Manny Pacquiao's date with destiny in Dallas is the one the world will be watching on Saturday night -- Daily Mail

By Jeff Powell, DailyMail.co.uk

While Britain works itself into a frenzy about two Londoners fighting for a version of the world heavyweight championship in Manchester, the attention of the rest of the boxing universe is concentrated on a Filipino's determination to beat a Mexican in Dallas and thereby make boxing history for all time.

The domestic argument between David Haye and Audley Harrison has an intrigue all its own and the WBA title is a major prize for which it is worth spilling blood.

But as Manny Pacquiao starts work on Antonio Margarito a few hours later, this hard old game will be awaiting transportation to a hitherto uncharted dimension.

The PacMan is on the brink of becoming the first prize-fighter to win world titles in eight different weight classes.

Since he is already the only seven-division champion, that new record would be expected to stand unequalled for as long as brave men lace up the gloves and climb through the ropes.

Incredibly, had Pacquiao not by-passed light-bantam and bantamweight on his super-human ascent from flyweight to this challenge for the vacant WBC light-middleweight championship, he would now be fighting for a world title in his 10th division.

The full measure of this phenomenon is that the boy who began boxing at 16 and weighing just 7st 8lbs is now, at 30, coming after an 11-stone belt.

Along his unique journey Pacquiao has become the most irresistible Pied Piper in boxing since Muhammad Ali.

Like The Greatest, the PacMan draws worshipers from across the globe. Thousands of his countrymen follow him from his home in the Philippines when he moves training camp to Freddie Roach's Wild Card emporium of pain in Los Angeles.

Thousands more - including Americans of all origins - are joining them on this week's cross-country trip to Texas, there to be joined by fight fans from all corners of the planet.

Scores, if not hundreds, of British aficionados are choosing to fly to Dallas rather than drive to Manchester.

There - in the new Cowboys Stadium which makes Wembley look like Upton Park - they will form part of a crowd in excess of 50,000.

If Pacquiao were fighting Floyd Mayweather Jnr under that roof, they would smash the indoor attendance for a boxing match set in 1978 when 63,315 saw Ali fight Leon Spinks in the Louisiana Superdome.

Not that Margarito, naturally the heavier as well as taller man, is to be taken lightly.

The Mexican is returning from the shame of a solidifying substance being taped onto his fists before a fight against Sugar Shane Mosley.

But even without his hands carrying potentially lethal weapons, he is a formidable foe.

Bob Arum, the legendary promoter of both boxers, has tried to neutralise the disparity in size by contracting the fight at a catchweight 10st 10lbs.

That is three pounds above welterweight, at which Pacquiao is currently world champion, and four below the light-middleweight limit.

But while Margarito, the day after the weigh-in, expects to enter the ring at around 11 1/2st, it is unlikely that Pacquiao will reach the catchweight at which this match has been made.

In a book* about to be published and which offers a fascinating insight into the PacMan's crowded life, author Gary Poole details the huge amount of eating which the world's best pound-for-pound boxer undertakes when trying to gain weight to take on larger opponents.

That, along with the absence of abnormal muscle mass on his body, goes against the Mayweather insinuations that Pacquiao has used drugs to help him grow.

Rather, he reports himself exhausted by the effort of trying to eat himself heavier and finds it almost impossible to achieve a fighting poundage any higher than 10st 6lbs.

ven more remarkably, Pacquiao does all this while serving as a newly-elected Congressman in the Philippines, distributing many of his millions to the poor, acting in movies and singing in concerts with his band and on network television chat shows

This is multi-tasking on a scale so extraordinary that Roach the master trainer sometimes worries that the pride of his stable of champions is not fully focussed on the violent business at hand.

Political engagements have obliged Pacquiao to miss a couple of days' training but he says he has made up for that by running the Hollywood hills before sparring up to 50 rounds in a day of morning and afternoon sessions.

Our own Amir Khan has been the opponent on several occasions and describes the sparring as 'so intense it is like a real fight.'

Roach is sufficiently reassured to predict that his man's speed and volume of punching will wear Margarito down to a stoppage by the eighth or ninth round.

Whether such a victory will bring the $200million mega-fight with Mayweather any closer is another matter.

Floyd Jnr - assuming he avoids a jail sentence at an imminent assault and larceny trial - is said to be considering a warm-up against Pauli Malignaggi, Khan's most recent victim.

But he has still not responded to Pacquiao offering to waive any and all limitations on blood testing.
Perhaps Mayweather is hoping that the arch-rival he resents being acknowledged as the pound-for-pound king is finally over-reaching himself by going up to light-middleweight and that Margarito will derail him.

If so, he is likely to be disappointed.

*PacMan by Gary Andrew Poole, Da Capo Press/Perseus Books

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Pacquiao Talks Margarito, Mayweather, Leonard -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao vows to use his speed to defeat ex-champion Antonio Margarito on Saturday night, believes that Margarito knew that he once fought with an illegal, plaster-like substance in his gloves, would have loved to face Sugar Ray Leonard in his "ultimate" fight, and still longs to face Floyd Mayweather before the end of his career.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), who will meet the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in an HBO pay per view televised clash for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, made his comments during Monday's live chat with Michael David Smith of FanHouse.

Pacquiao will be after his eighth championship in as many weight classes, as well as his 13th straight victory and his ninth knockout during that run when he faces Margarito, having last suffered defeat against Erik Morales in March of 2005 as a super featherweight (130 pounds).

Since then, however, Pacquiao has stopped Morales in the 10th, and, third rounds, respectively, in separate bouts, and beaten larger, welterweight rivals, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, and, Joshua Clottey, respectively, by knockouts in the eighth and 12th rounds and by 12-round decision.

Pacquiao-Margarito is being contested at a catch weight of 150 pounds, which is exactly what Pacquiao told FanHouse that he weighs right now.

"It's [moving up in weight] difficult, because I'm used to training and losing weight. When you train, you automatically lose weight. But I have to eat around 7,000 calories a day to keep the weight on. I have to get up in the middle of the night and eat eggs just to keep the weight on," said Pacquiao.

"So that's difficult. But then again, it's also nice, because I don't have to lose weight at the weigh in," said Pacquiao. "It's fine for me to fight bigger guys or smaller guys, I'm just looking to fight. I weigh around 150 pounds right now. I do not have to lose any weight on the day of the weigh-in."

Opposing trainer, Robert Garcia, told FanHouse last week that the Mexican-born Margarito already was on schedule after having weighed out at 154 pounds, even as Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said that he expects Margarito to enter the ring weighing 160 or more.

Still, Pacquiao said that he will fight Margarito "The same way I did against De La Hoya, Cotto and other bigger guys I've fought before -- by relying on speed."

"I've developed a strategy in the gym, and hopefully, that strategy will work out. In order to hit me, he [Margarito] has to catch me, and I think my speed will be too much," said Pacquiao, in response to whether or not he was concerned about Margarito's vaunted body punches.

"I think Margarito is a very tough fighter, and I think that he will keep coming and keep coming," said Pacquiao. "He is going to be the biggest fighter I've ever fought, and he's probably got one of the toughest chins, so I'm prepared for a long fight."

Pacquiao denied the highly-reported distractions attributed to his frequently playing pickup basketball games as well as being a newly-elected congressman in his native Sarangani Provice of the Philippines.

The most recent distraction was Pacquiao's breaking camp to make a Las Vegas trip to campaign for senator, Harry Reid, two days prior to Halloween.

"There are some things that are distractions, but those are my responsibilities, and I have to do them. Yesterday, I was relaxing on my day off. I know Margarito was doing promotional things, so maybe he's distracted," said Pacquiao.

"I'm not distracted, I'm focused. I'm going to the gym, training hard," said Pacquiao. "I like to take breaks when I'm not training so that my mind is at ease and not always on the fight."

Pacquiao said that he would "like to fight every five-to-eight months," and that he still hoped for a mega bout with Floyd Mayweather after two, failed negotiations to make the fight.

"For the fans, I hope that it [Mayweather fight] happens. It would be a nice gift to the fans, because without the fans, Manny Pacquiao would not be Manny Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather would not be Floyd Mayweather. I've said everything I can say about it, but Floyd has to agree to fight me," said Pacquiao.

"I'm still waiting for the signature on the contract. It's [Top Rank Promotions' CEO] Bob Arum's decision who I'm going to fight," said Pacquiao. "I just get my training in order and prepare myself. I hope Floyd will fight me, but if not, we have other options that I'm sure Bob can find."

During Sunday's interview with 60 minutes, Pacquiao was quoted as saying that he was the sport's premiere fighter of all time. On Monday, however, Pacquiao backed off of that assertion.

"I don't think I'm the best of all time. I just wanted to be a world champion, and that's my goal. There are lots of great fighters. Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Caesar Chavez -- those are some of the best ever," said Pacquiao, adding that one of his dream bouts would be one opposite Leonard.

"With the speed he [Leonard] had, I think that would be a very good fight," said Pacquiao. "It would be a very good fight, me and him in his prime. That fight would get a lot of pay-per-view buys."

Until being licensed by Texas in August, Margarito had been unable to fight in the United States as a result of a hand-wrapping scandal stemming from his ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January of 2009.

Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovered a plaster-like substance that was placed in Margarito's gloves by then-trainer Javier Capetillo. The substance was removed and confiscated prior to the fight.

Pacquiao re-asserted his claim that he believed Margarito knew that his gloves were loaded, even as the fighter has denied it. But Pacquiao also said that Margarito should not be banned for life, defending his being able to continue his career.

"I think he [Margarito] knew what he was doing, but he's already been punished enough," said Pacquiao. "I can't say for sure what he did or didn't know, but I'm just a fighter, and I fight."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Erik Spoelstra in talks with Pacquiao -- ESPN

By Michael Wallace, ESPN.com

MIAMI -- Erik Spoelstra crossed off one huge item on his to-do list when NBA free agency delivered the opportunity to coach LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Now, the Miami Heat coach is closing in on another career aspiration: To go toe-to-toe with boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

No, not in the ring. On the hardwood.

Spoelstra said Monday he is finalizing an agreement with the world's top pound-for-pound fighter to host a series of clinics in the Philippines next summer to promote sports and healthy lifestyles for youth in that country. Details are still in the works, but Spoelstra said the clinics would likely be held in Pacquiao's hometown of Kibawe, Bukidnon.

"Manny's people actually got back to us the other day and said he was really interested in getting together to do something like this," Spoelstra told ESPN.com after the Heat's practice on Monday in preparation for Tuesday's home game against the Utah Jazz. "It's for a good cause, and we're really excited about the chance to do it."

Spoelstra has traveled with members of the Heat's coaching staff to the Philippines, his mother's native country, the past two NBA offseasons to conduct basketball clinics. He is the first Asian/Filipino-American coach in any of the major American sports leagues and has been an avid fan of Pacquiao, who has reached iconic status in that country because of his victories in the boxing and political rings.

Pacquiao, who has won world boxing titles in seven divisions, was elected earlier this year to a congressional seat in the Philippines. Both Spoelstra and Pacquiao have challenges ahead this week. After facing the Jazz, the Heat continues a six-game home stand by looking to avenge their season-opening loss to Boston on Thursday.

Miami also plays the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, which is the same night Pacquiao returns to the ring to fight Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the World Boxing Council's super welterweight title.

As soon as the Heat's game ends against Toronto, it won't be difficult to find Spoelstra. Two of Pacquiao's most recent fights have been on nights when the Heat had games. But Spoelstra has worked around that scheduling conflict without missing too many punches.

"After our game, I'm sure I'll find some way to watch it," Spoelstra said.

During the Heat's preseason media day on Sept. 27, Spoelstra said he met Pacquiao for the first time during last summer's trip to the Philippines and learned that his boxing hero was a Boston Celtics fan. "But we'll have to change that," Spoelstra said at the time.

Michael Wallace is an NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Amir Khan Gives His Prediction On Three Upcoming Fights; Including His Own! -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

It’s always interesting hearing or listening to top name fighters when they give their predictions on upcoming big fights. Like the rest of us, the champions and contenders like to give their two cents on what they think will happen when the bell rings.

Reigning WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan, who has his own big fight with the lethal Marcos Maidana coming up, has given his predictions on this Saturday’s Haye Vs. Harrison heavyweight clash, and the 23-year-old has also given us his opinion on the much more important Pacquiao Vs. Margarito light-middleweight title clash that will take place on the same night..

Khan couldn’t resist telling us what will happen in his own big fight but, via his Twitter page, Khan gave his take on the WBA heavyweight title clash first.

Khan wrote how he thinks “The Hayemaker” will win on Saturday, by KO inside five-rounds. Not sitting on the fence as so many other fellow fighters and pundits are doing, Khan’s prediction, in my opinion will come pretty much true. I see Haye taking out “A Force” inside three-rounds.

On the Pac-Man-Margarito clash, Khan - who may be a touch biased, seeing as how he is good friends with the current Pound for Pound king - wrote how he expects his friend and spar-mate to win either by KO in the 9th or 10th round, or to win by a unanimous decision. Here, I think Khan has picked the correct winner, but that it won’t take Pacquiao as long as that to get the victory. For what it’s worth, I see Pac-Man taking “Tony” to pieces quite quickly; inside around five or six rounds.

WBO 140-pound champ Tim Bradley, a man who is almost as good a tipster as he is a fighter, told me Pac-Man will frustrate, beat up and destroy the slower Margarito in around three-rounds. That quick a win will no doubt shock some, but Bradley has never given this writer an incorrect prediction yet!

On Khan’s own upcoming rumble with Maidana - a fight that is equally as fascinating as the other two bouts he predicted on - the WBA 140-pound boss wrote how he will win either by KO in rounds seven to nine, or that he will go on to win a unanimous points verdict.

In some ways, the December 11th fight that will be staged in Las Vegas is the toughest of the three fights he mentioned when it comes to making a prediction. Can Khan’s chin stand up to the Argentine’s withering power if Maidana lands? Can the interim WBA champ cope with the Brit’s blinding hand speed?

I agree with Khan that he will win, and I too think he will come through with a points win. But as we all know, one punch could completely turn the fight around in this one!

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao v Antonio Margarito – don't believe the hype -- Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk

What a lot of hot air has enveloped Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito ahead of their allegedly "light-middleweight" title fight in Texas on Saturday.

Some smart writers have totally bought into "stories" that Congressman Pacquiao is said to be too wrapped up in his political duties and trained poorly in the Philippines before going to the Wild Card in LA. Really? Now, of course, the fight is no longer the one-sided smashing of a seasoned pro (six defeats in 45 fights, remember) but an even-money affair, so roll up, roll up.

Pause for a minute: 32-year-old Margarito is a legitimate opponent; he did, after all, do a number on Miguel Cotto (although who knows how legal his gloves were that night). He also had to hold off an ambitious Roberto García over 10 rounds in May.

But he has lost to the following: way back in 1994 to Tijuana tumbler Victor Lozoya, who was coming off a kayo loss and went on to lose to nine other no-names; Larry Dixon (ditto), who lost three more and quit boxing in 1998; Rodney Jones, a decent fighter whose last fight was three years ago, losing to Cory Spinks over 12 rounds for the IBF light-middle title; Daniel Santos (on cuts); Paul Williams three years ago at welterweight; and, most significantly, to Shane Mosley in his last real test.

In January 2009 – that's 22 months ago – Mosley demolished Margarito with the last dregs of his once phenomenal hand speed and movement – and nobody moves more quickly or quirkily than the Pacman.

But the seers say he is distracted, off his game, complacent. Pacquiao has lived with chaos and hardship since he was an urchin on the streets of General Santos City, juggling boxing with survival. He has an entourage bigger than the president. He lets some of them sleep at the foot of his bed. And he fits all of that in around the toughest training regime in boxing. A couple of blisters from wearing dress shoes to fancy functions in Manila a few weeks ago are not going to worry him in a mere fist fight.

What still worries Pacman's coach, Freddie Roach, apparently, is the prospect of Margarito sneaking some help into his gloves. "You have fucking rocks in your hand, you know it," he told BoxingScene.com. "Against Santos and Williams and so forth, he doesn't look like he's that big a puncher. Against [Kermit] Cintron [whom he cut in half with a vicious body shot] and Cotto, something was different."

So, presuming it's clean, Pacquiao should do a number on Margarito – who I still don't think should be anywhere near a boxing ring after being caught with loaded gloves moments before the Mosley fight, and then was banned for only a year.

Similarly, though, it is a liberty that Pacquiao should be allowed to make this fight at three pounds inside the light-middleweight limit of 154lbs. After the weigh-in, Margarito will add at least half a stone; I doubt it will do him much good. If Margarito wins, it will be the shock of the year – but at least the fight writers who fell for the hype will be able to say I told you so.

Rumour mill cranks into gear

The countdown to Haye-Harrison got off to a cracking start on the rumour mill. Firstly, there was 39-year-old American southpaw Tony Thompson knocking the champion over in the gym (unsubstantiated, denied, probably nonsense); then there was Audley sparking four sparring partners in one session (no comment from the challenger, no witnesses, smiles from Haye).

And Ian McNeilly of Boxrec.com has given life to this one. If Adam Smith is vacating the microphone to head up Sky's negotiations with the major promoters, it will, as McNeilly suggests, take some neat diplomacy for a guy who up to now has been a genial ringside frontman to be firm with Frank Warren, Barry Hearn, Frank Maloney, Ricky Hatton and Haye, their main promotional partners. Good luck, Adam.

I had a chat with Haye on his way to Soccer AM on Saturday morning (what a jolly old lads' zoo that programme is), and he confirmed that everyone from Roy Jones Jr to Bernard Hopkins had been on the phone asking for a title shot.

He reckons the rematch clause Nikolai Valuev had with him has lapsed – for which we should all be grateful – and he doubts the Uzbekistani Ruslan Chagaev will pass a health test for their mandatory, slated for February or March.

Believe it or not, that's when Roy Jones might be fighting the Prizefighter winner Michael Sprott. Won't be queueing for that one.

Lest we forget, by the way, Sprott was boxing the ears off Audley Harrison in April before being knocked out by a desperate left hook. It's 14 years since Sprott, now 35, started out with the late Terry Lawless – and more than three years since he kayoed Audley in their first fight. Some career.

Sprott is off to Germany soon to help Wladimir Klitschko get ready for Dereck Chisora on 11 December – providing Delboy gets an adjournment from the police on an assault charge this week.

Haye v Harrison – handbags?

Not sure if I buy the feud between Haye and Harrison. There is friction there, but these are experienced deal-makers who would know how to big-up a kid's birthday party.

I did like Haye's crack that, by the time Audley throws his left hook, he'll be back at the after-party.

Expect hugs at the finish.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao host Jerry Jones jammed up as Cowboys go down in flames -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

DALLAS—The roof has caved in at showplace Cowboys Stadium but they will still proceed with the Antonio Margarito-Manny Pacquiao fight card Saturday night.

Still, I can't see stadium and NFL Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, who was a gregarious and ubiquitous host for the March 13 bout between Pacman and Joshua Clottey at the same glittering venue, having the luxury of of dealing with boxing very much this week.

The roof has fallen in, figuratively speaking as the stadium' chief tentant--”America's Team,” the usually beloved but also hated 'Boys—are on fast track to gridiron oblivion,.

Losing five successive games, including Sunday night's nationally televised 45-7 punchout at Green Bay, the entire team, especially head coach Wade Phillips and, yes, paymaster Jones are all under heavy fire.

With the 45-7 embarrassment, the 'Boys might be able to relate to Ricky Hatton after he got blitzed by Pacman.

Even Phillips said he held his nose during the Packer walkover, saying, “We looked like a bad team with bad coaching.”

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James commented on the wreckage on his @King James Twitter account, saying that "this is just ridiculous..."

Dallas is now 1-7, some rate them as worse than winless Buffalo and one Dallas Morning News pigskin pundit sees them finishing “no better than 3-13.”

For his part, Jones said “everyone in the country will agree there is lots wrong with this team.”

So, if Jones skips the prefight press conferene and/or the weigh-in, you now know why in advance.

Jones will meet and speak with all the players today (Monday). They could be read the owner's riot act.

Sometimes, a guy who owns a stadium and an NFL franchise has to have other priorities.

With some fans putting bags on their heads for anonymity and another pundit pleading with others to boycott the stadium in protest of the team record and miserable effort, Jones has to put boxing, even Pacman, down on his list as a “maybe” right now.

Even New York Football Giants fan and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum gets the picture.

"They are trying to right the ship,” Arum said the other day of Jones' storied team.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Pacquiao jogs, then sings to wife and crowd -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao staged a mini-concert before his fans and followers on Sunday night as he rehearsed with his band at Cascades Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood.

With wife Jinkee on a comfy sofa fronting the stage, Pacquiao belted out a repertoire of his favorite tunes, including Michael Bolton’s version of “To Love Somebody” and Bryan Adams’ “Everything I do (I’ll Do It For You) that the modest crowd applauded.

Pacquiao, backup singer Madonna Decena and pop artist Lito Camo, are scheduled to perform on Nov. 16 in Lake Tahoe, three days after the Filipino fighter’s world title showdown with Antonio Margarito in Dallas, Texas.

Pacquiao actually started the day with a morning jog at Pan Pacific Park, a sprawling exercise area just two blocks away from his apartment unit at The Palazzo in the trendy La Brea area.

After running, Pacquiao went to church with his family and friends then attended a gathering before doing one of his many passions aside from boxing, politics and movies.

Pacquiao was enjoying every second of his rehearsal, even providing a slice of comedy to his performance that delighted those in attendance, some of them grownups carrying with them toddlers.

Source: mb.com.ph

Margarito fighting for Mexican pride against Pacquiao -- Star-Telegram

By Matthew Reagan, Star-Telegram

The pride of a country is on the line, and Antonio Margarito knows and embraces it.

The "Tijuana Tornado" has redemption on his mind leading up to his title bout with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, and he has a nation of support behind him.

Many of those fans showed up to show their support for the fighter at La Gran Plaza Mall in Fort Worth on Sunday.

"It will be a victory for us [Mexico]," Margarito told the crowd.

The 1,000-plus fans in attendance gave Margarito and his crew, including trainer Robert Garcia, extended rounds of cheers and applause, chanted "Viva Mexico" and "Si, se puede [Yes, we can]" and lined up for autographs and photo opportunities with the Mexican fighter.

"We want to show to the world that every single Mexican is behind Margarito," Garcia said.

The 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) takes on Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) for the WBC super welterweight belt in his first major title fight since losing by a ninth-round TKO to Shane Mosley in a WBA super welterweight title defense in January 2009.

The loss was just Margarito's third in 12 years, but what ensued outside the ring has lingered and pained him much more than the outcome of the fight.

During a pre-fight examination, officials discovered plaster in the hand wrappings of Margarito's gloves. He received a one-year ban from the California Boxing Commission, and all other states were required to honor the ruling as well.

Upon expiration of his suspension, Texas granted him a license and Top Rank chairman and boxing promoter Bob Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones were more than willing to give him a chance to participate in the boxing world's premier event of the year.

Margarito, who easily handled Texan Roberto Garcia in a warm-up bout in Mexico earlier this year, welcomes the chance to fight in Texas and said he appreciates the support Mexican fans have shown him.

"I am very thankful all these fans stuck with me and the best reward I can give them is to win the fight," he said.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have Pacquiao listed as the favorite and he might be considered the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, but Margarito does bring some advantages to the fight.

A 6-inch reach and 5-inch height advantage favor Margarito. Couple that with Margarito's having overcome odds just as big while making his way through the ranks, including a title win over then unbeaten Miguel Cotto.

Matthew Reagan,
mreagan@star-telegram.com

817-390-7760

Source: star-telegram.com

Congressman Manny Pacquiao 'outpoints' President Barack Obama on "60 Minutes" -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

DENVER—There were only two people profiled on the still massively popular CBS TV newsweekly magazine “60 Minutes” Sunday night.

One was embattled President Barack Obama, who used a boxing analogy in discussing the recent electoral disaster and other failures suffered in the first two years of his term by he and the Democratic Party.

Obama said dealing with economic and other turmoil was a “hard, long slog” and that “I will get knocked down a couple of times.”

Obama was interviewed by reporter Steve Kroft and the softball questions were nonexistent.

The second piece on the program was far friendler.

It was veteran reporter Bob Simon's gee whiz profile of the boxing, social and political wonder that is Manny Pacquiao.

The lead in, voiced by Simon, called Pacman “...quite simply, the best boxer in the world today...”

I wonder how that was received at the Floyd Mayweather Big Boy Mansion in Las Vegas?

Simon said Pacman walks to the ring as though he “is going to dance, not to a duel...as though he's has not a care in the world...”

To which Pacquiao said, impishly, “That's me, I'm always smiling.”

Dutiful promoter Bob Arum, who knows where his balut is salted and buttered said Pacman is “the best fighter, better than Muhammad Ali, who I promoted 25 times, because he was essentially a one-handed fighter...”

Then came the familiar recitation to fight fans, but brand new to most American watching the show which came on as soon as the NFL Oakland Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs with a field goal in overtime, of Manny's humble beginnings in General Santos City.

It was reported that he was one of six children and that he first donned boxing gloves for a reward of 100 pesos or about two US dollars.

Simon said that Pacman stowed away on a ferry boat to get to Manila at age 14 and that he was just 98 pounds for his first bout but weighted down his pockets to make the 105 pound lowest weight class requirement.

Pacquiao was only 16 then.

Coach Freddie Roach was asked if he knew how great Pacman's potential was upon first viewing at the Wild Card Gym.

“Yes, that first time...because he had so much explosion on his punches that it was like gunfire,” Roach said.

Sardonically, Simon asked how Manny felt about busting up the face of handsome Oscar de la Hoya.

“That's boxing, it is part of the game,” a beaming broadly Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao said his real goals and ambitions now lie in “public service” because he's already achieved so many dreams in the ring.

As expected, the clincher was Simon asking if Megamanny harbored presidential aspirations in the Philippines.

Of course, Manny beamed even more broadly.

“It's hard to have a comment right now,” Congressman Pacquiao said, “it is so far away.”

Simon could have quit there but he then asked the Pinoy Idol who he felt is the greatest boxer ever.

The imp appeared on screen, beaming ever more broadly.

“Including me?” Pacquiao asked, playfully. “...Me.”

I felt that Obama did well under trying circumstances but I gave this round to Pacquiao.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Antonio Margarito Mobbed By Texas Fans -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

When Manny Pacquiao decisioned Joshua Clottey in defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title at the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in March, the cross-over star from the Philippines drew more than 50,000 people to the venue's first-ever boxing event.

But the 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), who is a seven-division champion, was not the only major draw in Arlington, Tex.

For ex-champion, Antonio Margarito, of Tijuana, Mex., although there only as a spectator and potential opponent, was trailed by hundreds if not thousands of autograph and photograph-seeking followers throughout his time in Texas.

All of this, despite the fact that he was actively serving a more than one-year long suspension from the sport for a hand-wrapping scandal that stemmed from his January, 2009 ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Margarito's license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission in February of 2009, this after Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovered the presence of a plaster-like substance in his gloves that was confiscated and removed prior to his facing Mosley.

Margarito was twice turned down for a license renewal in California, but was approved by Texas in August.

As a result, the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium will be the site of yet another fight by Pacquiao on Saturday, and why this time, his HBO pay per view televised battle will be against the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) in pursuit of the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) crown and Pacquiao's eighth championship in as many different weight classes.

If Sunday's reception is any indication, attendance for Pacquiao-Margarito will surpass that of Pacquiao-Clottey.

For after arriving in Dallas, Margarito was met by thousands of fans who turned out to greet him both at the Tamale Festival in Dallas, and, later, at the La Gran Plaza Shopping Mall in Fort Worth.

"The first place was the Dallas Market Hall, and it was basically a fair, although it was indoors. And then Antonio went to the La Gran Plaza, in Fort Worth, which is a shopping mall. And he did interviews and spoke to the press and signed autographs," said Lee Samuels, public relations specialist for Top Rank Promotions.

"Thousands of people showed up. But it's been this way everywhere that we've taken him. He's been getting big crowds," said Samuels, who is in Dallas handling the promotion. "When he was at the Cowboys' Stadium the last time, we had trouble moving him around the stadium a few months ago. He's very popular."

Margarito, who, like Pacquiao, will conduct an open public workout on Monday, was mobbed by fans, according to his trainer, Robert Garcia.

"Oh, man, it was crazy. It was unbelievable. I couldn't believe how many people showed up. The thing is, there were a lot of people here for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, but, you know, Clottey didn't have any fans here," said Garcia.

"Antonio was very, very grateful that the fans showed up, and to know that all of those people are behind him," said Garcia. "I mean, you know, Antonio Margarito has a lot of fans here, so, you know, Saturday night, when the fight comes around, it's really going to be a crazy night."

The 63,315 that were on hand to witness Muhammad Ali's 1978 rematch and unanimous decision victory over Leon Spinks at the Superdome in New Orleans remains an indoor attendance record.

Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum, told reporters during a recent conference call that he hoped to surpass "over 60,000" in attendance at the stadium

The crowd of 50,944 for Pacquiao-Clottey was the third largest for an indoor event in boxing history, and Arum said that Pacquiao-Margarito is "tracking well ahead of where we were of the Clottey fight."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com