By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
For the first time since their HBO pay per view televised Nov. 13 junior middleweight clash for the WBC's vacant title was announced, seven division king and WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao and ex-champ Antonio Margarito were posed for a stare down during Tuesday's Beverly Hills press conference.
Although the men stood nearly face to face, they were not exactly seeing eye to eye.
That's because the 5-foot-11 Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) virtually towered over the nearly 5-7 Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who will be competing at his highest-ever weight class even as he pursues his eighth title in as many different divisions at what will likely be a catch weight of around 151 pounds.
"Antonio Margarito is bigger and stronger than me. I am going to have to train very hard," said the 31-year-old Pacquiao, who has won 12 straight fights, including eight by knockout since a March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales.
"Margarito has capability of giving a good show and his style is very aggressive," said Pacquiao, whose run includes two stoppages of Morales. "Don't miss the fight. It is going to be a great show."
Their battle will take place at The Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where Pacquiao scored a March, 12-round, unanimous decision over Joshua Clottey that drew more than 50,000 to the venue's first-ever boxing event.
The 5-8 Clottey, who had fought at as high as 158 pounds on occasion, battled Pacquiao even at 147 pounds with no catch weight.
"Manny has always fought the bigger, stronger fighters," said Pacquiao's strength coach, Alex Ariza. "Manny likes challenges, nothing easy going into a fight. We are taking on a huge fighter in Margarito."
Margarito was ringside for Pacquiao-Clottey, and received nearly as much attention from fans as did Pacquiao during the week leading up to the bout.
That prospect encourages Top Rank Promotions CEO,Bob Arum, and Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, who expect to pack as many as 75,000 into Cowboys Stadium this time around.
"I think that if they open the stadium up, we'll fill it with 75,000. With Clottey, we did 50-something thousand and set a new record. And there are a lot of Hispanics in that area. We have the good-guy, bad-guy element, so I think that we'll do it," said Koncz.
"I think that it's going to be a very exciting fight. As I said before, styles make fights. Antonio Margarito has a one-demensional style," said Koncz. "Margarito is going to come forward and he's going to throw a lot of punches. But I think that, again, the speed of Manny is going to be overwhelming for Margarito, but it will be a great fight as long as it lasts."
Margarito had been unable to fight on American soil since his license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission following a January, 2009, ninth-round loss to Shane Mosley, this, after Magarito's hand wraps were found to have contained a plaster-like substance that was removed and confiscated prior to Margarito's entering the ring against Mosley.
Margarito tried to become licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission not long after his suspension ended on Feb. 11, but was directed by the NSAC to return to the CSAC for a ruling, where, after a nearly six-hour, Aug. 18 hearing, the Mexican-born fighter was turned down again.
Margarito was licensed to face Pacquiao in Texas last week, however, paving the way for Pacquiao-Margarito.
"It is time for me to show all of the people that I a here and I am good," said the 32-year-old Margarito. "It is going to be a great fight."
Margarito claimed no knowledge of the fact that his then-trainer, Javier Capetillo, placed the illegal substance in his hand wraps, but Manny told reporters on Tuesday that he did not believe Margarito.
"I don't believe him [Margarito.] Of course he knows about that [illegal hand-wraps.] It's his hands, and he watches the taping," said Pacquiao, adding that he believed that Margarito denied knowledge of the impropriety because he was "looking for a way out so that his reputation won't be damaged among his fans."
Pacquiao, nevertheless, went to bat for Margarito when the fighter failed to be reinstated for a boxing license by the CSAC, lobbying the NSCAC on Margarito's behalf, along with Koncz.
But Pacquiao said that Margarito "paid his dues by sacrificing and not fighting for one year," adding, "I hope that he learned his lesson and will not repeat the same mistake."
On the night of their fight, however, Pacquiauo said "we can watch his hands being wrapped because our agreement is that we will have two representatives led by my coach [trainer Freddie Roach] to watch the taping."
Tuesday's press conference was the first of three, with stops on Wednesday in New York, and on Thursday and Friday in Dallas.
"I am just a fighter doing my job and it's going to be a great fight," said Pacquiao. "There is going to be a lot of boxing in the ring. I am here again and would like to thank everybody. The press and media and all the fans in boxing"
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Doubting Pacquiao feels Margarito deserves second chance -- Reuters
By Mark Lamport-Stokes, REUTERS
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While happy to give disgraced boxer Antonio Margarito another chance in the ring, Manny Pacquiao refuses to believe the Mexican was ignorant of his illegal hand wraps before a fight in January 2009.
Filipino Pacquiao has requested that two of his own representatives monitor Margarito's hands being wrapped before their November 13 super welterweight title fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
It will be the Mexican's first appearance in the ring since he and trainer Javier Capetillo were banned for a year after plaster-like bandage wraps were found in the fighter's gloves before a WBC welterweight title bout with Shane Mosley.
"Of course he knew that (he had illegal wraps)," Pacquiao, 51-3-2 (38 knockouts), told Reuters after he and Margarito held a joint news conference at Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday.
"He is just making alibis but it's unfair to him that we don't give him another chance (to fight). He badly wants to fight again and to entertain people."
Pacquiao, who will be competing for an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class, said he was not bothered by what had happened in the past.
"That doesn't concern me," said the southpaw, widely considered the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter. "We will give him one chance to prove he is not doing bad. We are just human, we are not perfect.
"But I am requesting that two people watch them bandage his hands (before the November 13 fight)."
Pacquiao's special request posed no problem for Roberto Garcia, who has taken over as Margarito's trainer.
"I know the wrapping that I do and every single time the commissioners have always congratulated me for the good job that I do," Garcia told reporters. "I have no problem with Manny himself being there when I am wrapping."
DENIED LICENSE
Three-times world champion Margarito, who was denied a license to fight in California by the state's athletic commission earlier this month before being reprieved by the Texas commission, was reluctant to talk about his 2009 fight.
"Everything that has happened is in the past," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "We are now in the present. It's time to show everyone I'm still very good.
"Nobody wants to miss this fight. It's going to be a great fight. I also want to thank the commission of Texas for re-licensing me."
While Margarito preferred to look to the future, the Mexican was given a rousing endorsement by boxing promoter and former lawyer Bob Arum at Tuesday's news conference.
"Antonio Margarito did not know those hand wraps were illegal," said Arum, who is promoting both fighters for the November bout. "There hasn't been a shred of proof. Lack of evidence means there shouldn't have been any penalty in the first place.
"Boxing writers have said: 'He must have known'. Well, five top trainers were interviewed and all of them said they could put a bad pad in hand wraps and the fighter would never know."
Regardless of what Margarito did or did not know about his hand wraps in January 2009, he is certain to provide Pacquiao with a stiff challenge on November 13.
The Mexican (38-6, 27 KOs) holds a significant height and weight advantage over the Filipino and is known for his brutal training regimes and his aggressive style.
"He's stronger and bigger than me so I have to seriously focus and study all of his style," said Pacquiao, who won a seat in his country's national congress since beating Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in his most recent fight in March.
"But I don't need to prove any more in boxing, I have already achieved what I wanted in boxing. What I want right now is to maintain my greatness in boxing and to entertain the people."
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved.
Source: ca.reuters.com
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While happy to give disgraced boxer Antonio Margarito another chance in the ring, Manny Pacquiao refuses to believe the Mexican was ignorant of his illegal hand wraps before a fight in January 2009.
Filipino Pacquiao has requested that two of his own representatives monitor Margarito's hands being wrapped before their November 13 super welterweight title fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
It will be the Mexican's first appearance in the ring since he and trainer Javier Capetillo were banned for a year after plaster-like bandage wraps were found in the fighter's gloves before a WBC welterweight title bout with Shane Mosley.
"Of course he knew that (he had illegal wraps)," Pacquiao, 51-3-2 (38 knockouts), told Reuters after he and Margarito held a joint news conference at Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday.
"He is just making alibis but it's unfair to him that we don't give him another chance (to fight). He badly wants to fight again and to entertain people."
Pacquiao, who will be competing for an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class, said he was not bothered by what had happened in the past.
"That doesn't concern me," said the southpaw, widely considered the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter. "We will give him one chance to prove he is not doing bad. We are just human, we are not perfect.
"But I am requesting that two people watch them bandage his hands (before the November 13 fight)."
Pacquiao's special request posed no problem for Roberto Garcia, who has taken over as Margarito's trainer.
"I know the wrapping that I do and every single time the commissioners have always congratulated me for the good job that I do," Garcia told reporters. "I have no problem with Manny himself being there when I am wrapping."
DENIED LICENSE
Three-times world champion Margarito, who was denied a license to fight in California by the state's athletic commission earlier this month before being reprieved by the Texas commission, was reluctant to talk about his 2009 fight.
"Everything that has happened is in the past," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "We are now in the present. It's time to show everyone I'm still very good.
"Nobody wants to miss this fight. It's going to be a great fight. I also want to thank the commission of Texas for re-licensing me."
While Margarito preferred to look to the future, the Mexican was given a rousing endorsement by boxing promoter and former lawyer Bob Arum at Tuesday's news conference.
"Antonio Margarito did not know those hand wraps were illegal," said Arum, who is promoting both fighters for the November bout. "There hasn't been a shred of proof. Lack of evidence means there shouldn't have been any penalty in the first place.
"Boxing writers have said: 'He must have known'. Well, five top trainers were interviewed and all of them said they could put a bad pad in hand wraps and the fighter would never know."
Regardless of what Margarito did or did not know about his hand wraps in January 2009, he is certain to provide Pacquiao with a stiff challenge on November 13.
The Mexican (38-6, 27 KOs) holds a significant height and weight advantage over the Filipino and is known for his brutal training regimes and his aggressive style.
"He's stronger and bigger than me so I have to seriously focus and study all of his style," said Pacquiao, who won a seat in his country's national congress since beating Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in his most recent fight in March.
"But I don't need to prove any more in boxing, I have already achieved what I wanted in boxing. What I want right now is to maintain my greatness in boxing and to entertain the people."
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved.
Source: ca.reuters.com
Bombastic Arum rips media, Mayweather in Beverly Hills Cop(out) -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum took to the rostrum in Beverly Hills to rip into both Floyd Mayweather and elements of the boxing media.
In praising Pacman and introducing him in public for the first time at a boxing event as the Congressman from Sarangani, Arum drew a contrast between the respective lifestyles of the two ring superstars.
"He's Mr. Excitement and, for every fight, he gives a great performance.
"It's not about how much money I have or how much money I can throw away in the nighclubs...but it's a humble guy who gives back to the people," Arum said.
In a bravura performance, Arum continued to maintain Margarito's lack of guilt in the Mosley fight handwrapping scandal.
Arum then mentioned his Harvard Law education and his long ago post in the Justice Department under President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
"One thing I can't tolerate is injustice," Arum said. "Not in this country. He (Margarito) has gone through this long ordeal.
"But Antonio Margarito did not know (about the illegal inserts). There's not one shred of proof that he knew...But the writers, some of them...
"Look, there is still justice in this country. I don't care what minority you're from you are entitled to that."
For his part, Pacquiao dodged any reference to his foe's legal woes.
"I'm just a fighter doing my job," Pacquiao said.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum took to the rostrum in Beverly Hills to rip into both Floyd Mayweather and elements of the boxing media.
In praising Pacman and introducing him in public for the first time at a boxing event as the Congressman from Sarangani, Arum drew a contrast between the respective lifestyles of the two ring superstars.
"He's Mr. Excitement and, for every fight, he gives a great performance.
"It's not about how much money I have or how much money I can throw away in the nighclubs...but it's a humble guy who gives back to the people," Arum said.
In a bravura performance, Arum continued to maintain Margarito's lack of guilt in the Mosley fight handwrapping scandal.Arum then mentioned his Harvard Law education and his long ago post in the Justice Department under President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
"One thing I can't tolerate is injustice," Arum said. "Not in this country. He (Margarito) has gone through this long ordeal.
"But Antonio Margarito did not know (about the illegal inserts). There's not one shred of proof that he knew...But the writers, some of them...
"Look, there is still justice in this country. I don't care what minority you're from you are entitled to that."
For his part, Pacquiao dodged any reference to his foe's legal woes.
"I'm just a fighter doing my job," Pacquiao said.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Bob Arum leaves Pacquiao-Margarito tour after son goes missing on hiking trip -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum was forced to abruptly leave a planned three-city tour to promote the Nov. 13 Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight Tuesday, when he was informed his son is missing on a hiking expedition in the mountains near Seattle.
Arum said his son, John, 49, has been gone since leaving for the hike on Sunday night. Arum was planning to board an afternoon flight from the Southland to Seattle.
"They've got search parties looking for him right now," Arum said of his son.
The Pacquiao-Margarito tour is scheduled to continue Wednesday in New York City and Thursday at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, where the fighters plan to watch the Cowboys play the Miami Dolphins. The tour will proceed without Arum.
We'll have more on this development soon at latimes.com/sports.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum was forced to abruptly leave a planned three-city tour to promote the Nov. 13 Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight Tuesday, when he was informed his son is missing on a hiking expedition in the mountains near Seattle.
Arum said his son, John, 49, has been gone since leaving for the hike on Sunday night. Arum was planning to board an afternoon flight from the Southland to Seattle."They've got search parties looking for him right now," Arum said of his son.
The Pacquiao-Margarito tour is scheduled to continue Wednesday in New York City and Thursday at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, where the fighters plan to watch the Cowboys play the Miami Dolphins. The tour will proceed without Arum.
We'll have more on this development soon at latimes.com/sports.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Manny Pacquiao: Antonio Margarito knowingly used plaster inserts against Shane Mosley -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Add Manny Pacquiao to the list of folks who say Antonio Magarito knowingly fitted hardened plaster inserts into his hand wraps before his January 2009 fight against Shane Mosley.
"Of course, I believe he knew, he's the one who wraps his hands," said Pacquiao at a news conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. "...he made a mistake."
Pacquiao says he will designate someone from his camp to supervise Margarito's hand-wrapping process prior to their scheduled super-welterweight title bout at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas on Nov. 13.
We'll have more from Tuesday's news conference later at latimes.com/sports.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Add Manny Pacquiao to the list of folks who say Antonio Magarito knowingly fitted hardened plaster inserts into his hand wraps before his January 2009 fight against Shane Mosley."Of course, I believe he knew, he's the one who wraps his hands," said Pacquiao at a news conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. "...he made a mistake."Pacquiao says he will designate someone from his camp to supervise Margarito's hand-wrapping process prior to their scheduled super-welterweight title bout at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas on Nov. 13.
We'll have more from Tuesday's news conference later at latimes.com/sports.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Manny Pacquiao arrives in style for press tour -- Examiner
By Matt Stolow, Examiner.com
Manny Pacquiao and his entourage arrived in LA last night in rock star style for today's presser in Beverly Hills. Wednesday it's New York City and Friday Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
It's back to the Philippines shortly after Dallas to get ready for training camp for the November 13th fight with Antonio Margarito in the nearby Dallas city of Arlington.
I have read some things but I don't know how Pacquiao really feels about fighting the dishonored Margarito. Does he feel it cheapens his efforts and probable victory?
There are other fighters out there for Pacquiao to fight but none had the Hispanic drawing power of Margarito. Especially in North Texas.
Others would say promoter Bob Arum only wanted Pacquiao to fight a Top Rank stablemate to avoid a long drawn out negotiation process.
Things should move smoothly from now on. Margarito is in as the challenger and Cowboys Stadium is the site and all that's left is the real build up for the fight.
The situation regarding Margarito will not soon be forgotten. It showed the true under belly of a sport that can't really afford to look any worse than it already does.
Source: examiner.com
Manny Pacquiao and his entourage arrived in LA last night in rock star style for today's presser in Beverly Hills. Wednesday it's New York City and Friday Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
It's back to the Philippines shortly after Dallas to get ready for training camp for the November 13th fight with Antonio Margarito in the nearby Dallas city of Arlington.How the fighting congressman will pull this off is beyond me. But I'm not fighting or pulling down nearly $15 million for my efforts. He is and I'm happy for him.
I have read some things but I don't know how Pacquiao really feels about fighting the dishonored Margarito. Does he feel it cheapens his efforts and probable victory?
There are other fighters out there for Pacquiao to fight but none had the Hispanic drawing power of Margarito. Especially in North Texas.
Others would say promoter Bob Arum only wanted Pacquiao to fight a Top Rank stablemate to avoid a long drawn out negotiation process.
Things should move smoothly from now on. Margarito is in as the challenger and Cowboys Stadium is the site and all that's left is the real build up for the fight.
The situation regarding Margarito will not soon be forgotten. It showed the true under belly of a sport that can't really afford to look any worse than it already does.
Source: examiner.com
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