Any fight that involves Manny Pacquiao is sure to be met with enthusiasm and a more-than-healthy share of publicity. As in most cases, there are exceptions to the rule, and we are seeing said exception in the lead up to Manny Pacquiao?s November 13, 2010 fight with Antonio Margarito.
When Pacquiao?s jr. middleweight title fight with Antonio Margarito was first announced in September, it was the only show in town; the lone star in the month of November. The announcement of the rematch between Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams? 2009 fight-of-the-year candidate stole some of the spotlight from Pacquiao-Margarito, forcing Top Rank to work a little harder for the media?s attention. Juanma Lopez versus Rafael Marquez, Zab Judah versus Lucas Matthysse, and Juan Manuel Marquez versus Michael Katsidis made Pacquiao-Margarito blend into the crowd that much more. When you throw the Super Six action into the mix, there is only so much media attention to go around.
The jam-packed schedule for the month of November, combined with the controversy surrounding the recently-reinstated Antonio Margarito, has made positive publicity hard to come by for Pacquiao-Margarito. In addition, Margarito is an overwhelming underdog in the fight. The betting odds have been seen as high as 8-1, and have been near 6-1 most recently. Margarito?s lack of hand and foot speed, coupled with seventeen months out of action (January 2009 ? May 2010), have prompted many to give him little chance at victory.
However, in an odd twist, we saw all through the month of October, stories quoting Bob Arum or Freddie Roach, describing how slow or weak Pacquiao has been in his training camp. Arum went so far as to say he felt that Pacquiao would surely lose the fight if he did not improve his focus on his training.
Unfortunately, it does not appear as though people are buying into the claims of Pacquiao?s alleged lacking focus and physical performance. Most are calling the claims of Arum and Roach deliberate plants intended to increase media attention on the fight. Depending on who you talk to, Pacquiao?s speed, angles, and combination punching will get the better of Margarito inside nine rounds, or he?ll cruise to an easy decision victory. Quite simply, few people believe that Pacquiao is anything but focused and prepared for victory.
In my opinion, another dominating Pacquiao victory is a safe bet. However, with a fighter like Margarito, who is historically liberal with his punch output, and who possesses a clear size advantage; one punch can swing the fight in his favor. It is true; Margarito is a clear underdog in the fight. If he wins, it will be of his own accord, not due to a distracted or undedicated Manny Pacquiao.
