ARLINGTON, Texas ? Freddie Roach has said he expects Manny Pacquiao to knock out Antonio Margarito around the eighth round, give or take, on Saturday at Cowboys stadium. That?s about as specific as he gets.
Speaking more generally, the trainer also has said he expects the knockout to come anywhere between Rounds 1 and 8.
Round 1? Observers generally agree that Margarito will survive until the later rounds even if Pacquiao dominates him because of his famously solid chin. Shane Mosley became the first to stop the sturdy Mexican, in the ninth round, by gradually breaking him down.
Roach believes the fight could resemble Pacquiao?s victory over Ricky Hatton ? KO 2 ? more than the Mosley-Margarito fight.
?I think we can hurt him right away,? he said at Wednesday?s final news conference, held at Cowboys Stadium. ?Manny is punching really, really hard. He?s really grown into the weight. He knows how to use his body weight now. He punches the s–t out of me [on the mitts and body pads].
