Pacquiao?s fight with Magarito should be his last as a superwelterweight, says Ariza
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Nov 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA. (via Pera Padala) ? If trainer Alex Ariza will have his way, Manny Pacquiao?s fight against Mexican Antonio Margarito at super-welterweight should be his last.
?Yeah, I hope so. Manny and I talked about it today and we?re kind of done with it,? Ariza told sportswriters soon after alighting from the ?Air Pacquiao? American Airline chartered flight from Dallas along with members of Team Pacquiao.
?I think it lost its appeal for us trying to push. When is enough enough? Till we get him hurt? At what point is enough?? The physical conditioning guru repeatedly asked, obviously, trying to explain questions as to Pacquiao?s failure to knock Margarito out despite given several chances to do so.
The Filipino ring idol mangled Margarito in their entire 12-round duel at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Saturday but could only settle for a unanimous decision victory for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight en route to becoming the first man to wear an eighth-belt in as many weight divisions.
Ariza insinuated Pacquiao?s insufficient training due to several factors, including the pound-for-pound king?s new responsibilities as Congressman of Sarangani Province that, obviously, somewhat disturbed his preparations.
?The fight was good. I told you he?s in shape, he wasn?t just the way I want it, I always say that,? he explained. ? He fought well, that?s why I think I wanted him a little bit bigger and stronger than he was.?
? That?s why I think sometimes when you takes short cuts, there?s lessons that you pay at the end. I knew he?s gonna win, but at what cost? So I think we saw a little bit of that last night,? he continued.
Ariza also pointed out the combatants difference in size and weight as another reason, adding that Margarito climbed the ring carrying a big 17-pound advantage.
From 150 pounds at the weight-in a day before the fight, the ?Tijuana Tornado? bloated to 165 Saturday night, while the ?Pacman,? who tipped the scxale axt 144.5 pounds Friday, could only make 148, which he actually desired.
I think there?s a big (17 pounds) difference in the ring, that?s why Manny got a little tired. I?ve never seen Manny get tired before,? he recalled. ? That?s why I think you never let a trainer decide whatever things he need.?
?You always decide that. So at the end of the day, it?s my fault. I don?t want to think that?s why I said I don?t like going to a fight not knowing that I did everything I was supposed to do. I didn?t go in there feeling like I did,? he lamented.
?You?re chopping down a big tree with a little ax instead of a hammer, instead of a big ax. I still think if we?re in Cotto or Clottey?s shape, we could still knock him out. For sure,? he assessed.
Ariza believed that the seven weeks of training Pacquiao had undergone for the fight could have been enough had it been consistent.
?Yeah almost (7 weeks of training for this fight). If you put it all together, and you make it one consistent seven-week trip and train the way we trained in the past, that fight is over in seven or eight rounds,? he stressed.
?When Manny had him hurt and wobbled, he didn?t have it right, that?s when we really, really need it. And a lot of the commentators said we don?t really see the spring in his legs like he had in the later rounds. I think that was the product of us not really focusing on the other work,? quipped.
?If this is the Floyd fight, Manny kills him. You?re not talking about that kind of pressure, that kind of weight, that kind of power, that kind of resiliency. Margarito knocks Floyd out in this fight. So if you?re in Floyd or Margarito?s shoes and Manny?s shoes, Margarito knocks out Floyd jr. last night. Manny could have knock out anybody,? Ariza pointed out.
Asked what weight Pacquiao should concentrate, Ariza retorted: ?I think 140 is great for us, 147 is great for us especially with the way we?ve been training. Like I said, enough with the freak shows. It?s not a circus. Put somebody his own size in there.?
Who then the eight-division champion should fight next?
?Everybody knows I like (Juan Manuel) Marquez. It doesn?t matter, 140, 144, 145, whatever they want to fight us. (Shane) Mosley? He?ll be tired after 15 minutes what?s the point of that fight? Manny knocks him out and probably, Manny won?t even train for that fight,?
?That?s how much motivation we?ll have to be. That (Mosley) guy?s a quitter. He quits against Mayweather in three rounds. What do you think he?s gonna do when Manny starts let loose his hands five, 15 seconds after the bell rings,? Ariza predicted.
?Marquez? He?s got balls, he?s got heart. Stupid enough to think he can beat Manny. So that?s a great fight,? he said.
(File photo above ? Pacquaio training with Ariza looking on)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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