Fans expect Pacquiao to KO Margarito despite size difference -- Examiner

By Lorne Scoggins, Examiner.com

On Friday afternoon, just a few hours prior to the official weigh-in, a member of Team Pacquiao told this reporter that he sincerely believed that Margarito was having trouble making weight. It came as no surprise that by the time that the Tijuana Tornado stepped on the scales, his official weight was 150 lbs on the button, which was the exact catch weight for the WBC light middleweight title bout.

On the other hand, many were surprised when Pacquiao tipped the scales far below the limit at 144.6 lbs.

Most pundits assume that Pacquiao chose to stay light in order to keep his advantage of explosive power and speed, just as he did in his December, 2008 fight with a much larger Oscar De La Hoya, when the Pacman weighed in a full 5 lbs below the welterweight limit of 147.

A lot has been said, and some uncertainty has arisen about Pacquiao’s ability to handle the 5’11”, Mexican power-slugger, especially since the airing of 24/7, which successfully portrayed Margarito’s determination to topple Pacquiao from his long-held seat on the pound-for-pound throne.

For Margarito, this is his best (and perhaps his last) chance at some semblance of redemption following the controversy surrounding the discovery of his illegal handwraps immediately prior to his fight with Shane Mosley.

I spoke to light middleweight prospect, and Pacquiao sparring partner Glen Tapia following the weigh-in at Cowboys Stadium on Friday. When I inquired as to how he felt the bout would play out, he was quite unconcerned about the difference in size between Pacquiao and Margarito.

Tapia, who suffered a broken jaw during his October, 30th UD victory over Quinton Whitaker, still managed to express his opinion, despite the fact that his jaw is currently wired shut.

“I think Pacquiao will stop him somewhere around Rnd. 6,” Tapia said. “Margarito’s a slow starter. By the time he gets warmed up, Pacquiao will already have him broken down.”

Likewise, Arkansans I’ve spoken to have expressed their beliefs that Pacquiao’s superior speed and power will be too much for the much slower Margarito.

Cliff Garrigus of Rogers is a long time boxing enthusiast. He believes it will be a short night for Margarito.

“I predict Pacquiao catching Margarito with a hard, left hook and knocking him out before the fourth Rnd.” Garrigus said.

Professional middleweight Delray Raines of Paris anticipates an eventual TKO by Pacquiao, and stated that his smaller height could actually be an advantage.

“I’d say Pacman wins this fight just by outdoing Antonio,” Raines stated. “Manny is much shorter than him, and it’s much easier to punch up than it is to punch down. I think Manny will get a TKO win by the 10th Rnd.”

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Source: examiner.com