?Underweight? Pacquiao to rely on speed on fight night
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Nov 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas (via Pera Padala) ? Can Filipino ring sensation Manny Pacquiao extend his legacy by becoming the only man in boxing?s history to win as eighth world championship in eight separate weight classes?
Can Mexican hero Antonio Margarito free himself from the ignominy of being accused a cheater brought about by the infamous hand-wrap scandal that resulted in his being suspended from fighting in several states of the U.S.?
Can the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight kingpin continue his domination of Mexican fighters that earned for him the sobriquet ?The Mexecutioner??
Can the three-time 154-pound titleholder, also known as ?Tijuana Tornado,? stopped that Pacquiao triumphant run and avenge the losses inflicted by ?The Pacman? to his most illustrious compatriots, including those considered as legends not only in his country but in the world as well?
These questions and many more can find answers Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) when the two collide for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight crown at the posh $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium here.
Like can Pacman?s eight-division diadem, should he win, surpass the greatness of Sugar Ray Robinson, last millennium?s ?Best Fighter,? and the man he beat for the honor, Henry Armstrong?
Or can this final mega--fight of year 2010 the confrontation everyone is bussing and talking about, break the record of the largest attendance for a fight crowd?
Fight time is 10 p.m. (10 a.m. Sunday in Manila) with the whirlwind-fisted Pacquiao gunning for his 13th straight and 52nd overall in 56 outings victory, 38 of them via stoppage.
Margarito, who turned 32 last March, strands to improve on his 38-6 win-loss record with 27 knockouts with a win that is considered a near impossibility to many on the strength of a 6-1 odds stuck heavily on the Filipino.
This because while the newly-elected Congressman from Sarangani Province is definitely shorter and smaller, he has proven he can beat fighters bigger and heftier than he is.
Margarito is not only taller at 5-foot-11 to Pacquiao?s 5-6 1/1 frame, he is also five pounds and-a-half heavier as shown by the Mexican?s surprising 150-pound weight to the Filipino?s 144.5-pound during Friday?s official weigh-in.
Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will weigh from 148 to 149 at fight time. He said he expect Margarito to tip the scale from 155 to 160.
?Which is in our favor because that will make him (Margarito) slower.
Pacquiao is also giving more than five inches in reach with his mere 66 ? expanse as compared to Margarito?s 73?.
Pacquiao though can make up for is his disadvantage in size with his quickness having faster hand and foot speed that proved his main weapon in retiring the legendary Oscar Dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton, both approximating Margarito?s size besides being more agile and versatile than the Tornado.
Both camps declared preparedness for 12-round of banging bodies and the expected haymaking exchanges.
Pacquiao?s chief trainer told this writer his pupil, as in the past days, just rested the whole day Friday.
Same with Margarito, according to trainer Robert Garcia although those in the know said he stayed long on thread mill obviously trying to shed poundage to make the weight.
Which was evident during the weigh-in where he stayed glued to the stool while he and Pacquiaoi were waiting for their turn at the scale. He also looked pale.
Pacquiao, in contrast, looked relax and confident, walking to and fro the stage, shaking hands with everybody, including Top Rank honcho Bob Arum, WBC president Jose Sulaiman, ring announcer Michael Buffer and everybody in sight.
?We will have couple of walks when he gets up today and tomorrow just for the purpose of maintaining his present condition. He needs some fresh air so I?ll give him permission to go out late today and tomorrow. Then we?ll review our game plan. ? Roach said.
What to do to win? ?We?ll pressure him and take advantage of all his (Margarito?s) weaknesses. Manny will push him to the ropes and attack with combinations.?
?Manny will be using his best weapon, his right-hand. He should be Margarito to the punch, force him to commit mistakes then go for the kill,? Roach said.
?He must not stay long on the ropes, can?t get careless and should avoid committing mistakes. Tire Margarito out and try for a knockout in the closing rounds,? he said
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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