New York, NY – Some are expecting nearly 80,000 fans in attendance to welcome the return of big time boxing when globally recongizied number one ranked “pound for pound” superstar pugilist Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) throws hands with controversial thug Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC light middleweight (154*-150) championship from Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, live Saturday evening at 9 PM ET on HBO PPV.
A PATH OF DESTRUCTION LASTS A DECADE
Since his “coming out party” massacre of Marco Antonio Barrera (W TKO 11), Boxing Writer’s Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao is the first boxer in history to win a staggering eight world titles in eight different weight divisions. Considering the level of opposition he has faced by thrice scrapping with Erik Morales (L UD 12, W TKO 10, W KO 3), twice going to war against Juan Manuel Marquez (D 12, W SD 12), and in pounding out one sided drummings over world elite combatants Oscar De La Hoya (W TKO 8), Ricky Hatton (W KO 2), Miguel Cotto (W TKO 12), and Joshua Clottey (W PTS 12) Manny’s ring endeavors have proven to be credible accolades in support of his status as an all time great living legend.
A CLOSER LOOK AT PAC MAN
Many of “Pac’s” victims have been systematically broken down by “master” trainer Freddie Roach’s pre fight observations. Roach’s fight plans consist of strategies and tactics which are usually executed with relative ease by Pacquiao resulting in emphatic victory for the Filipino Phenom. During such conquests, Manny has shown his own brilliant ring intellect by displaying an ability to control a foe by making an opponent fight his type of fight. On the contrary, (as seen in the early rounds in his bout against Cotto), Manny, on occasion, can get caught in the heat of the moment, become distracted, deviate from his predetermined fight plot, (and to his credit) make the adjustments necessary to beat his opponent at their own game. Pacquiao’s unique style is a hybrid of aggressively fast paced boxing accompanied with sound defense. In consideration of his overall attributes of speed, power, movement, and genius boxing IQ, Manny Pacquiao may not only be the game’s most complete fighter, he may be the most dangerous. However, as suggested by HBO‘s critically acclaimed series 24/7 (and other media outlets) in regard to his involvement in movies, music, politics, (and another jump in weight class), Manny may be “burning the candle at both ends” and possibly losing some focus toward the hurt business of boxing.
ONCE THE MOST FEARED FIGHTER, BUT WAS IT BECAUSE HE CHEATED?
After tremendous success at the highest level of the sport, one of boxing’s most avoided fighters was moments away from a career defining fight. Minutes before going to war with Shane Mosley, brilliant boxing trainer Nazeem Richardson entered Antonio Margarito’s dressing room to observe the wrapping of Margarito’s hands. Richardson spotted Plaster of Paris being administered to Antonio Margarito’s hand wrap and brought the matter to the supervising officials attention. Being that Plaster of Paris is an obvious banned substance; officials forced Margarito to re-wrap his hands. The fight went go on, and Mosley beat on Antonio like a rock drummer (L TKO 9). After an investigation over the illegal wraps, Margarito stood trail in the court of law, and was suspended from Boxing. After much debate, Antonio, to the surprise of many, has been granted reinstatement. In the aftermath of one of the sport’s biggest controversies in years, Margarito returned to win on points against unheralded scrapper Roberto Garcia. Now performing on the biggest stage of his career, Antonio seeks to redeem the once established creditability he has lost from legions of fans worldwide.
A CLOSER LOOK AT MARGARITO
Putting performance enhancement theories of how Antonio won his bouts aside, in acquiring victories against Miguel Cotto (W TKO 11), Kermit Cintron (KO 6, TKO 5), Antonio Diaz (W TKO 10), and in losing efforts standing opposite of Paul Williams (L UD 12) and Shane Mosley (L TKO 9), to his credit; Margarito is a proven game action fighter who has always shown unparalleled determination against his opponent while displaying a chin of granite. Antonio will call upon those aforementioned attributes, coupled with his significant size advantage to prevail over his smaller sized foe in effort to earn victory.
SIGNORELLA WANTS TO KNOW!
Ring Talk readers: Who do you have winning the fight; how and why? My prediction is that the bout will be a highly competitive contest involving a multitude of physical battering in which we see Pacquiao getting hit (and possibly hurt) more than we are accustom to seeing. Having said that, I believe Manny’s speed, skills, and power will break Antonio and make him succumb to such fasits of the game that he did against Mosley back in ‘09. Manny Pacquiao (W KO 10) in a war.
UNDERCARD LOOKS PROMISING
Undefeated “lights out” power puncher Mike Jones (22-0, 18 KOs) squares off against seasoned veteran Jesus Soto Karass (24-4-3, 16 KOs) in a 10 round welterweight (147) tilt.
Super bantamweight (122) power house Guillermo Rigondeaux (6-0, 5 KOs) steps up in class when he meets battle tested brawler Ricardo Cordoba (37-2-2, 23 KOs) in a scheduled 12 round affair.
Promising lightweight (135) Brandon Rios (25-0-1, 18 KOs) meets heavy handed banger Omri Lowther (14-2, 10 KOs) in a proposed 12 rounder.
NOTE: Impersonating a ghost once again, middleweight (160) Kelly “Ghost” Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) withdrew from his proposed bout against Brian Vera (17-5, 11 KOs)…shocker.
John Signorella