Manny Pacquiao, the best pound for pound boxer in the world, will seek to etch his name in boxing history this weekend as the first man to win an eighth title in as many divisions.
“Pacman” will fight Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight crown in Texas in a bout to be broadcast live on SuperSport
(SS 6, from 4am, Sunday).Pacquiao is in the middle of a superb winning run. During his 12-bout winning streak he has defeated Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales (twice) and Juan Manuel Marquez, among others.
Margarito is a tough Mexican perhaps better known for a loaded gloves incident than any fight. After a horrendous loss to Shane Mosley, he was discovered to have hardened handwraps. He was suspended and still isn’t allowed to fight in the majority of states in America.
He has only fought twice in the past two years and has lost two of his last six bouts, but he is physically much bigger than Pacquiao and has trained harder than ever for what could be his shot at redemption.
Pacquiao has a glorious reputation, but concerns have been registered in the past few weeks that he isn’t as focused as he once was, due primarily to his election to the Philippines congress.
“I’m worried about it. Yes, I’m walking around at two in the morning,” said his trainer Freddie Roach recently. “Something is not right and we are not preparing the way we should for this fight.”
Pacman himself sounded less than convincing on US television on Sunday night, telling 60 Minutes: “I already achieved my goals in boxing, my dreams in boxing. What I want to achieve more is in public service, I want to be a champion there.”
For all this, the smart money is on Pacquiao, who has a lot going for him. First, in Roach he has the best trainer in the sport, one of the canniest operators in the business.
The champion also has superior experience and won’t be swayed by Margarito’s heavy hands – he hasn’t been knocked out in 11 years. Margarito, though, was thrashed and KO’d by Mosley, so his chin is suspect.
Pacman is also a much better mover which should frustrate Margarito whose attack-minded strategy could leave him wide open to Pacman’s bombs.
Finally, Pacman is probably too slick and too quick to be troubled by a boxer who doesn’t rank particularly highly in the pantheon of greats.
Whatever else happens, the fight (officially called “The Event”) is bound to be action-packed and explosive – live and exclusive on your World of Champions.
Source: supersport.com
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