Sunday 24 October 2010
Boxing losing its grip on Pacquiao? -- Philippine Star
By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star
It could be if you listen to his chief trainer Freddie Roach who must be feeling he’s losing his grip on Pacquio or that the latter is losing his grip on the sport that’s been so good to him.
Roach mentioned politics as the main reason.
“We are going to lose Manny Pacquiao to politics, for sure,” Roach told BBC World Service as he and Pacquiao and their small entourage prepared to leave for Los Angeles last night.
While Pacquiao has faced taller opponents before, from Erik Morales to Oscar dela Hoya to Miguel Cotto, he’s never faced one as big as Margarito, a welterweight the day he was born.
Margarito stands just a shade under six feet, much, much taller than the 5’ 6” 1/2 Pacquiao, and by fight time, may climb the ring at the Cowboys Stadium at 160 lb or heavier than that.
Pacquiao, Roach said, will climb the ring no heavier than 150, because any excess pound would lessen his speed, which, coupled with his brute strength, is his bread and butter.
Pacquiao was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles last night, after a hard sparring session at the Elorde Boxing Gym. In LA they would train for two weeks, then head to Texas on Nov. 8.
Pacquiao trained for four weeks in the Philippines, mostly in the summer capital of Baguio City, where Roach must have seen something he’d never seen before in his prized ward.
Definitely it’s not the speed that’s always been there during his climb from 106 lb to being the welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king. It’s something else.
“I’m worried about the fight a little bit,” Roach told BBC.
It was the first time Roach, who first hooked up with Pacquiao in 2001, aired any doubt on Pacquiao’s chances, and if BBC got him correctly, and there’s no question about that, then that’s one hell of a quote.
“We’re fighting against a big, strong guy who’s going to be in great shape and we’re a little behind schedule which is very unusual,” Roach was also quoted as saying.
Up in Baguio, where fresh strawberries abound, Roach tried hard, very hard, to hide his dissatisfaction over the way Pacquiao has weighed his priorities, from being a boxer and a congressman.
Twice, on weekends, Pacquiao broke camp and headed down 250 km down to Manila, and twice he skipped going to the gym, one when he wasn’t feeling well and the other when he was to meet the President.
Several times he also skipped his roadwork, either because he played too much basketball with friends the night before, or because the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. This time of the year in the Philippines is a stormy one.
No wonder Roach had wanted to drag Pacquiao into that plane to LA as early as last Thursday.
“After the first couple of days of training Manny came up to me and said ‘I miss my job’, and I said ‘you’re at your job’, and he said ‘no, I miss Congress.’” Roach said during the BBC interview.
Bob Arum flew in last week, and in his first visit to the Shape Up Gym in Baguio, what he saw was a different Manny Pacquio.
The legendary promoter, one who calls a spade a spade, said he didn’t see the speed, the kind of speed that Pacquiao would need to beat Margarito, and lay claim to his eighth world title in eight different weight classes.
“This Pacquiao is not enough,” said Arum.
“I’m not sure if it’s the size of the sparring partners that’s giving him trouble or he’s just not himself yet,” Roach added, referring to Pacquiao’s sparring partners who all stand close to six feet.
One of Pacquiao’s consultants said the entry of Amir Khan as a sparring partner woke up Pacquiao. No, it wasn’t Amir Khan who woke him up, but his 78-year-old promoter.
When Arum is worried, it means something’s wrong.
Arum even said that if the fight were held this week, then Margarito would win. But by the time Arum flew back to Las Vegas, last Thursday, Pacquiao was in his old self.
The 31-year-old champion trained hard under the rain the other day when others would have tucked themselves in bed. He was his usual self, and later in the afternoon trained at the gym like no other.
Facing the cameras, Pacquiao said he still can’t see the day he would quit the sport.
“Sa ngayon, kaya pa naman natin. Hindi pa dumating yung panahon na tinatamad na tayo sa ensayo (As it is, I can still manage. The day I get tired going out to train hasn’t come yet),” he said.
“Minsan sa tao kasi yung iniisip natin kaya pero yung katawan iba (It’s just that sometimes, the mind is willing but the body is not),” added Pacquiao, who begged for prayers from his countrymen for the fight.
“Sana ipagdasal ninyo ako sa Nov. 14 na ito. Karangalan natin lahat ito. Para sa inyo. (This is for our honor. This one’s for you),” he said.
Arum is lining up two fights for Pacquiao next year. Roach wants one with Floyd Mayweather Jr. before they all “get the hell out of there.”
But it’s up to Pacquiao to say that after the Margarito fight. Could it be his last? People should start praying that it’s not.
Source: philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines – Could this be the last fight for Manny Pacquiao
?
?Roach mentioned politics as the main reason.
“We are going to lose Manny Pacquiao to politics, for sure,” Roach told BBC World Service as he and Pacquiao and their small entourage prepared to leave for Los Angeles last night.They’re just three weeks away from a big fight, big as in literally big, against Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Arlington, Texas. It will be for the vacant WBC super-welterweight crown.
While Pacquiao has faced taller opponents before, from Erik Morales to Oscar dela Hoya to Miguel Cotto, he’s never faced one as big as Margarito, a welterweight the day he was born.
Margarito stands just a shade under six feet, much, much taller than the 5’ 6” 1/2 Pacquiao, and by fight time, may climb the ring at the Cowboys Stadium at 160 lb or heavier than that.
Pacquiao, Roach said, will climb the ring no heavier than 150, because any excess pound would lessen his speed, which, coupled with his brute strength, is his bread and butter.
Pacquiao was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles last night, after a hard sparring session at the Elorde Boxing Gym. In LA they would train for two weeks, then head to Texas on Nov. 8.
Pacquiao trained for four weeks in the Philippines, mostly in the summer capital of Baguio City, where Roach must have seen something he’d never seen before in his prized ward.
Definitely it’s not the speed that’s always been there during his climb from 106 lb to being the welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king. It’s something else.
“I’m worried about the fight a little bit,” Roach told BBC.
It was the first time Roach, who first hooked up with Pacquiao in 2001, aired any doubt on Pacquiao’s chances, and if BBC got him correctly, and there’s no question about that, then that’s one hell of a quote.
“We’re fighting against a big, strong guy who’s going to be in great shape and we’re a little behind schedule which is very unusual,” Roach was also quoted as saying.
Up in Baguio, where fresh strawberries abound, Roach tried hard, very hard, to hide his dissatisfaction over the way Pacquiao has weighed his priorities, from being a boxer and a congressman.
Twice, on weekends, Pacquiao broke camp and headed down 250 km down to Manila, and twice he skipped going to the gym, one when he wasn’t feeling well and the other when he was to meet the President.
Several times he also skipped his roadwork, either because he played too much basketball with friends the night before, or because the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. This time of the year in the Philippines is a stormy one.
No wonder Roach had wanted to drag Pacquiao into that plane to LA as early as last Thursday.
“After the first couple of days of training Manny came up to me and said ‘I miss my job’, and I said ‘you’re at your job’, and he said ‘no, I miss Congress.’” Roach said during the BBC interview.
Bob Arum flew in last week, and in his first visit to the Shape Up Gym in Baguio, what he saw was a different Manny Pacquio.
The legendary promoter, one who calls a spade a spade, said he didn’t see the speed, the kind of speed that Pacquiao would need to beat Margarito, and lay claim to his eighth world title in eight different weight classes.
“This Pacquiao is not enough,” said Arum.
“I’m not sure if it’s the size of the sparring partners that’s giving him trouble or he’s just not himself yet,” Roach added, referring to Pacquiao’s sparring partners who all stand close to six feet.
One of Pacquiao’s consultants said the entry of Amir Khan as a sparring partner woke up Pacquiao. No, it wasn’t Amir Khan who woke him up, but his 78-year-old promoter.
When Arum is worried, it means something’s wrong.
Arum even said that if the fight were held this week, then Margarito would win. But by the time Arum flew back to Las Vegas, last Thursday, Pacquiao was in his old self.
The 31-year-old champion trained hard under the rain the other day when others would have tucked themselves in bed. He was his usual self, and later in the afternoon trained at the gym like no other.
Facing the cameras, Pacquiao said he still can’t see the day he would quit the sport.
“Sa ngayon, kaya pa naman natin. Hindi pa dumating yung panahon na tinatamad na tayo sa ensayo (As it is, I can still manage. The day I get tired going out to train hasn’t come yet),” he said.
“Minsan sa tao kasi yung iniisip natin kaya pero yung katawan iba (It’s just that sometimes, the mind is willing but the body is not),” added Pacquiao, who begged for prayers from his countrymen for the fight.
“Sana ipagdasal ninyo ako sa Nov. 14 na ito. Karangalan natin lahat ito. Para sa inyo. (This is for our honor. This one’s for you),” he said.
Arum is lining up two fights for Pacquiao next year. Roach wants one with Floyd Mayweather Jr. before they all “get the hell out of there.”
But it’s up to Pacquiao to say that after the Margarito fight. Could it be his last? People should start praying that it’s not.
Source: philstar.com
Manny Pacquiao: Is Antonio Margarito a Challenge? -- Ringside Report
By Stuart Gracey, Ringside Report
On November 13th the controversial bout between the pound for pound king and multi division world champion, Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito will take place at the Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title.
With everybody expecting a Manny Pacquiao blowout, I think the surprise element of this contest is that it will in fact be a contest.
Former WBO/IBF/WBA Welterweight Champion of the world, Antonio Margarito 38-6, 27 KO’s, is a slugger who takes punishment, only to fire it back on his opponent with more menace and fire. Margarito goes to the body well and throws punches in bunches.
His left hook is probably his best shot.
On a good night he’s a passionate warrior who commits himself to the fight 100% with unquestionable passion.
However, his reputation was severely damaged after he was completely dismantled by multiple division world champion Shane Mosley in a 9th round knockout back in January 2009.
He didn’t do anything to change the opinion that he was a shot fighter by winning a decision over Robert Garcia in a non impressive display back in May of this year, but because Bob Arum insists on keeping his fights “in house,” unless it’s Floyd Mayweather, JR., Margarito has got himself a shot at Manny Pacquiao 51-3-2, 38 KO’s, for a world title.
It has been reported that Antonio Margarito is looking very sharp in training and has been doing well in sparring sessions with smaller, quicker southpaws. Also we have to remember that this is another step up for the PacMan.
He will be going for a world title in an unprecedented 8th different weight division. So one has to wonder: Can Manny Pacquiao handle the size and strength of the bigger, stronger Margarito?
We saw the damage that Pacquiao received coming out of the Miguel Cotto fight and this is yet another step up.
Can the smaller man handle it?
Also there is a huge incentive on the table for Margarito.
Not only is this likely to be his last chance to be at the top of the sport again but it is a chance to gain credibility back for his career which is seriously in doubt at this point in time.
After the shocking and horrible incident with the hand wraps it has left a lot of people (including myself) wondering if the hand wraps were frequently used throughout his career and thus questioning the credibility of Margarito as a top fighter.
If he beats Manny Pacquiao it won’t change the past, but he will be considered as one of the top fighters in the world.
Another thing to take into account is Manny Pacquiao’s commitments to working as a congressman of the lone district of Sarangani. With all the extra commitment that being a politician requires is Pacquiao training as much or as hard in training camp? Is he fully focused on the task at hand?
Or is it even possible that the Filipino world champion sharp shooter could even suffer burn out?
I suspect the size, determination, strength and sometimes animalistic style of Margarito will trouble Pacquiao. If he is capable of repeating his wonderful performance against Miguel Cotto, this could be a classic with a possible upset.
I don’t think he can do so.
Taking into account the loaded gloves debacle, along with a long layoff has surely deprived Margarito of the skills and killer instinct he once had.
The difference in speed and overall sharpness will be obvious, as Pacquiao will be able to dictate the starting point of most exchanges. I expect Manny to depend on his hand speed and footwork to prevent Margarito from gaining any kind of momentum in the fight.
As a naturally hard hitter, Pacquiao will fancy his chances to win this one via a knockout.
If Margarito can gain any momentum, he will achieve some success.
There will be some nervous moments for Pacquiao, as Margarito reaches him with some shots and I think everybody is waiting to see how Manny will react when he gets tagged at this weight.
This, however, will be nothing new for Pacquiao who has been through many a war in the ring and I see him winning via a late stoppage in this contest.
Source: ringsidereport.com
With everybody expecting a Manny Pacquiao blowout, I think the surprise element of this contest is that it will in fact be a contest.
Former WBO/IBF/WBA Welterweight Champion of the world, Antonio Margarito 38-6, 27 KO’s, is a slugger who takes punishment, only to fire it back on his opponent with more menace and fire. Margarito goes to the body well and throws punches in bunches.
His left hook is probably his best shot.
On a good night he’s a passionate warrior who commits himself to the fight 100% with unquestionable passion.
However, his reputation was severely damaged after he was completely dismantled by multiple division world champion Shane Mosley in a 9th round knockout back in January 2009.
He didn’t do anything to change the opinion that he was a shot fighter by winning a decision over Robert Garcia in a non impressive display back in May of this year, but because Bob Arum insists on keeping his fights “in house,” unless it’s Floyd Mayweather, JR., Margarito has got himself a shot at Manny Pacquiao 51-3-2, 38 KO’s, for a world title.
It has been reported that Antonio Margarito is looking very sharp in training and has been doing well in sparring sessions with smaller, quicker southpaws. Also we have to remember that this is another step up for the PacMan.
He will be going for a world title in an unprecedented 8th different weight division. So one has to wonder: Can Manny Pacquiao handle the size and strength of the bigger, stronger Margarito?
We saw the damage that Pacquiao received coming out of the Miguel Cotto fight and this is yet another step up.
Can the smaller man handle it?
Also there is a huge incentive on the table for Margarito.
Not only is this likely to be his last chance to be at the top of the sport again but it is a chance to gain credibility back for his career which is seriously in doubt at this point in time.
After the shocking and horrible incident with the hand wraps it has left a lot of people (including myself) wondering if the hand wraps were frequently used throughout his career and thus questioning the credibility of Margarito as a top fighter.
If he beats Manny Pacquiao it won’t change the past, but he will be considered as one of the top fighters in the world.
Another thing to take into account is Manny Pacquiao’s commitments to working as a congressman of the lone district of Sarangani. With all the extra commitment that being a politician requires is Pacquiao training as much or as hard in training camp? Is he fully focused on the task at hand?
Or is it even possible that the Filipino world champion sharp shooter could even suffer burn out?
I suspect the size, determination, strength and sometimes animalistic style of Margarito will trouble Pacquiao. If he is capable of repeating his wonderful performance against Miguel Cotto, this could be a classic with a possible upset.
I don’t think he can do so.
Taking into account the loaded gloves debacle, along with a long layoff has surely deprived Margarito of the skills and killer instinct he once had.
The difference in speed and overall sharpness will be obvious, as Pacquiao will be able to dictate the starting point of most exchanges. I expect Manny to depend on his hand speed and footwork to prevent Margarito from gaining any kind of momentum in the fight.
As a naturally hard hitter, Pacquiao will fancy his chances to win this one via a knockout.
If Margarito can gain any momentum, he will achieve some success.
There will be some nervous moments for Pacquiao, as Margarito reaches him with some shots and I think everybody is waiting to see how Manny will react when he gets tagged at this weight.
This, however, will be nothing new for Pacquiao who has been through many a war in the ring and I see him winning via a late stoppage in this contest.
Source: ringsidereport.com
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