MANILA, Philippines ? Filipino boxing hero and now 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao admitted ha had a tough time beating down “Tijuana Tornado” Antonio Margarito during their World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title clash in Texas.
Pacquiao walked away with the title after 12 brutal rounds, leaving a black-and-blue Margarito.
?I just do my job, my opponent is not easy. He’s very strong he’s very tough,? Pacquiao said in his post fight interview with ESPN’s Sports Center.
Pacquiao marveled at Margarito?s tenacity as the Mexican continued to move forward despite receiving a hail of power punches from the heavy-fisted Filipino.
?I hit him a lot in the face but he’s still strong and still fight,? said the new WBC super welterweight king. (Click here for related story)
Pacquiao showed he is in his element as a boxer despite critics alleging a distracted training camp in Baguio City because of his duty as Philippine congressman.
At one point in his camp, he confided to his trainer, Freddie Roach, saying “I miss my job.” His coach said, “this is your job.” “No, I miss Congress,” was Pacquiao’s reply.
Size advantage
Margarito actually enjoyed a 17-pound size advantage against Pacquiao at fight night. He climbed the ring at 165 pounds after rehydrating from 150 during Friday?s weigh-in. Pacquiao was 148 pounds during the fight.
But it didn?t matter as the Filipino fighter hit him, punch-after-punch with frightening accuracy.
As a result the Mexican suffered a very bad cut in his right eye, which was badly swollen he could only see through a slit. His left eye was also puffed up to a lesser degree.
?That’s why I’m looking at the referee to have it looked because he (Margarito) had a bad cut in the right eye,? said Pacquiao.
Loyal Pacquiao fans also had the scare of their life when Margarito tagged the Filipino with a heavy punch to the body in Round 6. This hurt Pacquiao badly, forcing him to fight through the pain and survive the round.
?I tell you the truth, I got hurt,? he told Sports Center. ?I feel so weak in that round, I got really hurt in my stomach but I recovered.?
In the end, Pacquiao scored an overwhelming decision.
The judges saw it 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 all in favor of the Filipino boxer and Sarangani representative. (Click here for the round-by-round report)
Pride kept him fighting
Meanwhile, Margarito said it was Mexican pride that kept him fighting despite the odds.
The Tijuana Tornado actually had moments especially when he traded with Pacquiao on the ropes.
“We were going good until I got caught,” Margarito said in ESPN.com. “And then that is when the problems started coming.”
When asked if the thought of surrendering the fight crossed his mind, he said: “No, no way. I am Mexican and we fight until the end.”
