The Manny Pacquiao – Antonio Margarito PPV: The Breakdown of a Scam -- Ringside Report

By Geno McGahee, Ringside Report

This Saturday is the date when Filipino superstar, arguably the biggest name in boxing, Manny Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s, steps into the ring, with the “Hands of Plaster” Antonio Margarito, 38-6, 27 KO’s, in a 12 round bout with the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title hanging in the balance. The price tag is around 60 bucks for those of you that will rent it at home, but think about what you are supporting before you put that money down.

HBO does a wonderful job with their 24/7 programs, featuring both camps, but certainly candy-coats the entire “plaster” situation. They sort of mention it in passing, glossing over the fact that he had his gloves loaded against Miguel Cotto and Kermit Cintron. Although it has never been definitively proven that this is a fact, I think that it is far more likely than not. If this is the case and it is, then why is HBO glorifying the beating of a great fighter like Cotto when it was done by a guy that came in with bricks in his gloves, basically? Unfortunately, the answer is that HBO is just as dirty as Bob Arum, Margarito, and Pacquiao in this sewer of a fight.

In one of the scenes of the third installment of the 24/7 series, Margarito playfully closes his eyes as he gets his hands wrapped, laughing up a storm with the hanger-ons around him. He has already gotten away with the crime, has said on HBO’s program that he knew nothing of it, and now has a good laugh at the expense of the sport, and he may laugh harder come Sunday and the PPV buy rate comes in.

There has been a lot of talk of Pacquiao not having a great training camp and RSR can certainly verify that, initially, but the “PacMan” has gotten his focus back and has been looking better in training. He is most likely taking Margarito lightly and a Margarito without plaster of Paris in his gloves might just be taken easily by a less than perfect Pacquiao.

The hype around this fight has been somewhat manufactured by the promoters and HBO and they have used the media well in pushing what doesn’t look like a competitive fight on paper. The sale is that Pacquiao is not focused, which was somewhat true. Was it blown out of proportion to sell the fight? Perhaps, but even if it wasn’t, it has been used well to push the fight.

Unfortunately, the “bad boy” image of Margarito has drawn a lot of people. There are a lot of idiots out there that support criminal behavior. Look at the show Prison Wives. Look at the amount of fan mail that Charles Manson gets. There are a group of people that support the evil people of this world, and we’ve got a large group of them behind Margarito. We also have the “dupes.” There is a group out there that believes that Margarito was a victim and he didn’t have any idea of what was going on with his hand wraps. Everyone within the boxing community from trainers to fighters, laugh this off. It’s absurd. They were co-conspirators.

With all of the nonsense aside, we have a fight on Saturday night, and despite the beautiful way that it was portrayed on HBO’s 24/7, don’t expect a war in the ring. Expect a one-sided beating and a bruised and battered Margarito smiling as he walks to the bank with the big check…your money that you invested into this scam.

The Breakdown

Speed Beats Power … and Manny actually has both…

Since 2003, Manny Pacquiao has been knocking out quality opposition, including Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto. He is extremely quick and powerful. The Margarito contention that he is the extremely powerful guy is an overstatement.

Margarito, with loaded gloves, is a good puncher without question, but when he faced Shane Mosley without them, he looked like an average puncher at best. He couldn’t put a dent in Sugar Shane, and now, if this fight is on the level, and it appears to be, then the punches will not really bother Manny. Miguel Cotto, a much bigger puncher then Margarito couldn’t get to the Filipino superstar when he landed his haymakers.

Many focus on the speed as the difference in the fight and to a great degree, it is, but the power that Pacquiao possesses is going to end the fight, and could do it relatively early.

Chin of Stone… Hmmm…I don’t know if I totally agree…

There is the thought that Margarito can walk right through the incoming to press Pacquiao and wear him down, leading to a late TKO, but I have to beg to differ. Margarito has been known for his will in the ring…his ability to take a beating and keep coming, but he has never faced a pinpoint puncher like Pacquiao and he will have a field day with the “face first” approach that Margarito applies. Margarito has a good chin, but Mosley proved that you can knock him out and if an old Sugar Shane is sending him into dreamland, what will a prime Pacquiao do? I’ll give you a hint: Margarito will be on his back.

Amir Khan’s sparring stoppage is good news for Margarito…

As first reported by RSR, Amir Khan achieved a victory in sparring over Manny Pacquiao, and amazingly, it was by stoppage. There is validity to the fact that Manny was not sharp and paid dearly for it, but you cannot compare a guy like Khan to a guy like Margarito.

Khan is a boxer, a technical counter-puncher…just the type of guy that gives Pacquiao trouble. Juan Manuel Marquez: counter puncher. Erik Morales: counter puncher. Amir Khan: counter puncher. Manny prefers to face the guys that are easy to find like Cotto, Hatton, and Margarito. I don’t believe that Margarito will turn into a defensive counter puncher overnight, so I assume we are going to see him run face first into the tank on Saturday. It’s not going to be pretty.

Size Matters….or a bigger target…

I have seen the publicity photos of the two boxers standing next to each other and facing off and all sorts of other poses and Margarito towers over Pacquiao, but extra size and weight is not going to matter in this fight. In fact, it may hurt Margarito. I don’t think that there are many out there that would pick Nikolay Valuev to beat Joe Louis in a fight if they were both in their primes. It’s an extreme example, but the idea is the same. Margarito is not in the same class as Pacquiao and once he gets near, the fight will most likely be over.

Size will not matter. We will have a slow fighter being overwhelmed by a very quick one.

$60.00…worth it?

I am a fan of Manny Pacquiao, but this fight has certainly tarnished his reputation. He has stepped into the filth that Bob Arum has created, to grab dollar bills. In a just world, Margarito would be behind bars for his criminal activity and for the permanent damage that he did to Cotto’s career, but this is boxing, the most disrespected sport on the planet, and when you look at this fight, you understand why.

Don’t support this fight. Manny Pacquiao is going to win and you can watch it on HBO for free on November 20th…save your money and spend it on a night of bowling, some DVDs, or take it to the casino. This fight is wrong for boxing. It’s a scam being played on the public and it’s up to you if you want to buy into it.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Little Pacquiao taking on bigger challenge -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

By Tobias Xavier Lopez, Star-Telegram

GRAPEVINE -- Manny Pacquiao is a little guy.

At Saturday's fight he will be as big as he's ever been, physically, and yet he'll still give up about a dozen pounds to challenger Antonio Margarito. The two will clash for the WBC world super welterweight title at 150 pounds at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao has fought all styles and sizes of opponents on his way to world championships in seven weight classes. In three days, he'll get another challenge when he fights at his heaviest weight class, which normally extends to 154 pounds.

For Pacquiao, 150 pounds represents the boundary of what his frame can hold and still produce the signature speed that's defined his career.

"I kept trying to put on weight, but at 150 I felt too heavy, too slow," Pacquiao said Tuesday during a workout at the Gaylord Texan. "I'll stay at 147 so I can have my speed."

Margarito said he'll meet the 150-pound restriction for Friday's 5 p.m. weigh-in at Cowboys Stadium but will be between 160-162 pounds come Saturday night.

"From the time this fight was made it was always the bigger, stronger guy against the speedier guy," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "It's also a fighter who uses one hand with the power right hand, Margarito, against a fighter with two hands, Pacquiao, whose left and right are the same."

A look at Pacquiao's top-five fights:

5. Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Oct. 6, 2003: Pacquiao entered the fight as a 4-1 underdog. In that era, Barrera was considered the top featherweight (126 pounds), but Pacquiao dictated the fight and forced Barrera's corner to stop it in the 10th round.

4. Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, Nov. 14, 2009: Pacquiao pummeled Cotto for 11 rounds before the referee mercifully stopped the bout. The welterweight victory proved Pacquiao's willingness to take on all fighters. At the time Cotto was considered one of the elite boxers in the 147-pound division.

3. Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, March 15, 2008: A brilliant fight that saw both boxers seize the advantage at different stages. Pacquiao won by a split decision with a 115-112, 114-113 advantage while Marquez picked up a 115-112 score from the third judge. The victory earned him the WBC super featherweight (130 pounds) title.

2. Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales II, Jan 21, 2006: This is the fight that launched Pacquiao into the boxing world's conscious as a legitimate fighter. His 10th-round TKO avenged his March 19, 2005, loss to Morales, which was the last loss of Pacquiao's career. It was the second victory of his current 12-fight winning streak.

1. Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya, Dec. 6, 2008: The mainstream public knew of the Golden Boy but still hadn't fully caught on to PacMan. This fight brought Pacquiao mainstream awareness but more importantly proved he could stand in against a much bigger fighter, even if de la Hoya was past his prime. Bob Arum said the Philippines Congress wanted to vote to not allow Pacquiao to leave the country for fear he would be destroyed by de la Hoya. It was Pacquiao who did the annihilating as de la Hoya quit on the stool before the ninth round.

tlopez@star-telegram.com


Tobias Xavier Lopez, 817-390-7760

Source: star-telegram.com

Trainers: Margarito 'Attempted Murder,' Pacquiao's 'Worried' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Antonio Margarito has claimed no knowledge of the illegal hand wrappings in his gloves that led to a scandal that cost him his American boxing license for more than a year

But Freddie Roach, the trainer of Margarito's next opponent, Manny Pacquiao, does not mince words when expressing his belief that Margarito is lying.

"You have fu****g rocks in your hand, you know it," Roach told Robert Morales of BoxingScene.com late last month.

But in a recent video interview with FanHouse's E. Casey Leydon and Esther Lin, the 50-year-old four-time Trainer of the Year, took his assertions to another level.

Roach had an angry response to a scene from HBO's 24/7 series, during which Margarito and trainer, Robert Garcia, mocked the controversy by placing a large, cinder block on Margarito's hand as Garcia pretended to wrap the fighter in preparation for sparring.

"When you're caught doing something, you don't make fun of it," said Roach. "In my mind, to do that, and get caught, it's like, you should be guilty. And if proven guilty, then it's attempted murder."

Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) has a Nov. 13, HBO pay-per-view televised, Top Rank Promotions battle opposite Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king who takes a 12-fight winning streak that includes eight KOs into their clash in pursuit of an eighth title in as many different weight divisions.

Since the discovery was made by trainer Naazim Richardson of a plaster-like substance that was removed and confiscated prior to Margarito's ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley at the Los Angeles Staples Center in January of 2009, many in the boxing world, and, Roach and Pacquiao, in particular, have speculated that Margarito's trainer, Javier Capetillo, may have loaded Margarito's gloves in other fights.

"I think he [Margarito] knew what he was doing, but he's already been punished enough," Pacquiao told FanHouse during a recent chat with Michael David Smith. "I can't say for sure what he did or didn't know, but I'm just a fighter, and I fight."

Garcia just believes that his rival fighter and trainer are getting nervous.

"What it looks like is that we're getting into their heads a little bit, now. Freddie Roach started out trying to play games, and now, everything is turning around. Freddie can say whatever he wants, but they're the ones who started that whole thing any way," said Garcia, referring to a scene in 24/7 where Pacquiao feigns closing his eyes, and looking away as an imaginary trainer places wraps on his hands.

"You know, on 24/7, Manny was saying, 'how could he not know?' And he was making those faces and closing his eyes like he was a fighter who was not going to watch his hands being wrapped. We were just making jokes in response to Manny making fun of Tony on 24/7," said Garcia.

"That was how Manny tried to make it look -- like Tony knew something about the wraps. You know, Tony's been trying to tell everyone that he didn't know," said Garcia. "The bottom line is that we were just doing what they did, you know, and getting back at them. So, now, it seems like it is starting to work."

Some of the belief by Pacquiao, Roach and others has been leveled against Capetillo in relation to Margarito's vanquished rivals such as Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, whom Margarito beat savagely and bloodily before scoring knockouts.

Roach has said that after having studied up to seven of Margarito's recent fights, he believes that Margarito may have had loaded wraps in five or six of them.



Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Floyd Mayweather, JR. Vs Manny Pacquiao & the Biggest News in Boxing -- Ringside Report

By Geno McGahee, Ringside Report

This weekend’s Manny Pacquiao – Antonio Margarito will have some interested spectators, but none as interested as the undefeated co-pound for pound king, Floyd Mayweather, JR.

Inside and outside of the ring, Mayweather, JR., has picked his spots and he is eagerly awaiting 2011, when many of his personal problems will be behind him and he can entirely focus on Manny Pacquiao. A 2011 showdown between Mayweather, JR., and Pacquiao will most likely happen, unless Manny loses to Margarito. Don’t worry, it’s a real long shot.

The world is awaiting an announcement from Floyd as to what his next move will be. I think any name that he mentions outside of Pacquiao as an opponent will be met with anger by the masses that desperately want to see Floyd tested inside of the ring. The winner of Sergio Martinez – Paul Williams would most likely do that, but Pacquiao is the fight that we’ve all fixated on and what boxing needs to revive it.

Glen Johnson was an unlikely selection for the ever-changing super six tournament on Showtime, but he made the most of his opportunity, knocking out another replacement fighter, Allan Green, in eight rounds. Johnson, 41 years old, a sixty-seven fight veteran that hasn’t fought at 168 since 2000, looked strong and sharp, and is a live dog in the tourney. His 3 point knockout win over Green was incredibly impressive…but there is some controversy.

As in all Green defeats, there is an excuse. This time, we have a “rabbit punch” being the culprit, followed by a “quick count” by the referee. The punch landed behind the ear of a leaning Green and it rattled him to the point that when he arose, he was unable to continue. The stoppage did not appear to be quick, but Green’s career is in shambles and he is grasping at straws. I expect this protest to be over quickly.

Johnson can look forward to the winner of Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham, two very skilled and powerful fighters. It would be interesting to see what they could do with Johnson, a guy that has only been stopped once in his 14 defeats, and is used to dealing with the power of the light heavyweight division. He had no concerns about the powerful Green, walking right through him. Can he do the same to Froch or Abraham?

The 33 year old former Welterweight Champion, Zab “Super” Judah, returned to HBO in a bout against previously undefeated Lucas Martin Matthysse. Although Judah did not look overly impressive, he did get the win and has re-invented himself after several defeats at the welterweight level. The mediocre performance against Matthysse may get him what he wants in the end.

Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander are meeting each other in January and the winner of the clash may opt to take on Judah. No matter what stage of his career he is currently at, Judah is a big name and draws a bigger crowd then Alexander or Bradley. They would do their career a service by taking on Judah.

Another big name at 140 is Amir Khan. Khan will be facing the dangerous Marcos Maidana in December, but should he win, and I expect him to, then a Khan-Judah fight would be a hot ticket. Zab Judah’s move back down in weight, regardless of end result, was a very smart move.

This Saturday, we have the WBA Heavyweight Champion, David Haye, facing off against the underachieving Audley Harrison. Harrison, at one time, got the blessing of Lennox Lewis as the next big thing in the division, for whatever that’s worth, but has had a mediocre career, losing to some journeymen along the way. He still has the name value and a following and that is why this Brit vs. Brit showdown is taking place with heavyweight gold in the balance.

Haye vs. Harrison is not the fight that the general public wants, but it’s another growth experience for the champion in the heavyweight division. He conquered the gigantic Nikolay Valuev, knocked out the tough as nails John Ruiz, and is now facing the large Harrison, a guy that could be dangerous if he has any A game left in him. Haye will have to be weary of the uppercuts on the inside and the underrated power of the challenger. Although I fully expect Haye to come out victorious, there may be a bumpy road in his future. It’s a better fight then most contend.

Juan Manuel Lopez, the undefeated WBO Featherweight Champion, showed improvements in his defense and patience as he pounded Rafael Marquez into submission in the eighth round. Lopez has had some shaky moments because of his suspect chin, but so did his idol, Felix Trinidad, and he has a rather good career.

Marquez had all the heart in the world but he didn’t have the strength to fend off the powerful and determined Lopez and now the Lopez-Gamboa showdown gets even more interesting. With Yuriorkis Gamboa holding the WBA title, there is a lot of incentive for a unification bout. Both men are undefeated and both are future stars of the sport. They may not match them this early on, but one can hope. There has been recurring talk of a showdown and it’s a genuine pick’em sort of fight. The winner would certainly be the fans that night.

Showtime picked up the last piece of the 168 pound puzzle when they inked IBF Super Middleweight Champion, Lucian Bute, to a multi-fight contract, making all sorts of attractive matches possible. With Glen Johnson, Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, and Andre Dirrell under the banner, there is plenty of room for Bute to prove himself as the best 168 pounder in the game. With Ward leading the pack, a Ward-Bute showdown is the most talked about, but there are plenty of other selections that will test the Canadian boxer. Showtime deserves credit for keeping the super six alive and for bringing Bute aboard. I look forward to his first bout, possibly with Kelly Pavlik, if they can work that out.

Boxing is heating up, even without Pacquiao-Mayweather. There is a lot that is happening and a lot of excitement in the months and years to come.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Manny Pacquiao puts personal touch on political duties -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Grapevine, Texas —

Manny Pacquiao's ability to produce national celebrations in the Philippines on his fight nights is the stuff of legend.

Now, he aspires to a higher calling.

"I want to be a champion of public service," Pacquiao said Tuesday, after a workout for his Saturday night world junior-middleweight title fight against Mexico's Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium.

Since taking political office this summer as a congressional representative of the Sarangani province, Pacquiao has focused on improving his countrymen's livelihoods, starting with improved medical care and education.

The causes are rooted in Pacquiao's childhood memories of surviving poverty, sleeping on dirt floors and selling cigarettes on the street.

"No money to buy food, hungry," Pacquiao said. "I'll always remember my past. When I was young, I had no one to help [me].

"I believe I'm supposed to be doing this."

The boxer-congressman has introduced two bills, oneto provide funds for local medical aid — barely more than a quarter of his country's population have health care — and another to construct his province's first hospital.

"Before, if you get sick there, you have no medicine," Pacquiao said. "They'd tell you to rest, drink water and maybe eat some [healing] plants.…

"There's a lot of people there, people who don't even have a place to live. They need help."

Much has been made in the weeks leading up to Pacquiao's fight about his inattentive training.

"He told me in the first week we were together that he misses his [political] job," Pacquiao's boxing trainer Freddie Roach said. "I'd never heard anything like that from him."

Roach also bemoaned Pacquiao's decision to interrupt training for the Margarito bout to meet with Philippines President Benigno Aquino III. "I honestly wondered if he'd come back to me the next day," Roach said.

Pacquiao explains that meeting was crucial in his attempt to push his hospital construction bill. More than 500,000 people live in Sarangani, and Pacquiao's legislation calls for a new $4.7-million medical facility.

For some of the area's underprivileged citizens, a doctor can be one hour away. "If it's an emergency," Pacquiao said, "you die. I've talked to the president about it. He said he'd help me out. That's why I'm working hard in there."

Despite Pacquaio's attention on politics, oddsmakers still make him a 6-to-1 favorite over the slower-footed Margarito in the 150-pound catch-weight bout.

Roach said Tuesday that Pacquiao, 31, has returned to peak shape, and intends to out-speed the bigger Margarito, who might step into the ring outweighing him by 10 or 12 pounds.

Pacquiao, however, is clearly moving toward a new life.

He says he wants to be his country's vice president in 2016, and if that happens, a 2022 presidential run is a slam dunk.

"You do anything too long, as he's done with boxing, it gets old," Roach said. "He wants to be president one day. The only way to do that is to be a good congressman.

"When he gets dressed up and goes in there [to congress], very professionally, proud and proper, he takes it very seriously. I've seen it. It's like having a new girlfriend. All the conversations he's having with those people now are fresh to him."

The importance of the new work was clinched while campaigning, as Pacquiao peered into empty and desperate eyes that reflected his own upbringing.

Pacquiao says he donates about $25,000 every three months to help youths defray high school and college costs. He wants to introduce a bill to boost student aid.

The government has also asked Pacquiao to explore the problems of human trafficking in the Philippines.

With so many heavy topics, has boxing become trivial for Pacquiao?

His promoter, Bob Arum, insists Pacquiao is " enjoying building a tremendous legacy in boxing" that could still end with a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Roach has fretted about Pacquiao's focus, so he pulled the boxer aside as they shifted their training base to Hollywood late last month.

"I know [politics] means a lot to you," Roach told Pacquiao. "But boxing is what got you to where you are. This is what you do best."

"Coach, I understand," Pacquiao said. "I promise I won't disappoint you."

Pacquiao last week reeled off the best few days of training yet, unleashed his typical exhaustive workouts and flashed rapid punching power in the ring. "My focus is the fight, but it's not my whole day," he said.

In Pacquiao's off hours, he sang John Lennon's "Imagine" with Will Ferrell on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and followed President Obama on a "60 Minutes" segment.

"I came from nothing," he noted Tuesday.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com


twitter.com/latimespugmire
Copyright © 2010, Los Angeles Times

Source: latimes.com

A Decent Fight, If You Like Punching -- Wall Street Journal

By GORDON MARINO, Wall Street Journal

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson were magnets for the crossover fan that's all-important for the financial fettle of boxing. Without such galvanizing figures, interest in the sport has shifted to the question: Who's the mythical pound-for-pound champion? The only two boxers identifiable to a wide swath of Americans are the claimants to that title, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A former street kid from the Philippines, Mr. Pacquiao rocketed to superstardom when he crushed Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. Now, Mr. Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) holds title belts in a record seven weight divisions. Mr. Mayweather is undefeated in 41 bouts (25 knockouts) and has won world championships in five weight classes.

For what seemed like years, the Pacquiao and Mayweather brain trusts wrangled over a possible fight. But boxing can be downright punchy. Mr. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing. Mr. Pacquiao fumed. With Mr. Mayweather facing charges over an alleged domestic-violence incident, it's not likely these gladiators will be stepping into the squared circle together anytime soon.

Instead, on Saturday night, those with an appetite for the bruising arts will be watching a fight between Mr. Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts), to be held in Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

While this bout is compelling enough from a fistic point of view, it begins with serious cuts and bruises. In January 2009, just before a loss to Shane Mosley, Mr. Margarito was caught with a hardening substance in the knuckle pad of his handwraps. In the hearings that followed, the lanky fighter insisted he was unaware that his trainer, Javier Capetillo, had tampered with his wraps. Mr. Margarito was suspended for a year.

Knowledgeable or not, Mr. Margarito has never seemed terribly remorseful. In an HBO program intended to promote the Pacquiao bout, Mr. Margarito and his new trainer joke about the cheating incident.

After his suspension, Mr. Margarito notched a lackluster victory against Roberto Garcia, then he was immediately rewarded with the bout of his dreams, against that symbol of fierceness and purity that is Mr. Pacquiao.

Last week, Mr. Pacquiao was asked about his philosophy of life. The vicious puncher, now also a congressman in the Philippines, didn't hesitate: "It is to love and serve people." When jabbed about giving this fight to someone accused of cheating, he responded: "I am sure Margarito knew. But he has paid his dues. He's a human being, and I believe in second chances."

From all reports, Mr. Margarito is in top form and has a fire in his belly. Hall of Fame boxing commentator Larry Merchant remarked: "Margarito has to believe that this is his chance to erase his disgrace."

Moral issues aside, this bout is a classic contest of speed versus power and size. At 5-feet-11, the big-boned Mr. Margarito towers over his 5-foot-6½-inch foe. Boasting a 60% knockout ratio, Mr. Margarito is a pressure fighter and virtuoso body puncher who specializes in relentlessly walking his opponents down and pummeling them on the ropes and in the corners. He has a durable chin and it's unlikely that Mr. Pacquiao will be able to send him to the canvas with one well-placed punch.

One of the most difficult blows in boxing to develop is a left uppercut, and Mr. Margarito has one of the best in the business. He also packs a formidable right uppercut and left hook.

In his latest outing with Joshua Clottey, Mr. Pacquiao dominated. He fired an amazing 1,231 punches whereas Mr. Clottey averaged a meager 33 punches per round. However, as trainer Teddy Atlas has observed, whenever Mr. Clottey let go an uppercut, it almost always found its mark. Mr. Pacquiao affirmed that the uppercut and body punching were Mr. Margarito's weapons of choice, but he assured: "We are working on countering those punches, keeping Margarito in the center of the ring, and on making his aggression work against him."

Mr. Pacquiao is himself extremely aggressive and moves in and out and side to side dizzyingly. A southpaw who has stopped almost 68% of his opponents, the Pacman packs a jarring right hook and an explosive straight left that's very difficult to see coming.

In 2009, just before Mr. Pacquiao's dramatic knockout win over Ricky Hatton, Mr. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was asked to size up future rivals. When Mr. Margarito's name came up, Mr. Roach shook his head, "No. He is too big."

Mr. Roach now sees a walking bull's-eye in Mr. Margarito. "Margarito is tough," Mr. Roach said. "He won't be like Clottey. He will come to win, and it will be an action-packed fight. But I have watched tons of film of him. He's always the same, completely predictable. He winds up on all of his punches so you can see them coming a mile away." The catch weight for this bout is 150 pounds, but Mr. Roach predicts: "On fight night Margarito will probably come into the ring at about 165, and he'll be as slow as molasses." There was a pause and then a softly spoken, "No worries. We are going to knock him out."

Source: online.wsj.com

Is Manny Pacquiao Catching History On Saturday? -- The Sweet Science

By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science

Much of the world is till unaware that you need no advantages when it comes to fighting anyone from flyweight to welterweight. Now, you’re stepping up to junior middleweight to fight another welterweight who is stepping up to junior middleweight.

So why the catch weights?

On Saturday, at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the indomitable Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) meets Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior middleweight world title. With one proviso: Margarito must not weigh more than 152 the day before the fight.

The brains behind Pacquiao are fearful to allow the Filipino destroyer to fight without some kind of handicap against his opponents. It’s ridiculous.

Despite annihilating his last five opponents in fearsome fashion Top Rank and perhaps an over-cautious Freddie Roach have continued to impose catch weights. There really is no need. The only thing it will accomplish is to possibly wreck Pacquiao’s future legacy in the annals of boxing history.

Though Pacquiao heads toward a record-setting eighth weight division world title in an incredible feat, there have been others before the imposition of junior division titles that could have embarked on similar conquests. Plus, those other fighters of the past did not resort to imposing catch weights to win their titles.

It’s overkill.

Does L.A. Laker center Pau Gasol ask that the rim be nine feet instead of 10 feet high when he plays the taller Yao Ming who has a six inch height advantage? No. Does Minnesota Viking quarterback Brett Favre ask that nobody sack him because he’s over 40 years old? Nope. When boxer James Toney entered the Octagon against UFC veteran Randy Couture did he ask that no take downs be allowed? Of course not.

Pacquiao is a beast in the ring and does not need any advantages especially against Margarito who is a welterweight too.

The diminutive Filipino prizefighter with the flashing fists, mind-boggling speed and surprising power has proven over and over that he definitely does not need any advantages against anyone.

Pacquiao’s greatest asset is his speed. Despite giving up five inches in height to Margarito, the Filipino who was recently voted into Congress in his country has mercilessly bludgeoned the last five opponents with ease. The Mexican fighter has never faced anyone comparable and he knows it.

“I think this moment there is no better fighter than him. It’s another weight and he is a good fighter. He’s very fast with a lot of power,” said Margarito, 32, who is a former welterweight world titleholder. “Coming from such a small weight to do what he has done, he’s a great boxer.”

All the more reason that Pacquiao’s team dispense with fighting at catch weights. Historians may place an asterisk on the great fighter’s accomplishments and with good reason.

Armstrong, Robinson, and Duran

If you look at the greats of the past Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson and Roberto Duran did not ask for catch weight handicaps nor did they need them when they moved up to heavier weight divisions.

Armstrong was much lighter and smaller than his opponents when he beat welterweight world champion Barney Ross, lightweight world champion Lou Ambers and featherweight world champion Pete Sarron all within a year in 1937-1938. He held all three titles simultaneously.

In 1952 Robinson moved up to light heavyweight to challenge then champion Joey Maxim at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The smaller and lighter Robinson weighed 157 pounds while Maxim walked into the ring at 173 pounds. It ended in the 14th round when Robinson was unable to continue due to a heat stroke, not Maxim’s punches.

Panama’s Duran began his career at 135 pounds but fought the much bigger Iran Barkley in 1989 for the middleweight world title. Duran knocked down the sturdy Barkley with a combination in the 11th round and won by split decision. It was a shocking victory.

Pacquiao’s victories are not shocking, but expected.

It’s getting so bad that the promoter has felt it necessary to create rumors that Pacquiao has endured a terrible training camp. Baloney. We’re talking about Pacquiao, not some mediocre over-the-hill prizefighter called in at the last moment to fill a fight card. Even Pacman laughs at the rumors.

“I’m in 100 percent condition, nothing to worry about,” said Pacquiao last week. “I’m excited. Tell the fans nothing to worry about me.”

Pacquiao’s still a dynamo.

After he retires the historians will look at his record and say he did it by handicapping his rivals. The time to stop applying catch weights begins right after this fight.

Don’t mess up Pacquiao’s legacy. He doesn’t need help. It’s like adding a special Teflon coating to a needle used to prick a ballon.

Pop! It’s overkill.

Baby Assassin

Anthony “The Baby Assassin” Villarreal of Perris is on the Pacquiao-Margarito fight card on Saturday Nov. 13 and faces Filipino southpaw Richie Mepranuam (22-2) in a flyweight division match.

Villarreal (10-3, 5 KOs) recently defeated veteran Benjie Garcia by knockout at Riverside Convention Center. It was an impressive knockout win over Garcia who had fought current junior flyweight world champion Giovanni Segura tough on several occasions.

Fights on television

Thurs. Versus, 6 p.m. Urijah Faber (23-4) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (13-4-2).

Fri. Telefutura, 11:30 p.m., Jermell Charlo (13-0) vs. Luis Grajeda (10-0-1).

Sat. HBO pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2) vs. Antonio Margarito (38-6);

Brandon Rios (25-0-1) vs. Omri Lowther (14-2); Mike Jones (22-0) vs. Jesus Soto Karass (24-4-3); Guillermo Rigondeaux (6-0) vs. Ricardo Cordoba (37-2-2);

Source: thesweetscience.com

Margarito relishes chance at redemption vs. Pacquiao -- USA Today

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY

For almost two years, Antonio Margarito has been a fighter in exile, scorned as a cheater and banned in the USA from the sport he loves so much.

After the rugged, 32-year-old Mexican fighter was caught with illegal hand wraps before his welterweight title fight vs. "Sugar" Shane Mosley in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2009, his reputation was shattered and his boxing career was effectively put on hold.

Margarito all but disappeared from the boxing public. Angry fans called him Marga-cheat-o.

To add injury to insult, Mosley soundly whipped Margarito with a ninth-round TKO, taking Margarito's dignity and his WBA welterweight title.

The California State Athletic Commission slapped the Torrance, Calif., native who resides in Tijuana, Mexico, with a one-year suspension. Several months ago, the commission denied Margarito's application to become licensed in the state. He did get licensed in Texas.

Saturday night (HBO pay-per-view, 9) at Cowboys Stadium in front of up to 60,000 fans, Margarito will seek redemption when he meets the man regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), for the vacant WBC super welterweight (150-pound catch weight) title.

Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) has denied knowledge of the contents of his hand wraps, saying his trainer at the time, Javier Capetillo, was the only one who knew about them. The California commission found the wraps contained a mixture of sulfur and calcium, which, when combined with oxygen, forms a substance similar to plaster of Paris.

Only recently has Margarito been able to openly deal with the negativity surrounding the controversy. On the second episode of HBO's reality series 24/7 last week, Margarito and his new trainer, highly respected Robert Garcia, jokingly tied a big slab of concrete to Margarito's hand.

For the most part, Margarito, who has fought once since the Mosley bout — a 10-round decision against Roberto Garcia in Mexico in May — has moved on.

"I try not to dwell on the negative," he said during a conference call with reporters last week. "I know people will ask the questions and I have to answer, and I have no problem with them.

"To me, right now all I am concentrating on is the fight. I know it is going to be asked, but for me I have to concentrate on the fight. Everything is in the past. … It is going to be a super fight, and I can't wait to be up in the ring."

While Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has said he thought Margarito knew about the illegal wraps, he said he and Pacquiao had moved past the incident.

"It helps the fight in general for the press and the notoriety, but it doesn't change the fight at all, because it will be on the up and up and both will be equally hand-wrapped," Roach said.

"To me, he was suspended for a year, he did his time, and now he is a free man and he is eligible to fight. It is the best fight out there for us right now.

"Everyone knows Margarito throws punches. He is a volume puncher; he is a three-time world champion. We've got our hands full, but we are ready and have what it takes to beat him."

Margarito said he was thankful for the second chance.

"I want to show everyone that I belong at this level against the best fighter in the world, and that's one of the things I want to do for this fight," Margarito said. "I know it is a great opportunity. I know how hard it was to make the fight real, and I'm very happy that it's finally here."

Source: usatoday.com

Pacquiao, Margarito work out but Ines Sainz steals the show -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—The final prefight presser takes place Wednesday afternoon and usually charming and gracious host, stadium and NFL Cowboys franchise owner Jerry Jones won't be there I am told by knowledgeable parties.

As previously documented herein, the affable, homespun billionaire is trying to put out some serious “fires” with his listless, 1-7 pro football team. He launched a new era Monday by canning head coach Wade Phillips and elevating assistant Justin Garrett to the top spot.

But the presser goes on, emceed by ageless promoter and New York Giant fan Bob Arum, and you will hear the usual namby-pamby quotes by principals Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.

They don't hate each other, for sure. In fact, they seem to be “in like,” competitors who respect each other.

Don't be surprised if Arum goes over the top in dishing out praise for Mexican TV hottie Ines Sainz as she is doing her best to beautify the motley fight crowd.

Here's my assorted photos from Tuesday's Open Workouts at the Gaylord Texan Hotel.
I seemed to have gone overboard on Ms. Sainz myself.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao: first Asian sports star to break the US market -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao, elected to Congress in The Philippines earlier this year, faces Antonio Margarito at light-middleweight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night. Seventy thousand tickets have been sold. Tens of millions will watch his fight around the world. Pacquiao enjoys a level of idolatry bordering obsession at home, yet in the US, he represents the first Asian sports star to cross into the mainstream in the United States.

On Sunday night, on network television channel CBS’s weekly ‘60 Minutes’ news programme, Pacquiao was featured in a mini-documentary as part of the hour-long show alongside a thirty-minute interview with President Barack Obama. It is a mark of the pulling power of the Filipino icon on the US television market.

That status is borne out in figures. Pacquiao is be the biggest selling pay per view fighter in the US in 2010, along with 120,000 seats sold at the box office for his contests, yet it is on television and in print where his reach is staggering. This month Pacquiao has made a major impact.

‘Pacman’, as he is known, is the cover story on the American Airlines in-flight magazine in November, which will be seen by millions of travellers; he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood with Will Ferrell in the first week in November – known as ‘sweeps month’, the time when the television companies in the US set their ratings figures for advertising for the coming year – while Home Box Office sees him as a shoe-in for 24/7 documentaries for all of his pay per view fights.

Pacquiao has also been in demand from sports franchises. The San Diego Chargers, San Francisco Giants, and the LA Dodgers called on him this year to make appearances on the pitch at their matches. Last year, Time Magazine’s online poll for ‘The World’s 100 Most Influential People’ polled over 22 million votes for Pacquiao.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” veteran Top Rank publicist Fred Sternburg told Telegraph Sport. “He really is the first Asian sports star to cross over into the American mainstream."

Yet according to the inner sanctum around Pacquiao, politics is pulling him away from prize-fighting. Those close to him say the internal fire for fighting is leaving him, derived in part from the reticence of the great unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr to sign for a contest which could gross $200 million, making it the richest prize fight in history, coupled with the almost Messianic desire Pacquiao has to change the lives of those living in poverty in the 1,707 islands which make up 94 million population of The Philippines.

Freddie Roach, widely regarded as the world’s leading trainer, speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport, revealed that he has witnessed Pacquiao losing his focus on boxing in the last two months. Roach fears that Pacquiao could be very near the end of his boxing career. “Manny Pacquiao told me during this training camp that he misses his job – and he meant as a politician in Congress. This could be his last fight. I’ve had anxiety attacks worrying about his focus for this fight.”

The lack of interest from Mayweather is also a factor, Roach disclosed, though there is a caveat for the pair to meet next Spring. “The chances [of Pacquiao v Mayweather] are declining. We are tired of waiting for Mayweather. We have accepted what he wanted in the last negotiations and we are losing patience.

"We can't sit around forever waiting. He's not even in the frame at this point. Right now, Mayweather is just a guy who may go to jail for beating up a girl.”

Intriguingly, Roach told Telegraph Sport that he believes there is now more chance of Amir Khan, the British light-welterweight world champion whom he trains at his Hollywood-based Wild Card Gym, fighting Mayweather, at some point in 2012.

It is a plausible contest, too, given that Mayweather could perceive Khan as relatively easy pickings. “I have two guys I believe can beat Floyd Mayeather – Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. Amir has the speed to give Mayweather real problems, but I don’t see that fight happening for over a year. I see Amir as my next great fighter, coming up in the wake of Pacquiao,” explained Roach, who has trained 28 world champions, including Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya.

The phenomenal interest in Pacquiao stateside is not apocryphal, and reflects the national obsession he has become within his homeland. Insurgents lay down their arms when he fights, as does the national army, simply because 70 per cent of the population wants to watch ‘The National Fist’, as he is known, representing them abroad.

When Pacquiao fights, The Philippines grinds to a halt. Bob Arum, the veteran US promoter who oversaw parts of Muhammad Ali’s career, says Pacquiao “is the best fighter” he has ever seen. Even better than ‘The Greatest’. “Ali was essentially a one-handed fighter. Pacquiao hits equally hard – with left and right. I truly believe he will also go on to the President of The Philippines.”

And the man himself ? “I’ve already reached my dreams and goals in boxing,” says Pacquiao. “I want to be a champion inpublic service.”

Pacquiao has his eyes on the prize. Not as a pugilist, butas President of The Philippines.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao's Peak and other things Manny can prove against Margarito -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—It's a frightening thought when you entertain the plausible notion that Manny Pacquiao is still ascending his mountain of performance.

Potential opponents must shudder to ponder that Pacman, turning age 32 on Dec. 18, may not have had his career-definining, absolute peak performance as of yet.

Peak, peak, peaking, Manny is certainly doing that and that's why I would give him a real chance to take a boxing match against unbeaten supreme stylist Floyd Mayweather Jr., turn it into a roughhouse brawl, and hand “Money May” his unthinkable first ring defeat.

But I am leaping too far foreward. Question before the jury now is what can Manny, and remember his slogan 'MANNY KNOWS,' prove this Saturday night against Tone Loc Margarito:

WHAT MANNY PACQUIAO CAN PROVE AGAINST ANTONIO MARGARITO

1.That the so-called distractions issue is a total canard and that what Manny refers to as “multitasking” is what makes his whole life click.

2.That he is the Size King of the ring and that he can overcome the height, reach, strength and weight advantages that the Mexican surely will have.

3.That he can beat a Desperado, a fighter of some talent and courage, who his own back to the wailing wall and has nothing to lose and so much to gain not just by notching a magnificent upset but even by making a real go of it.

4.In my view, Manny already has earned a total 50-50 split of all revenue for the inevitable Mayweather match of next May. By walloping Margarito, who was ducked and dodged by 'il Floyd in a big way, Pacman would just underline that point and add about three exclamation points.

5.More repetition: To underline once again that while he's not the GOAT (Greatest Of All Times) he is a Roberto Duran like ring god in terms of fighting skills, he is likely the greatest all around entertainer to come along since that kid from Louisville, formerly named Cassius Marcellus Clay.

6.That the smartest decision ever made in his boxing career was to show up at Coach Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym and convince the multi-talented trainer to take him on as a pupil.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Unbeaten Mayweather skips arraignment hearing -- AFP

AFP

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Unbeaten former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jnr did not appear Tuesday at a scheduled arraignment hearing on eight criminal charges that could bring him up to 34 years in prison.

Judge Diana Sullivan ordered Mayweather to pay 31,000 dollars in bail within a week and to stay away from his former girlfriend, Jose Harris, and their two sons. Sullivan rescheduled the fighter's arraignment for January 24.

Mayweather, 33, faces charges of felony robbery, coercion and grand larceny as well as misdemeanor domestic battery and harassment charges in connection with the September 9 incident.

Prosecutors claim that Mayweather struck Harris and threatened to beat his sons if they tried to call for help, taking cellular telephones from Harris and the children during the scuffle.

Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 career knockouts, took an 18-month break from boxing after stopping England's Ricky Hatton in the 10th round to claim the World Boxing Council welterweight title on December 8, 2007.

After surrendering his crown and seeing Filipino star Manny Pacquiao replace him as the pound-for-pound king, Mayweather returned to win unanimous decisions last year over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez and last May from fellow American Shane Mosley.

Boxing fans hoped to see Mayweather climb into the ring against Pacquiao in 2010 but negotiations between the fighters broke down and with a courtroom fight upcoming for Mayweather, chances for them to meet in 2011 appear slim.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Exclusive Interview With Joshua Clottey - “I’m Going To Work My Way Back Up. I Want To Be A Two-Weight World Champion” -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

Though he had an admittedly bad night against Pound-for-Pound king Manny Pacquiao back in March, former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey says it was primarily down to his being weakened due to making weight. Always huge for the 147-pound limit, the 33-year-old from Ghana is now planning on returning to the ring at 154-pounds, his “natural weight.”

Hoping to stay busy once he returns in the new year, the man with the 35-4(20) record says it’s his dream to become a two-weight world champion.

Very kindly taking the time to speak with me yesterday evening UK time, “The Grand Master” who lives in New York had the following things to say:


James Slater: As always it’s a pleasure to be able to speak with you, Joshua. When can we expect to see you back in the ring? Are there any plans?

Joshua Clottey: I think I will be back in January. My promoters are busy now with this big fight [Pac-Man-Margarito], so I will let them get this out of the way first.


J.S: And will you move up in weight or will you stay at welterweight?

J.C: I will be moving up. I’m going to 154.


J.S: Your welterweight days are over then? You can’t make 147 any more?

J.C: (laughs). No, I can’t make 147 any longer.


J.S: You feel you’ll be so much stronger at 154? You were always a big welterweight anyway.

J.C: Exactly. Making [welter] weight was a real problem for me. I will be able to mix it with the best at 154. I had to move up, to my natural weight.


J.S: Who are the names you’d like at 154?

J.C: Everybody knows I have unfinished business with Miguel Cotto, and with Antonio Margarito. Even if he loses [to Pacquiao] I’d still really like to fight him. And I want Cotto again. Both are good fighters.


J.S: A rematch with Cotto would be very interesting, seeing as how very close the first fight between you was. You feel you can beat him at 154?

J.C: Yes, of course. I know I won the first fight, but they gave it to him. I’m not complaining. Everyone has to know I had big weight problems in the Manny Pacquiao fight. I had to take that fight as it was such a big chance, but I realise I was killing myself making weight. I’ll be more comfortable and effective at 154. It’s not like I don’t want to throw punches; I was just so weak in the fight with Manny Pacquiao. But I will be able to throw lots of punches at my natural weight.


J.S: Will your next fight be in America?

J.C: Yes, of course, that’s where my promoters are. I can’t wait to come back. I’m not making excuses, but a lot happens in boxing - and a lot happened in the Manny Pacquiao fight. I want to thank my supporters, and I know it will be so different at 154. I will do everything I can to become a champion at 154. My dream is to become a two-weight world champion.


J.S: Would a fight with Pacquiao, a rematch, be different at 154?

J.C: It would be different. I’d be fighting at my weight and that would be in my advantage. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I would love to have a rematch.


J.S: You’ve fought both guys: who wins, Pacquiao or Margarito?

J.C: You know, in boxing there comes a time for a fighter when nobody can stop him. If God’s plan is for him to become the best, no-one can stop him. I don’t see Margarito being able to beat Pacquiao unless God has decided that it’s his time to go up again; that after all he’s been through, he knows he made a mistake, and he deserves to be at the top again. Other than that, no, I don’t see any way he can beat Manny Pacquiao.


J.S: Do you see a KO or a points win for Manny?

J.C: He has to respect Manny Pacquiao’s power. Pacquiao can pick a punch, I’m telling you the truth. He can’t think he can jump on Pacquiao just because he’s too big for him. Margarito has no defence, he’s easy to hit. He’ll hit Margarito a lot. If Margarito goes out with a do-or-die approach, he’ll [Pac-Man] hurt him crazy. But if he takes his time, it could be a different story.


J.S: Getting back to you, can we expect a busy year for Joshua Clottey in 2011?

J.C: Of course. I only had two fights this year, because I thought everything with the Pacquiao fight would work out on my side. But I had a different trainer in that fight (Lenny DeJesus worked Clottey’s corner in the March fight, standing in for his regular trainer from Ghana) and lots of things fell through for me. Now I’m looking at working my way back up.


J.S: Well, thanks so much for your time. We look forward to seeing you back in action in the new year.

J.C: Okay, thank you.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Roach longs for Christmas in Boracay -- Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

DALLAS – Is Freddie Roach so sure of a Manny Pacquiao victory over Antonio Margarito that he’s already looking forward to his Christmas vacation?

Well, it sounds just like that.

Boxing’s hottest trainer today said he’s already looking forward to a visit to the Philippines in December to grace Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday in Sarangani.

Then he said it’s time for him to visit Boracay, probably his favorite place outside the United States.

“Manny will have his birthday party and from his birthday party I might go right to Boracay. I love Boracay. I had a great time there the last time (2007),” said Roach.

But before he gets to vacation, Roach has Pacquiao’s fight with Margarito this coming Saturday at the Cowboys Stadium here.

Then he has the Dec. 4 fight of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and the Dec. 11 bout of Amir Khan, whom he trains.

Chavez faces Alfonso Gomez in Anaheim, California, for the WBC silver middleweight title, while Khan will try to defend his WBA junior welterweight crown against Marcos Rene Maidana at Mandalay Bay.

“Boracay sounds good because I need a break,” said Roach, adding that he has a standing invitation from Cris Aquino, Pacquiao’s close friend, to the latter’s famous West Cove Resort in the island paradise.

Aquino is the perennial flag bearer in Pacquiao fights here in the US, but for this one the bubbly businessman has begged off due to personal reasons.

“My last fight (this year) will be on Dec. 11 and after that, I will take the rest of the year off. I might go somewhere, so you guys might not see me,” said Roach.

“Maybe I’ll send you a postcard from Boracay.”

And he looked serious.

Source: philstar.com

'Totally ready' Manny hits Dallas in style -- Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

DALLAS – Manny Pacquiao went out for a run on a cold, damp Monday morning, sparred four rounds in the afternoon then closed the book on his training at the Wild Card Gym.

By 10 in the evening (Dallas time being two hours ahead of Los Angeles), he was inside his suite at the Gaylord Texan Hotel. It’s fight week, and in just a few days, it’s fight time.

“Totally ready na tayo sa fight,” said Pacquiao, who took a chartered two-and-a-half-hour flight from LAX to this city known for its great barbecue and as home of the Cowboys.

Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, has put the writings on the wall that Pacquiao is all set to face Antonio Margarito this coming Saturday and score a big knockout.

Pacquiao said he can’t doubt what Roach said.

“Hindi naman magsi-sinungaling ‘yan eh. Siya ang mapapahiya at tayo (He won’t lie because he’s putting his name and ours on the line),” said the Filipino icon.

“The hard work’s done. He knows how to win this fight,” Roach said the other day.

Pacquiao’s delegation of 188 packed a Boeing 757, which the boxer rented for more than $100,000, and outnumbered his entourage of 140 for the Joshua Clottey fight last March.

On board the plane were Pacquiao’s immediate family, his team members, fellow boxers Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Gerry Peñalosa, some mediamen and a lot of friends.

The size of Pacquiao’s entourage that flew out of LA before 5 p.m. is almost the size of 10 baseball teams.

From the plane, which never ran out of food courtesy of Goldilock’s, Pacquiao, with his wife Jinkee, was whisked to a waiting SUV that brought them to his official home for the fight.

The rest filled four buses that waited at the tarmac.

Prior to boarding, everybody went through a thorough security check, and handheld metal detectors were used. Only Pacquiao and his wife were spared from the routine check.

Earlier in the morning, Pacquiao went out for a run. It was cold and damp following a steady drizzle Sunday evening, and a big drop in the temperature in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao covered the Griffith Park, a roller-coaster route which he normally challenges on non-sparring days. But he wanted a good run to wrap up his training in LA.

Then he sparred four rounds against Dave Rodela, worked the bags like there’s no tomorrow, and shadow-boxed like he was surrounded by a dozen opponents.

He kept on asking for more from Roach, who had to ask Nonoy Neri to pull the reins on the world’s greatest boxer today.

“Kailangan kasi ready tayo sa lahat ng puwedeng mangyari sa ring (We must be ready for anything that might happen in the ring),” said Pacquiao.

Fight week includes a public workout for Margarito and Pacquiao Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) starting at 1 p.m. at the Longhorn Exhibit Hall of the Gaylord Texan Hotel.

Wednesday is the day for the final press conference, Thursday for the round-table discussions among the media and the trainers of both boxers, and Friday for the official weigh-in.

Roach said he was informed that the weigh-in, for the catchweight of 150 lb, will start at 5 p.m.

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao aids poor students -- Manila Bulletin

By JOSEPH JUBELAG, Manila Bulletin

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (Lone District, Sarangani) has allocated P1 million for the educational assistance of at least 513 secondary and college students from Malungon town in Sarangani.

Malungon Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino said Pacquiao through his foundation gave P1,023,394.58 for the educational assistance of some 513 students who are presently enrolled in vocational, technical, and four-year basic and medical courses.

“The educational assistance will enable our poor but deserving students to pursue their higher education,” Constantino said.

He said one of the main objectives of his administration is to strengthen the educational capability through the support of Pacquiao.

“We provide educational assistance program to poor but deserving students of Malungon to free our people from the clutches of ignorance and illiteracy,” Constantino said.

“Thus, I believe that the only way to fight poverty is through proper education in order that our siblings will become fruitful and well-informed sectors of the society,” he added.

The Pacquiao Foundation is now supporting some 70 scholars from different ministerial groups, 200 from the tribal communities, and five slots from each tribal chieftain in the 31 villages of Malungon town.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao in Dallas ready to rumble -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

DALLAS — Manny Pacquiao returned to the site of his landmark victory last March when he arrived here late Monday night and vowed to put on a show of fistic fireworks when he collides with Mexican bomber Antonio Margarito this weekend at Cowboys Stadium.

“Whenever I fight, I always give my 100 percent so this Saturday night, expect the same from me,” said Pacquiao upon his arrival here from Los Angeles on board a leased American Airlines Boeing 757.

Pacquiao was joined in the two-and-a-half hour trip here by his immediate family and select members of his training team on the first class section of the airplane that numbered 22 people, while the remaining 163 were on cattle class.

Gourmet sandwiches, fruits, powerbar, desserts and almost all kinds of drinks were served on board for the passengers to enjoy with copies of the official inflight magazine of American Airlines featuring Pacquiao on the cover on every seat for them to take home as souvenir.

Pacquiao did the rounds of the economy section to pose for pictures and exchange pleasantries with the passengers, many of them his friends from Los Angeles as well as from the Philippines.

Also on the flight was rising Mexican junior-middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., British super-lightweight world champion Amir Khan and award-winning film director, producer and cinematographer Leon Gast, whose 1996 work When We Were Kings (about Muhammad Ali) won him the Academy Award.

Gast, who was in Manila during the 1975 Thrilla in Manila as a staff of Don King, is reported to be doing a documentary on Pacquiao.

Before leaving Los Angeles, Pacquiao sparred for the last time at the Wild Card Boxing Club, showing the moves that kept coach Freddie Roach in a jolly mood heading into the last few days before the fight.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Alex Ariza said he expects the Filipino pound-for-pound king to continue with his morning run and gym work until Thursday but stressed that he won’t be surprised if Pacquiao decides to miss one or two sessions.

“I don’t know his program,” said Ariza.

Local referee Laurence Cole will be the man in charge in the ring and Roach said he doesn’t have any problems with the choice of Cole as the third man on the ring.

“He is fair,” said Roach.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacman’s record bid live on SuperSport -- SuperSport

SuperSport.com

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