The boxing world is still trying to get a handle on the latest development surrounding the most recent fallout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. As people speculate as to whether Floyd is avoiding Pacquiao because of fear or whether any true talks took place or not, Team Pacquiao is trying their best to look past the situation while still eyeing a November 13th fight.
As the moment Antonio Margarito seems most likely to land a shot at the reigning WBO welterweight champion but it is unknown as to where the contest would take place. Despite having one time established himself as one of the world?s premier welterweights, especially after his riveting victory over Miguel Cotto two years ago, Margarito?s career status took a major hit when he was caught with plaster of paris in his handwraps before his January 2009 loss to Shane Mosley as was subsequently suspended for a year by the California State Athletic commission.
Ironically it is Cotto who is also in the running for the November 13th date against Pacquiao. Despite losing convincingly to the Filipino icon last winter Cotto bounced back impressively but moving up in weight and capturing the WBA Jr. Middleweight championship with a ninth round TKO over Yuri Foreman last month. One man who isn?t thrilled about the possibility of Pacquiao facing either man is Welterweight hopeful Rashad Holloway.
?Margarito doesn?t deserve a shot at Manny,? Holloway told the Examiner emphatically. ?I don?t think he deserves a payday like that. It?s BS in my eyes. I hope they don?t give him a shot but you never know. It?s the same thing with Cotto. I pretty much think it would be the same fight.?
As reported by BoxingScene earlier today, Freddie Roach has noted that if a Pacquiao-Margarito fight comes off then Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will serve as one of Manny?s key sparring partners. Holloway has sparred with both fighters in the past and is the perfect man to ask when assessing how the 24-year old would serve in working with the world?s premier fighter.
?I think he would give him the best work as far as anyone with Margarito?s style,? Holloway claimed. ?I don?t see Margarito doing anything that Chavez Jr. can?t do in the ring. Chavez Jr. can take a good shot. I sparred with him. He delivers a good left hook to the body and he is wide with his punches. He has a very similar style to Margarito. He has a very basic, Mexican style and he is long.?
Upon returning to the Wild Card Gym after relocating from Las Vegas to Los Angeles last month, Holloway found himself going head to head with Chavez Jr. when one of the Sinaloa, Mexico native?s partners failed to show up. Holloway claims to have taken the younger Chavez to school but admits that everyone has bad days in the gym and could see him doing well against Manny after having ample time to adjust to the situation.
?It?s sparring,? Holloway said. ?I think he would be overwhelmed as far as angles and everything. Manny overwhelms everybody the first couple of times. After a while you kind of understand how to work off of him but at first you don?t understand that. I think as far as sparring I think he could hold up but you never know until it happens. I don?t know if he would be able to land against Manny but if he couldn?t? hit Pacquiao I don?t think Margarito would be able to either.?
In speaking on the subject further Holloway said that he first sparred with Pacquiao leading up to his December 2008 fight with Oscar De La Hoya. Asked how he had success against the dynamic southpaw when others have struggled, Holloway said that his unique style and ability to box served him well. He also noted that Pacquiao?s feet are tremendously fast and that you can?t just six back and try to counter him or you will find yourself behind the eight ball.
Holloway is currently training at the Wild Card for a July 30th date and has been sparring with WBA welterweight titlist Vyachaslev Senchenko. Training now full time under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, Holloway admits that the two men have a true friendship with one another and always talk in their free time. Despite getting deep on all subjects related to boxing and life, Holloway said that the two men haven?t really discussed Pacquiao?s immediate future.
?We always talk Pacquiao but we haven?t talked him as much,? Holloway said. ?He just pretty much has been waiting to see what has been going on with the whole Floyd situation. He?s pretty sick of it and I think everybody is to be honest.?
Holloway is obviously disappointed that a potential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is now likely to be scrapped, at least for 2010. In closing the Cincinnati, Ohio native claims that Floyd overstepped his boundaries in the negotiating process and that he is trying to make up for lost time since returning from his 21-month hiatus from the sport.
?This man agreed to go ahead and take all the tests but Floyd asked for more money than him. But how? Let?s be real. Floyd is doing what he always does; he is fighting washed-up ex-champions. He came back and beat a small Juan Manuel Marquez, then he beats an old Shane Mosley. He can not just think he is the biggest draw and demand more money. When he left he was pound for pound best but you can?t come back as pound for pound best.?
