Pacquiao-Margarito bout: How boxing experts see it

MANILA, Philippines – Most boxing fans would love to see the fleet-footed Manny Pacquiao win against Mexican “giant” Antonio Margarito. But how would he do it? Does he really have the right tools to beat the Tijuana Tornado?

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

Margarito's trainer no match for Roach?

By Joaquin Henson

MANILA, Philippines – The trainers on opposite camps were former fighters who’ve been there and done that. They’re two of the best cornermen in the fight game today. Freddie Roach will be in Manny Pacquiao’s corner while Robert Garcia takes charge of Antonio Margarito’s corner when the bell rings to start the 12-round battle for the vacant WBC superwelterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this morning (Manila time).

Roach, 50, was a pro boxer from 1978 to 1986, retiring with a record of 40-13, including 15 KOs. Trained by the legendary Eddie Futch, he gained a reputation as a never-say-die warrior who went toe-to-toe against world champions Bobby Chacon, Greg Haugen and Camacho. Roach had no inkling he would later become a hero in the Philippines when he posted his last win ever in the ring over a Filipino – Arnel Arrozal in Lynwood, Washington, in August 1986.

Garcia, 35, is regarded as a ring legend in Los Angeles like Oscar de la Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Genaro Hernandez, Bobby Chacon, Carlos Palomino, Mike Weaver, Mando Ramos and Manuel Ortiz. He turned pro at 17 in 1992 and won his first three bouts by knockout in Japan. Garcia compiled 32 straight wins and appeared invincible when he captured the vacant IBF superfeatherweight diadem on a decision over Harold Warren in Miami in 1998.

Garcia lost the crown in his third defense to Diego Corrales in 1999. Then, he was knocked out by Ghana’s Ben Tackie in the 10th and last round in Las Vegas a few months later. Garcia came back to outpoint Santos Marcos in Phoenix but was stopped by Cuba’s Joel Casamayor in a bid for the WBA throne in his next bout. Garcia retired from the ring at 26 in 2001 with a record of 34-3, including 25 KOs.

Roach has worked with at least 25 world champions while Garcia is still building up his resume, now listing former world titleholders Brian Viloria and Steven Luevano. Roach holds court at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Garcia trains at the La Colonia Gym in Oxnard outside of Los Angeles.

Both are predicting knockout wins for their wards. Roach, however, has the edge in credibility because of his track record. He said he expects the first four rounds to be explosive.

“We’ll see a very competitive first four rounds,” Roach said. “Margarito will come out attacking. Then, Manny will start breaking him down with his power and speed. He won’t be able to handle Manny’s speed. He’ll begin feeling Manny’s power and remember, he cuts easily. Manny will go on to beat him up badly. I think it’ll be over by the eighth round.”

Margarito, 32, is coming off a unanimous 10-round decision over Roberto Garcia for the vacant WBC International superwelterweight crown in Aguascalientes, Mexico, last May. Garcia was floored in the first round and was never in contention as the judges scored it 100-88, 99-90 and 99-89. It was Margarito’s first fight with Garcia in his corner. Margarito’s record is 38-6, with 27 KOs compared to Pacquiao’s 51-3-2, with 38 KOs. Pacquiao, 31, has won his last 12 fights, eight inside the distance, and hasn’t lost since dropping a decision to Erik Morales five years ago. If he beats Margarito, Pacquiao will set a new record by capturing his eighth world title in eight different divisions.

In a recent interview, Roach denied facing off with Garcia twice. It was reported that Garcia had chalked up two wins over Roach in opposing corners. “I only remember one fight and it was a controversial ending,” said Roach referring to Luevano’s win by disqualification over Bernabe Concepcion last year. “All I know was my boy (Concepcion) knocked out Luevano but the referee ruled the punch came after the bell ending the seventh round.”

Roach said Margarito is “limited” as a fighter and once he feels Pacquiao’s power, he’ll begin to lose heart. “We’ve covered all the bases, using sparmates to simulate what we’re anticipating from Margarito,” said Roach. “To win, Garcia’s got to change Margarito’s style and that’s not going to happen. We noticed Margarito used a little more movement in his last fight against Garcia but that won’t be enough.”

Garcia is nicknamed “Grandpa” because he was so advanced in boxing at an early age. When he was five, Garcia began studying his father Eduardo train fighters at the La Colonia gym. “By the time I was 12, guys started calling me ‘Grandpa’ because I already knew so much about boxing,” said Garcia who is Nonito Donaire’s chief strategist.

Source: philstar.com

'Manny can stay on the ropes'

By Abac Cordero

DALLAS – Freddie Roach said Manny Pacquiao can spend some time on the ropes.

Because this time, it will happen for a reason, unlike when he did against Miguel Cotto last year.

“I told him if he wants to go the ropes we better work on a plan to counter the attack,” said Roach, recalling some moments during the Cotto fight where Pacquiao almost voluntarily took punches from the heavy Puerto Rican.

Roach said this time, Pacquiao can lean on the ropes, draw Margarito, force him to commit, and then throw the counter.

“It’ll be for a reason this time. If he goes to the ropes, it’s for the counter shot and we can knock him out with that counter shot,” said the four-time Trainer of the Year.

A possible scenario, he added, is Margarito throwing his left or right uppercuts while Pacquiao has his backs against the ropes.

“He steps out with his left foot to throw the right uppercut, and then he goes the other way he’s gonna throw the left uppercut,” he said.

It’s when Pacquiao can land a very good counter just as Margarito is about to throw some of his own.

Source: philstar.com

‘Tornado’ Margarito says he’ll blow PacMan away

BY ED C. 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

Margarito true warrior, Arum warns

By Abac Cordero

DALLAS – Oscar dela Hoya. Miguel Cotto. Joshua Clottey.

Three big men Manny Pacquiao had faced. Three big men Manny Pacquiao had defeated.

Now comes Antonio Margarito, taller, heavier and maybe even better than the three who had come before him.

Bob Arum last Thursday spelled the difference.

“Oscar is the kind of fighter that when he saw how much speed Manny has, in his heart he quit,” Arum, his slow, distinct voice, told reporters at the makeshift gym of the Gaylord Texan Hotel.

“It took him eight rounds before he finally threw it in, but he quit right from the first round. Joshua Clottey did the same thing even though he lasted 12 rounds,” said the chief of Top Rank Promotions.

And Cotto?

“Miguel is the same kind of guy as Margarito. But he was able to wear Miguel down,” said Arum of his Top Rank fighters who figured in a bruising 11-round encounter in 2008.

Margarito won that one. In 2009, Pacquiao made Cotto quit in the 12th.

Does this make Margarito a tougher opponent for Pacquiao?

“This guy is no quitter,” said Arum.

“This guy is a true Mexican warrior and he’s not gonna be discouraged, he’s not gonna quit, he’s gonna be in there trying right from the beginning. Therefore it becomes a much more difficult fight.”

Arum remembered the night Margarito and Cotto clashed in Las Vegas for the WBA welterweight crown.

“The first four rounds Miguel gave him hell, and then he (Margarito) came on, turned the fight and Miguel had nothing left,” Arum said.

Pacquiao has to bring the fight to Margarito because, Arum continued, this Mexican will always be there until he’s made to quit.

“He has to fight Margarito until there’s nothing left in Margarito’s tank and it stops. Margarito is never gonna stop willingly,” he told reporters.

Source: philstar.com

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

Pacquiao goes for history tonight

By: Brad Cooney

He has already rewritten the history books. He's captured 7 world titles in as many weight divisions. Manny Pacquiao will attempt to capture an 8th world title tonight when he takes on former world champion Antonio Margarito. There has been a lot of distractions and side show events leading up to this fight. The camp for Pacquiao in the Philippines did not go as well as coach Freddie Roach had wanted it to. Manny was not as focused this time around, but he seemed to have hit back on stride late in the camp. Roach went public several times expressing his disappointment with the camp. He did however change his tune for the better in the closing days of camp.

Antonio Margarito will earn about 3 million dollars for this fight. He is a man that's been given a second chance in boxing, but his behavior as of late has not been very appreciative. Recently he was captured on video with sparring partner and top ranked fighter Brandon Rios mocking Freddie Roach. As most of us know, Freddie Roach suffers from Parkinson's disease and has visible tremors, especially when he gets tired. Rios and Margarito both were captured on video shaking their heads and imitating Roach' tremors. This spread across the world like wild fire, and millions of fans were immediately disgusted and appalled. Margarito and Rios both have since apologized. Even with the apologies, the fans are still extremely upset with what both men did and have let it be known in boxing forums, Pacland, and on radio call in shows. Roach obviously is not happy with what they did, and neither is Manny Pacquiao. Keeping their usual integrity, Roach nor Pacquiao have lowered themselves and are focused on the fight. With that said, I can promise you that Pacquiao has seen the video, and a few of his punches that crack Margarito on the nose will have Freddie Roach's name written on them.

Manny tipped the scales at a very light 144lbs and Margarito came in at 150lbs. Tony will more than likely re-hydrate to over 160lbs when the bell rings so Pacquiao will have to be mindful of this. It's a huge weight disparity, so Pacquiao will have to rely on his speed to get his victory.

LISTEN to Podcasts with Manny Pacquiao, Roy Jones Jr, and more. Roy Jones chimed in with his prediction on the fight.

Mississippians that I have spoken to mostly want Pacquiao to win this fight. There is a pretty big Hispanic population in Mississippi and the majority of them are pulling for Margarito. I did speak to one Hispanic boxing fan yesterday that even with seeing the video of Margarito mocking Roach is pulling for the Tornado. Hector Hernandez, an amateur fighter from Jackson explained, "What Tony did on the video was wrong, but he apologized. He is Mexican, my blood and I will not turn my back on him. He will win this fight for Mexico." I also spoke with a Manny Pacquiao fan, Tom Johnson of Canton, MS. Johnson is appalled by what he saw in the video, " I wanted Pacman to win the fight, and now after seeing the video I want him to hurt Margarito!" There is no love lost between Pacquiao fans and Margarito fans, which should provide an electric atmosphere in Dallas, and across the world in hundreds of thousands of living rooms.

Tonight in Dallas, Manny Pacquiao will attempt to capture an 8th world title. A victory over Margarito will put him somewhere in outer space.

Photo: HBO
Source: examiner.com