Pacquiao-Margarito will be closer than you think -- Examiner

By Earney White, Examiner.com

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- For those of you thinking that Manny Pacquiao (51-3, 38 KOs) will walk into Cowboys Stadium and steamroll Antonio Margarito….think again. Tonight will most likely be the Pacman’s toughest test to date. Some wonder if Pacquiao’s rockstar status will come back to haunt him for this fight.

In the words of the great Marvin Hagler, “It’s hard to get up and train when you’re sleeping on silk sheets”.

Pacquiao is at the apex of his career and really doesn’t need the sport of boxing anymore. He’s achieved nearly more than any fighter in history at this point. Manny Pacquiao is a cultural icon who has transcended the sport of boxing like few others before him. Can he dig deep and continue to perform at the normal “Pacquiao-type” level?

MARGARITO’S MOTIVATION

Margarito (38-6, 28 KO) is the complete opposite of Pacquiao. His back is against the wall, he’s motivated, and has a humongous chip on his shoulder going into this fight.

In 1982, Roberto Duran was nearly written off by everyone after dropping back to back fights to Wilfred Benitez, and journeyman Kirkland Laing. With his career on the line, a motived Duran stopped Pipino Cueves and Davey Moore to prove all of his critics wrong.

By no means am I comparing the careers of the great Roberto Duran and Margarito.

The question is whether or not Margarito have the willingness and drive like Duran to silence everyone who has turned on him during the midst of all of his transgressions in the past.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT

Expect Margarito to start slow as usual as he tries to time the much faster Pacquiao. It will take him at least 6 rounds to find his comfort level. Manny will use his speed to throw off his much slower opponent. A constant body attack is vital for Pacquiao to be successful against Margarito. Mosley worked the body early against Margarito, and slowed him down in the rounds that he usually gets stronger in.

Both fighters don’t know how to back up, they only know how to come forward. This will not be a facsimile of Pacquiao’s snoozer against Joshua Clottey.

Ultimately, with Manny’s speed and ability to punch from all angles, he should be able to hammer out a tough decision. Margarito cannot win a decision in this fight, he has to stop Pacquiao in order to win.

Normally in boxing, a good big man beats the good small man. In this case, we have a good big man against a great small man.

Pacman will prevail.

Contact Earney: pvamuboxing@gmail.com

Source: examiner.com