MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Margarito doesn’t see himself getting knocked out by Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 in Dallas.
It’s the other way around, according to the Mexican’s crystal ball.
“In the early rounds, he (Pacquiao) will be quick and will land his best shots,” Margarito said in a video interview on ringtv.com.
“But as the rounds go by, it will be different and when he feels the pressure and the punch of Antonio Margarito, then the fight will change,” said the 5-11 Margarito, a 5-1 underdog in his scheduled 12-round fight for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight crown.
Margarito has so much respect for the Filipino pound-for-pound king for what he has achieved but everything stops there.
“Look, yes, Manny Pacquiao has done what no other fighter has done before and the truth is, I respect him. But I think he has never faced a fighter that gives his heart in the ring like I do and a guy who throws a lot of punches and comes forward.”
Margarito has been training like hell the past several weeks under the guidance of chief trainer Robert Garcia, who claims he knows exactly to exploit Pacquiao’s weaknesses.
Garcia’s plan to instruct Margarito to put the pressure on Pacquiao the moment they answer the bell because Pacquiao is allergic to being pushed around.
Team Margarito will leave for Dallas on Nov. 6 in time for a promotional gig with fans in the neighboring city of Fort Worth the next day.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, will be brought to Dallas on a 12-seater private plane.
(Manila Bulletin Publishing)