When I first heard that Manny Pacquiao was going to fight Antonio Margarito, my initial reaction was: UGH! Last year, Margarito?s trainer, Javier Capetillo, had been caught trying to insert a hardening substance into his fighter?s gloves before his bout with Shane Mosley. The fight went on, and Margarito was battered and stopped in the ninth round. He and his trainer were suspended, and when he was allowed to box again, Margarito scored a meaningless 10-round decision over Robert Garcia.
The only reason promoter Bob Arum made this fight was that he couldn?t get Floyd Mayweather Jr. to sign the dotted line. For purposes of comparison, Pacquiao-Mayweather is fresh-squeezed orange juice. Pacquiao-Margarito is orange-flavored Kool-Aid.
As time passed, and memories of the dangerous pre-Mosley Margarito lingered, that Kool-Aid started to look better to some boxing fans. Even some of those who were not willing to let Margarito off the hook for the hand-wrapping scandal became intrigued despite themselves.
There are two pieces of bait on the hook to this Saturday?s showdown in Dallas. One is the desire to see Pacquiao give Margarito a thorough beatdown as punishment for allegedly attempting to cheat. The other is curiosity over whether even a jaded Margarito will prove to be too big for Pacquiao, who has been climbing weight divisions like a flight of stairs over the past 10 years.
I?m still not big on this bout. But now I?m eager to see what will happen. It?s hard not to get caught up in the hype.
Here are some possible consequences of the November 13 encounter:
IF PACQUIAO WINS In this fight, Manny is going for a piece of the crown in an unprecedented eighth weight division. Never mind that this 154-pound championship bout is being fought at a catchweight of 151. If he wins, Pacquiao will add one more history-making accolade to his collection. But it won?t be a significant triumph. Regardless of rumors of an unfocused and unproductive training camp, Pacquiao is supposed to win this fight. Margarito does not appear to be the same man who terrorized the welterweight division not so long ago. If Pacquiao wins by knockout or lop-sided decision, the luster of the Filipino?s reputation will not shine any brighter. But if Margarito gives him trouble, or loses by a disputed decision, then some of Pacquiao?s glow will fade.
IF MARGARITO WINS When the bell rings on Saturday, Margarito?s hands will be the most closely scrutinized pair of dukes since the day O.J. Simpson tried on that glove in a courtroom. So if the ?Tijuana Tornado? manages to blow ?Pacman? away, his victory will be legitimate. A win over the consensus pound-for-pound king will go a long way toward restoring Margarito?s tattered reputation. The specter of the Mosley debacle will hang over his head forever, but suspicions over his earlier maulings of Miguel Cotto and Kermit Cintron will abate, if not entirely disappear. Even a loss by close decision would be good for Margarito. He will have shown that he can hold his own against the man Mayweather is accused of avoiding. Then again, Mayweather was accused of avoiding Margarito, too.
IF IT?S A DRAW A draw isn?t as bad as it sounds. Remember, Pacquiao?s draw in his first fight with Juan Manuel Marquez reflected well on both men, and boosted their careers. A Pacquiao-Margarito draw would almost guarantee a rematch ? which could ease fight fans? pining for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout that looks increasingly unlikely to happen, given Floyd?s problems with the law.
PREDICTION: Even if Pacquiao comes in at somewhat less than his best due to the distractions that surround him, he should still be able to out-hustle a Margarito who was no speed demon even in his prime. Pacman by decision, although he may well be tested as he hasn?t been since his second meeting with Marquez ? who is way smaller than Margarito. Maybe that Kool-Aid will give way to orange juice after all.
Charles R. Saunders is the author of several books including Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers in the Maritimes from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace. Considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on boxing in Canada, he is the current Vice-President of Boxing for the Society of North American Sports Historians and Researchers.
