Did seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao bite off more than he can chew in taking on larger, and, taller, ex-champion Antonio Margarito on Saturday night, or is Pacquiao going to be too swift, too fast and two skillful for his Mexican-born rival?
The 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) stands nearly 5-foot-7 and will weigh around 149-to-150 pounds when he enters the ring opposite the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), who is projected to weigh at least 160 pounds for their WBO pay per view televised clash at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt.
Can Pacquiao earn his 13th straight win
and his ninth knockout during that time in pursuit of his eighth championship in as many weight classes? FanHouse sought the opinions of 12 men who are knowledgeable in boxing to see what they believe will be the result of Pacquaio-Margarito.
Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: Antonio Margarito, who could out-weigh Manny by 10-to-15 pounds on fight night, can match Pac Man's punch output but not his speed.
Manny Pacquiao will have to work every minute of every round. Margarito, who will be motivated to show he can win a fight without alleged "loaded gloves", will have have his moments, but absorb a fearful beating in the process.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer of WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Devon Alexander
Manny Pacquiao w 12 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao has too much hand speed. I mean, he has superior hand speed and good foot movement. I think that he will outbox the bigger Antonio Margarito and that he will win a 12-round decision.
I think that Margarito does have a shot with the height and the reach advantage. I think that Margarito should be the stronger of the two. If he can somehow impose his will, apply enough pressure and cut the ring off, then he could give Pacquiao problems.
But, I mean, he's got to be at his best, you know? My concern, however, with Margarito is, just from looking at him and things, I'm hoping that he didn't over-train.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: This one could be tough for Pac-Man. He just might hit the bigger Margarito until he can't hit him anymore, and then fade in the late rounds.
Nonetheless, Pacquiao should win on points. Manny's a fighter with limitations, not a miracle-worker, so don't expect fireworks this time.
Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, says it will be easy. It won't be. The catch weight, 150 pounds, could lead to some perilous moments for Pacquiao, especially in the early going against the bigger Antonio Margarito.
The guess is that Margarito will try to exercise his advantage, which figures to be at least 10 pounds, with an early assault. If one of Margarito's big uppercuts doesn't result in a knockout, it could cut Pacquiao.
But not much, not even politics, seems to bother the Filipino congressman, whose appearance Sunday on "60 Minutes" included the smile that always seems to say, "What, Me Worry?"
But blood is a notable exception. He lost a decision to Erik Morales in their first fight in 2005 after he was badly cut in early round. Pacquiao's well-known speed is as critical in the beginning as it will be in the end. In the early rounds, his footwork should allow him to sidestep Margarito's initial attempt at overpowering him.
By the middle rounds, look for things to move in the opposite direction, with Pacquiao launching an attack aimed at Margarito's body. By the eighth, ninth and, then, the 10th, Pacquiao's target will move from body to head with punches thrown at angles and at a rate Margarito can't avoid.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: This fight comes down to one thing: Speed. Manny Pacquiao has it and Antonio Margarito does not. Margarito is tough, he hits hard and he's expert at putting on pressure. But he's slower than a tractor trailer climbing a steep grade.
Pacquiao should be able to move in and belt him with fast, multi-punch combinations and then dance away from danger. He should cut him up and swell his eyes and it's not out of the realm of possibility that the fight could be stopped if Margarito is unable to see.
If Margarito is somehow able to corner Pacquiao or pin him on the ropes, it would be a very different fight, but trainer Freddie Roach will never allow that to happen.
Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: In a fight that will be much more competitive than most believe, I think that Manny Pacquiao wins by decision over Antonio Margarito, but that he will have to work all 36 minutes to do so.
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News/Long Beach Press Telegram
Manny Pacquiao UD 12 Antonio Margarito: No matter how hard Antonio Margarito trains, it is not going to make him any faster. It might give him the ability to stay strong if the fight goes into the late rounds, but Manny Pacquiao is going to pick apart the much slower Margarito with precision punching.
Keeping in mind that Pacquiao has improved his overall boxing technique -- including defense -- Margarito is going to be hard-pressed to land a lot of clean punches of his own. The call here is Pacquiao by wide decision. But it wouldn't be surprising if Pacquiao is able to stop Margarito in the last third of the fight.
Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN Boxing and Reuters
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: Even while Manny Pacquiao was all but shutting out Joshua Clottey on the scorecards in March, I thought to myself, "This is as big an opponent as Manny should fight."
Pacquiao's power, so evident against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, had no effect on Clottey, and the four or five punches that Clottey landed seemed to buzz and hurt the Filipino. Unlike Clottey, Antonio Margarito won't retreat into a shell.
He'll come forward, arms churning, looking to land uppercuts and hooks all night. His size advantage is significant, and the combination of his relenetless focus and Pacquiao's distractions brought me to the precipice of picking an upset.
But, in the end, I blinked. Can't do it. I think Pac Man has a torrid time of it for large parts of the fight, especially down the stretch as Margarito finally begins to wear him down.
But he'll hang on, and he will have built up enough of a margin against the easy-enough-to-hit Margarito that he'll escape with a decision victory. After that, Pacquiao will will immediately announce that in the future, he's going back to fighting men his own size.
Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao KO 10 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao should stop Antonio Margarito by the 10th round.
Despite training camp concerns, and the fact that he is facing a height and weight disadvantage, Pacquiao's speed should overwhelm the slower former champion from Mexico, who will struggle to find the seven-division champ.
Joe Santoliquito, Managing Editor Ring Magazine
Manny Pacquiao KO 9 Antonio Margarito: The Pac-Man is boxing today. There's been no fighter this decade that's been as consistently great as Manny Pacquiao. I would put Floyd Mayweather in there, if he fought more often.
It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, if you're in there with Manny, chances are you're going down. As for Antonio Margarito, there's a lot of obvious questions about him: Was it the "real Margarito" we saw against Miguel
Cotto?
Or was the "real Margarito" the cheat who was demolished by Shane Mosley? We'll find out in this fight. I can't see Pacquiao losing. He's at an unbeatable stage of his career.
Michael David Smith, FanHouse.com
Manny Pacquiao UD 12 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. I think Pacquiao fans should be concerned about Antonio Margarito's size and reach advantage, and they should be concerned by the reports that Pacquiao has struggled through training and is not at his best.
But I think Pacquiao will show on Saturday night that the great ones find a way to win even when they're not at their best, and he'll batter Margarito enough to win a hard-fought decision.
Tim Smith, New York Daily News
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: I was a little concerned about the height and weight differential for Manny Pacquiao, and it still may be a problem. But I think that he has the boxing skills, if he decides to use them, to overcome any disadvantage in these areas.
Antonio Margarito didn't look that great in his last two fights against Shane Mosley and Roberto Garcia, so there will be considerable rust. Margarito will fight and put himself in harms way, and Pacquiao will take advantage of that. Pacquiao TKO 10.
Did seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao bite off more than he can chew in taking on larger, and, taller, ex-champion Antonio Margarito on Saturday night, or is Pacquiao going to be too swift, too fast and two skillful for his Mexican-born rival? The 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) stands nearly 5-foot-7 and will weigh around 149-to-150 pounds when he enters the ring opposite the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), who is projected to weigh at least 160 pounds for their WBO pay per view televised clash at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt. Can Pacquiao earn his 13th straight win
and his ninth knockout during that time in pursuit of his eighth championship in as many weight classes? FanHouse sought the opinions of 12 men who are knowledgeable in boxing to see what they believe will be the result of Pacquaio-Margarito.
Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: Antonio Margarito, who could out-weigh Manny by 10-to-15 pounds on fight night, can match Pac Man's punch output but not his speed.
Manny Pacquiao will have to work every minute of every round. Margarito, who will be motivated to show he can win a fight without alleged "loaded gloves", will have have his moments, but absorb a fearful beating in the process.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer of WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Devon Alexander
Manny Pacquiao w 12 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao has too much hand speed. I mean, he has superior hand speed and good foot movement. I think that he will outbox the bigger Antonio Margarito and that he will win a 12-round decision.
I think that Margarito does have a shot with the height and the reach advantage. I think that Margarito should be the stronger of the two. If he can somehow impose his will, apply enough pressure and cut the ring off, then he could give Pacquiao problems.
But, I mean, he's got to be at his best, you know? My concern, however, with Margarito is, just from looking at him and things, I'm hoping that he didn't over-train.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: This one could be tough for Pac-Man. He just might hit the bigger Margarito until he can't hit him anymore, and then fade in the late rounds.
Nonetheless, Pacquiao should win on points. Manny's a fighter with limitations, not a miracle-worker, so don't expect fireworks this time.
Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, says it will be easy. It won't be. The catch weight, 150 pounds, could lead to some perilous moments for Pacquiao, especially in the early going against the bigger Antonio Margarito.
The guess is that Margarito will try to exercise his advantage, which figures to be at least 10 pounds, with an early assault. If one of Margarito's big uppercuts doesn't result in a knockout, it could cut Pacquiao.
But not much, not even politics, seems to bother the Filipino congressman, whose appearance Sunday on "60 Minutes" included the smile that always seems to say, "What, Me Worry?"
But blood is a notable exception. He lost a decision to Erik Morales in their first fight in 2005 after he was badly cut in early round. Pacquiao's well-known speed is as critical in the beginning as it will be in the end. In the early rounds, his footwork should allow him to sidestep Margarito's initial attempt at overpowering him.
By the middle rounds, look for things to move in the opposite direction, with Pacquiao launching an attack aimed at Margarito's body. By the eighth, ninth and, then, the 10th, Pacquiao's target will move from body to head with punches thrown at angles and at a rate Margarito can't avoid.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: This fight comes down to one thing: Speed. Manny Pacquiao has it and Antonio Margarito does not. Margarito is tough, he hits hard and he's expert at putting on pressure. But he's slower than a tractor trailer climbing a steep grade.
Pacquiao should be able to move in and belt him with fast, multi-punch combinations and then dance away from danger. He should cut him up and swell his eyes and it's not out of the realm of possibility that the fight could be stopped if Margarito is unable to see.
If Margarito is somehow able to corner Pacquiao or pin him on the ropes, it would be a very different fight, but trainer Freddie Roach will never allow that to happen.
Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: In a fight that will be much more competitive than most believe, I think that Manny Pacquiao wins by decision over Antonio Margarito, but that he will have to work all 36 minutes to do so.
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News/Long Beach Press Telegram
Manny Pacquiao UD 12 Antonio Margarito: No matter how hard Antonio Margarito trains, it is not going to make him any faster. It might give him the ability to stay strong if the fight goes into the late rounds, but Manny Pacquiao is going to pick apart the much slower Margarito with precision punching.
Keeping in mind that Pacquiao has improved his overall boxing technique -- including defense -- Margarito is going to be hard-pressed to land a lot of clean punches of his own. The call here is Pacquiao by wide decision. But it wouldn't be surprising if Pacquiao is able to stop Margarito in the last third of the fight.
Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN Boxing and Reuters
Manny Pacquiao W 12 Antonio Margarito: Even while Manny Pacquiao was all but shutting out Joshua Clottey on the scorecards in March, I thought to myself, "This is as big an opponent as Manny should fight."
Pacquiao's power, so evident against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, had no effect on Clottey, and the four or five punches that Clottey landed seemed to buzz and hurt the Filipino. Unlike Clottey, Antonio Margarito won't retreat into a shell.
He'll come forward, arms churning, looking to land uppercuts and hooks all night. His size advantage is significant, and the combination of his relenetless focus and Pacquiao's distractions brought me to the precipice of picking an upset.
But, in the end, I blinked. Can't do it. I think Pac Man has a torrid time of it for large parts of the fight, especially down the stretch as Margarito finally begins to wear him down.
But he'll hang on, and he will have built up enough of a margin against the easy-enough-to-hit Margarito that he'll escape with a decision victory. After that, Pacquiao will will immediately announce that in the future, he's going back to fighting men his own size.
Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao KO 10 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao should stop Antonio Margarito by the 10th round.
Despite training camp concerns, and the fact that he is facing a height and weight disadvantage, Pacquiao's speed should overwhelm the slower former champion from Mexico, who will struggle to find the seven-division champ.
Joe Santoliquito, Managing Editor Ring Magazine
Manny Pacquiao KO 9 Antonio Margarito: The Pac-Man is boxing today. There's been no fighter this decade that's been as consistently great as Manny Pacquiao. I would put Floyd Mayweather in there, if he fought more often.
It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, if you're in there with Manny, chances are you're going down. As for Antonio Margarito, there's a lot of obvious questions about him: Was it the "real Margarito" we saw against Miguel
Cotto?
Or was the "real Margarito" the cheat who was demolished by Shane Mosley? We'll find out in this fight. I can't see Pacquiao losing. He's at an unbeatable stage of his career.
Michael David Smith, FanHouse.com
Manny Pacquiao UD 12 Antonio Margarito: Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. I think Pacquiao fans should be concerned about Antonio Margarito's size and reach advantage, and they should be concerned by the reports that Pacquiao has struggled through training and is not at his best.
But I think Pacquiao will show on Saturday night that the great ones find a way to win even when they're not at their best, and he'll batter Margarito enough to win a hard-fought decision.
Tim Smith, New York Daily News
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Antonio Margarito: I was a little concerned about the height and weight differential for Manny Pacquiao, and it still may be a problem. But I think that he has the boxing skills, if he decides to use them, to overcome any disadvantage in these areas.
Antonio Margarito didn't look that great in his last two fights against Shane Mosley and Roberto Garcia, so there will be considerable rust. Margarito will fight and put himself in harms way, and Pacquiao will take advantage of that. Pacquiao TKO 10.
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