PACQUIAO BEATS UP MARGARITO ALL NIGHT, CAPTURES 8TH TITLE IN 8TH DIVISION

COWBOYS STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TX -- Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines hits Antonio Margarito of Mexico with a right in this bit of action from their WBC Junior Middleweight Championship fight Saturday night here. Pacquiao, using his much vaunted speed, thoroughly beat up the much taller and heavier Margarito all night to win his 8th title in as many divisions thus establishing himself as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. The judges' scores were 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 all in favor for the Filipino boxing legend.

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Pacquiao and Margarito make weight

Moments ago Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito weighed in for their bout tomorrow night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Margarito, the former champion from Tijuana, weighed in at the contracted limit of 150 pounds while Pacquiao weighed far less at 144.6. The discrepancy in weight was to be expected, as Margarito is by far the bigger fighter in this contest, which will be contested for the vacant WBC junior middleweight crown.

If Pacquiao is to win the bout, which is expected as he is a 5-1 betting favorite, then he will likely prevail because of his advantages in speed of hand and foot. Margarito is given a chance because of his size, ability to absorb punishment and aggressive style. Typically a fighter weighing five more pounds than his opponent would be alarming but Pacquiao has been accustomed to fighting seemingly bigger, stronger foes over the past few years.

Each man appears to be in tremendous shape and outside of all of the subplots and storylines regarding the fight we should be in for an interesting evening tomorrow night if anything else. Margarito was spotted in Las Vegas a few months back for his stable mate Brandon Rios' victory over Anthony Peterson and he appeared to be in tremendous shape at that point in time already. Some speculated that he would come into the Pacquiao fight weight drained but he appears to be in solid shape.

Las Vegas also happens to be the location of Margarito's greatest in as a pro, when he overcame an early deficit before stopping Caguas, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto in the 11th round at the MGM Grand. People are saying that if he is going to be successful agaisnt Pacquiao he will have to replicate that same blueprint, as he took control of the fight after weathering an early storm and eventually started breaking Cotto down over the second half of the fight with his aggression and body punching.

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Weight woes hound Margarito

AS fight night nears, it is getting clearer Mexican Antonio Margarito is struggling to make the catch-weight limit for his 12-round brawl with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.

In an overseas interview with Manila Standard, conditioning coach Alex Ariza bared Margarito may still be working out at night to burn whatever there is to burn just to lose those precious extra pounds.

“When I saw Margarito today when he did an interview, he look emaciated. He looked gaunt. It looked like he came from a run at 8 o’clock at night. This makes no sense to me,” said Ariza.

The Colombia native, California-raised Ariza admitted that he was for the most part worrisome as they saw in Margarito a legitimate threat to Pacquiao’s reign.

It was, however, only yesterday, when he had a close-up look at Margarito, that made Ariza feel much better about their chances.

“Margarito clearly is killing himself to make the weight, so now I’m even more confident that Manny is not going to have much of a problem,” said Ariza.

Though their 12-round bout is for the vacant World Boxing Council 154-lb crown, Margarito and Pacquiao agreed to a catch weight of 150 lbs with a penalty of $500,000 for every excess pound during the official weigh-in set Saturday morning (Manila time).

Ariza also agreed with the observation of Pacquiao’s British sparring partner and world super lightweight champion Amir Khan that Margarito may have already peaked some time ago.

In one of his most recent tweets, Khan said he noticed during HBO’s 24/7 TV special that Margarito looked ripped and already in tiptop shape way ahead of his Nov. 14 fight with Pacquiao, set at the billion-dollar Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“I would never bring my fighter within six or seven pounds four weeks away from a fight. I mean, that’s just absolute idiotic,” said Ariza.

Pacquiao and Margarito made their final public workout yesterday at the Gaylord Texan Hotel, where they did several rounds of mitts, jump rope and shadow boxing in front of an appreciative crowd.

Fight promoter Bob Arum addressed the crowd by stating one of his few more remaining sales pitches, and that is to sell the hugely underdog Margarito as a live-wire opponent for Pacquiao.

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Margarito convinced he will knockout Manny Pacquiao

I spent a few days inside of the Margarito camp a few weeks ago, and there is no doubt that he's in good shape and will be ready to fight on November 13th.  Margarito has gone on the record several times now talking about how he will not only win the fight, but he will stop Pacquiao.  Coach Garcia is saying the same thing.  In fact, Garcia told 8CountNews.com that he predicts an 11th round knockout.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach predicts that his guy, (Pacquiao) will be the one knocking people out.  Roach, (who is pretty good at predictions), predicts that Manny will not only beat Margarito, but he will put him to sleep.

Speed Vs. Strength and size, a common match-up for Pacquiao.  He is used to this kind of thing, so what makes Margarito any different?  According to Margarito trainer, Garcia, the big difference is that his guy (Margarito) will be coming forward, and throwing punches for the entire time.  Garcia believes that Manny will have to defend himself if he has a big tall guy in front of him, coming forward, and throwing a lot of punches.

Pacquiao has had a camp filled with distractions, but it seems as of late that things have settled down.  A Pacquiao at 80 percent is like any other fighter at 110 percent.  Margarito should not bank on the fact that Pacquiao has had a difficult camp.  Manny's speed hasn't gone anywhere and Tony will have to deal with it in the ring. 

Someone is more than likely going to eat the floor.  Pacquiao has blinding speed, and he throws a ton of punches from crazy angles.  Margarito will have to deal with that, and sooner or later he will end up tasting Manny's speed and his power.  On the flip side, Margarito is a big strong guy with a much longer reach advantage. He will try to use his size and length against Pacquiao.

Margarito will have to catch Manny as he bounces in with something in order to knock him out. I don't see Margarito having the ability to slowly wear down Manny.  The pound for pound king can fight 30 rounds if had to.  He is in tremendous shape, so it will take a punch that is perfectly timed and placed in order to hurt Manny Pacquiao.

Mississippians that I have spoken to across the state, and in Hattiesburg for the most part feel as if Manny Pacquiao will win.  There are those that do feel Margarito will pull off the upset.  The fight is approaching soon.  Saturday November 13th, all of our questions will be answered.

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Team Pacquiao and Team Margarito talk retirement and respect as Dallas looms

The camps of both Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito have been covered in depth heading into their November 13th bout at Cowboys Stadium. By this point in time all of the hard work during training is in the rearview and the teams will make their way from Southern California to Dallas, Texas in just a few days time.

While there seemed to be some obvious harsh feelings coming from both camps last month, the tone during yesterday’s conference call was much more subdued as everyone realizes the need for any amount of trash talk is obsolete by this point. Pacquiao, his trainer Freddie Roach, promoter Bob Arum, Margarito and his trainer Robert Garcia all seem to be simply relishing the opportunity that awaits next weekend in one of the year’s biggest fights.

The two men are at different points in their careers. Pacquiao's last two years in the sport have been the stuff of legends as he has risen in weight and tore through a formidable list of opposition but there has been whispers that his time in the sport could be coming to a close if he can't secure a fight with Las Vegas based Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year. Margarito saw his career stumble after he was discovered to have elements of plaster of paris in his hand wraps prior to his January 2009 loss to Shane Mosley as was subsequently suspended by the California State Athletic Commission. He has been attempting to pick up the pieces ever since and seems to be riding a wave of confidence with Garcia in his corner.

During the conference call there were highlights such as Pacquiao’s future in the sport, Arum’s thought on promoting Pacquiao over the years, Margarito’s confidence heading into the clash, Roach’s plan on defeating the Tijuana fighter and much more.

This is what all parties had to say…

Freddie Roach on training in the Philippines…

“In the Philippines we had a pretty good training camp. It wasn’t our best. We did miss one day for the president but that is unusual. Comparative-wise we have never had a bad training camp. He is in great shape and since we have been here in the States at the Wild Card he has been running the mountains to the Hollywood sign and so-forth. Everything is on track now and we are 100% ready for the fight. Manny told me he will not disappoint me and I know that’s true I expect great things. He sparred nine rounds yesterday with three different opponents and did very well and we are starting to taper back now, cutting back each day and saving it for the fight at this moment.”

Bob Arum on the financial success of the fight…

“The response to the ticket sales has been great. We are tracking well ahead of where we were at the Clottey fight and I’m very optimistic. It’s a great area. The ball team in the World Series and the Cowboys trying to right themselves and there are great fans in the North Texas area. I think we will exceed it. The first fight we did 50,000 and change and I think this fight we will exceed it. I think we will do over 60,000.”

Freddie Roach on the up-and-up…

“I’m a professional and I do my job. There will be no tampering with hand-wraps this time. It’s not an issue – it’s in the past. We are past that now. We are fighting on equal terms. It helps the fight in general because of the press and the notoriety of the fight. But it doesn’t change the fight at all; it will be on the up-and-up. Both will be equal in hand-wraps and that’s the way it is.”

Manny Pacquiao on the size difference…

“In our training today we started hard against big guys, taller to give them that advantage. We had plans for this camp to train for him and prepared ourselves with that strategy so we will have no problem with him. We do our best in training. With our strategy, we are not worried about the size. I believe I can fight the bigger guys even though I am small compared to them but we always believe in our talent.

Manny Pacquiao not thinking of retirement just yet…

“No, the political career has not affected my boxing career. I have time for politics and I have time for boxing. Right now my focus is still into boxing. Once I get into training there is full focus on the fight so I am ready. No retirement. Not yet. I can still fight.”

Freddie Roach on how to defeat Margarito…

“I think we will overwhelm him with the punches he will land on him with the fast hands and combinations. In eight or nine rounds I think we will break him down. Margarito throws a lot of punches and he makes too many mistakes to beat us. He has bad habits and we are going to take advantage of all of them.”

Bob Arum on Pacquiao’s impact…

“I have never promoted a fighter before that has so captivated a country and a people the way Manny has. He is idolized and followed by every Filipino, whether he is in the Philippines or anywhere else around the world. It is a phenomenon like I have never seen before. I promoted 25 Ali fights and other fights for Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and George Foreman, but I have never seen the enthusiasm of a people towards a fighter the way I see the enthusiasm for Manny Pacquiao.

Antonio Margarito staying away from the negative…

“I try not to dwell on the negative. I know people will ask the questions and I have to answer the questions and I have no problem with them. To me, right now all I am concentrating right now is on the fight. I know it is going to be asked but for me I have to concentrate on the fight. Everything is in the past and I can’t wait until November 13.”

Bob Arum’s opinion on the Margarito hand wrap scandal…

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I am a trained lawyer and I believe in justice and I believe that Antonio Margarito was not treated fairly by the California Commission. I believe that Antonio Margarito did not know anything of what was in those hand wraps and did not have an opportunity to try that and that the revocation of his license was unfounded and I said that at the time before there was even a conversation about a Margarito fight against Manny Pacquiao. I am delighted that Antonio came through all of this and I am delighted that the Texas boxing commission read the record and saw what was in fact the true facts surrounding this situation and gave Antonio a license and I am delighted to be the promoter of this fight.”

Antonio Margarito on his relationship with Top Rank…

“I am very happy where I am. I have always been treated well by Top Rank. I have done everything I have been supposed to do. I never looked to go anywhere else. Why would I go anywhere else when I am with the best? I will end up my career with them.”

Robert Garcia’s admiration…

“I have always admired Pacquiao’s career. He has done good things in boxing. He is seven-time world champion. You can’t beat that. But watching his fights over and over we know he makes mistakes.”

Antonio Margarito assessing Pacquiao…

“I couldn’t tell you anyone that comes close to his style or the way he fights. I never fought anyone like that or anyone that comes close. I see his speed. I know he is a fast guy but he is a smaller guy also. I see some things there, but I would never consider it an easy fight or think I have big advantages over him because I don’t. He may think he can be a big puncher in this weight division, so I want to get up in the ring to see what we can do with each other.”

source Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com