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Why Margarito is Pacquiao?s roughest fight By Eddie Alinea PhilBoxing.com Wed, 27 Oct 2010  Eighteen days before he fights Antonio Margarito for the world super-welterweight crown, Filipino ring hero is still tagged the overwhelming favorite to emerged the winner and further etched his name in boxing?s history as the only man to win an eight world title in as many weight divisions. The projection is brought about by the way they saw how the reigning welterweight champ reduced Joshua Clottey into a pulp; raining his opponent with more than 300 punches a round all throughout their 12-round duel. Don?t look now, but had lot of people witnessed the Mexican?s last fight, an impressive triumph over Roberto Garcia that took place in Aguascalientes, Mexico sans the usual television coverage for reason that Margarito couldn't get a license to fight in the United States. Meaning the last time most fans saw Margarito in real action was sleep walk loss to Shane Mosley two years ago that was marred by controversy it was found out he loaded his gloves with materials to give additional power to his punches Mosley came out the winner in that fight in a victory that put the ?Tijuana Tornado?s? entire career suspect to many sports fans. That he is a cheat, an enigma Margarito wants to erase to get back in the mainstream of the international boxing scene. Margarito, of course, denied having knowledge of the shameful wraps. Question is, is he capable of doing that by turning the tables on the ?Pacman.?? Well, for one thing, Margarito is definitely, bigger, taller and heftier that the Filipino speed demon. Not only that, reports have it that some tough fighters who have done the mitts with Margarito swear the Mexican can hit like a mule -- with or without loaded wraps. He's also got a great chin, too, they attested. And remember that nobody one had ever knocked out Margarito before Mosley sent him to the canvas for the first time in his career. Margarito is training hard for his matchup with Manny. Whether the wraps charges are true or not, it cannot be denied that Margarito is a big hitter with a good chin. Which is why this will be a tough fight for Pacquiao. Probably the toughest he's ever had. So far Manny has fought the best fighters of his era: Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Clottey although doubters tend to taint those victories, perhaps for valid reasons. They said Hatton was always over rated, Cotto was too slow for Manny. Margarito, like Manny?s past victims also struggle with Manny's speed, but unlike Cotto, Antonio is used to being the slowest guy in the ring. That means he's used to adjusting to faster fighters. On the other hand, Manny isn't used to being hit by a big welterweight. As Clottey showed when he rendered Pacquiao?s face swollen from the very few punches he was able to connect. Not only that but they're fighting at 151 so Manny can fight for another belt. Usually a catch weight fight favors the smaller man. But since Margarito has campaigned almost exclusively as a welterweight there won't be any advantage for either man. It just means, Margarito can come in several pounds heavier than usual. On a frame that can easily handle it. Then there's the question of Manny's condition. This will be his first fight since being elected as congressman representing his wife Jinkee?s home province Sarangani, spending many weeks campaigning for office. By all indications though, Manny will win. He's too fast for Margarito and his speed will see him marching triumphantly anew. He also loves to fight. A trait that has made him one of the all time greats. But if Margarito catches him flush even once, we going to see if Manny is a real welterweight or a fighter that just caught a bunch of bigger fighters at the downward point of their careers. That alone should make this one interesting. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.  |
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