Philippines, 02 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


National coaches pick Pacquiao


PhilBoxing.com




Forget about the "worst camp ever", pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao will dispatch Antonio Margarito.

Topping it all, the Margarito fight is not Pacquiao?s curtain call because the prospect of teaching Floyd Mayweather Jr a bitter lesson is too hard to resist.

These are the bold predictions of PLDT-Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines coaches Pat Gaspi and Roel Velasco when asked to comment on Pacquiao bout against Margarito on November 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"Pacquiao can easily handle Margarito. The Mexican will fall on the 7th or 8th round," said Gaspi, long-time mentor national training pool based in Baguio City.

"I think Pacquiao-Mayweather will push through. This is a fight the world would like to see."

Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Roel Velasco, chief mentor of the women?s national team, said the Tijuana Tornado will go pffft by the 9th or 10th round of the 12-round bout for the WBA junior middleweight crown.

"It?s over by the 9th or 10th round," said Velasco, who younger
brother Mansueto "Onyok" came within a win of gifting the country its first Olympic gold by taking silver in the Atlanta Olympics.

A member of the Philippine Navy, Roel said Pacquiao must avoid
over-confidence to avoid a monumental upset.

"Only Pacquiao can beat Pacquiao," said Velasco. Like Gaspi, Velasco termed as "untrue" reports suggesting that
Pacquiao?s training is in disarray because of many distractions. "The bottom line is Pacquiao?s knows what he?s doing. He?s not careless," said Velasco.

Velasco said the first five rounds are testing rounds for the seven-division champion. "He?s going to probe into Margarito?s weaknesses in the first five rounds and then, he?s going to step up the attack and engage the Mexican toe-to-toe."

Both coaches said Pacquiao?s achievements play a key part as the amateurs prepare hard for for the Asian Games on November and the 2012 London Olympics.

"His (Pacquiao?s) ring exploits drive our nationals to triple their effort to give glory to the country," Gaspi said. "Everybody wants to become the new Pacquiao."


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dennis U. Eroa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.