprise if Margarito pulled an upset.
Joe Santoliquito, Ring Magazine
The Pac-Man is boxing today. There's been no fighter this decade that's been as consistently great as Manny Pacquiao. I would put Floyd Mayweather in there, if he fought more often. It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, if you're in there with Manny, chances are you're going down. As for Antonio Margarito, there's a lot of obvious questions about him: Was it the "real Margarito" we saw against Miguel Cotto? Or was the "real Margarito" the cheat who was demolished by Shane Mosley? We'll find out in this fight. I can't see Pacquiao losing. He's at an unbeatable stage of his career.
Tim Smith, New York Daily News
I was a little concerned about the height and weight differential for Manny Pacquiao, and it still may be a problem. But I think that he has the boxing skills, if he decides to use them, to overcome any disadvantage in these areas. Antonio Margarito didn't look that great in his last two fights against Shane Mosley and Roberto Garcia, so there will be considerable rust. Margarito will fight and put himself in harms way, and Pacquiao will take advantage of that. Pacquiao TKO 10.
Joe Gallagher, trainer of UK boxing champ John Murray
Margarito to win. He won't get anything off the judges and he'll have to do it like he did Miguel Cotto, but he will win.
Source: abs-cbnNews.com
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