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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