MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao prefers Monterrey in Mexico and a catchweight of 150 lb, no heavier than that, when he faces Antonio Margarito in their proposed match on Nov. 13.
?I like Mexico. It?s nice in Mexico. Let?s try Mexico,? said Pacquiao yesterday when asked where he?d like to face the former welterweight champion.
Pacquiao said he hasn?t signed the fight contract yet, but will soon go through it when his adviser, Mike Koncz, arrives from the United States this week.
But the reigning pound-for-pound champion said the fight for the vacant WBC super-welterweight title is bound to happen.
?Malamang si Margarito na nga (Most likely, it?s Margarito),? said Pacquiao after negotiations for a superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. bogged down.
?Basta sa catchweight na 150. If he?ll agree to 149, then let?s do it at 149,? he said.
Pacquiao visited The STAR office yesterday afternoon and talked briefly about his fight with the 32-year-old Mexican, who at 5?11? is easily four inches taller.
?He?s good. He knocked out Miguel Cotto. And he?s as tall as Oscar dela Hoya,? said the only fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven weight classes.
Pacquiao is also the only fighter ever to win a seat in Congress, and when he fights Margarito he will be introduced as ?the fighting congressman from Sarangani.?
Pacquiao said despite his bigger role as a congressman, he will not take Margarito lightly.
?I will train for eight weeks. Margarito is good. We must not underestimate his power. Starting next week, I will start running in the morning,? he said.
Pacquiao will train in Manila so he could also perform his duties with Congress, and according to early plans he would move to Los Angeles three weeks before the fight.
He said the fight with Mayweather, where the fighters could have easily earned $40 million each, did not happen because the undefeated American doesn?t want it to happen.
?They never run out of reasons saying why it won?t happen. But the truth is they don?t want the fight. Sila ang may ayaw,? said Pacquiao.
?And they say so many nasty things about me. But I don?t mind. I won?t even say anything bad against them. Let?s show them that Filipinos know how to respect people,? he said.
