GRAPEVINE, Texas, (Reuters) – Manny Pacquiao aims to enhance his place among boxing’s elite while Antonio Margarito has a chance of redemption when they clash in today’s hotly anticipated WBC super welterweight bout.
Filipino southpaw Pacquiao, 51-3-2 (38 knockouts), has already established himself as one of the best offensive fighters of all time and is widely expected to beat his Mexican opponent at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Although Margarito enjoys a significant height, weight and reach advantage over Pacquiao, the Asian is much faster and has his sights fixed on an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class.
“I don’t need to prove any more in boxing,” Pacquiao told Reuters during the build-up to a bout scheduled for 12 rounds. “I have already achieved what I wanted in boxing.
“What I want right now is to maintain my greatness in boxing and to entertain people who can be satisfied by my performance.”
Pacquiao, who won a seat in his country’s national congress after beating Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in his most recent fight in March, likes the look of his match-up with Margarito.
“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” the 31-year-old said. “I believe we can give a good fight today. Margarito is a very aggressive fighter and throws a lot of punches.”
Initially known for his lightning hand speed and lethal left hook, ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao has become a genuine two-fisted fighter and his trainer Freddie Roach has predicted a knockout by the Filipino within three rounds.
“And don’t be surprised if we get him in the first (round),” Roach told Reuters on Thursday. “Margarito’s a slow starter and we’re going to take advantage of that.”
Three-times world champion Margarito is delighted to be back in the ring for the first time since he lost to American Shane Mosley in a WBC welterweight title bout in January 2009. The disgraced Mexican and his trainer Javier Capetillo were banned for a year after plaster-like bandage wraps were found in the fighter’s gloves before the Mosley fight.
SUPPORTIVE FANS
“My fans have always stood by me through the tough times,” Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) told Reuters, speaking through an interpreter. “They have been right with me.
“I hope they all show up for this big fight and it’s going to be something amazing to walk into the ring and see all those people. I think it will be the greatest moment of my career.”
Margarito, who was denied a license to fight in California by the state’s athletic commission earlier this year before being reprieved by the Texas commission, said he had never been in better shape. “This is my best camp ever,” added the 32-year-old who is dubbed the ‘Tijuana Tornado’. “I want to show everyone that I am back and what I can do on Saturday night.”
This week’s build-up was tarnished by an unsavoury internet video in which Margarito, fellow fighter Brandon Rios and trainer Robert Garcia appeared to mock the Parkinson’s disease suffered by Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach.
All three have since apologised to Roach, who accepted the apology so the focus could switch back to today’s bout.
However, Roach requested that one of his representatives monitor Margarito when he gets his hands wrapped for the fight and said the Mexican’s camp can monitor Pacquiao if they want.
“I don’t trust those guys. He (Margarito) will do anything to win,” said Roach. “He’s done it before. He’s a cheater and once a cheater, a leopard doesn’t change his spots.”
Tonight’s fight is expected to attract around 60,000 fans at the Cowboys Stadium with a pay-per-view audience of at least one million.
