Pacquiao too much for Margarito — experts

MANILA, Philippines — Going into Sunday’s WBC junior middleweight showdown at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, boxing experts are setting their bets on Filipino welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to put on a display of superior ring skills against Antonio Margarito en route to a record eighth division crown.

Despite tons of distractions that hounded Pacquiao’s training camp both in the Philippines and in the United States, a number of renowned men within the boxing circle revealed to Fanhouse's Lem Satterfield their respective opinions on what the world can expect in Sunday's slugfest.

And they all remained firm that the ‘Pacman’ will simply prove to be too much for the comebacking Margarito.

“Manny Pacquiao has too much hand speed. He has superior hand speed and good foot movement,” said Kevin Cunningham, WBC junior welterweight king Devon Alexander’s chief trainer. “I think that he will outbox the bigger Antonio Margarito and that he will win a 12-round decision.”

“He's (Margarito) got to be at his best. He 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.”

Cunningham, however, noted that he worries Margarito might burn himself out during the long training he had with his trainer Robert Garcia in Oxnard, California — something which could largely affect his performance against the ever-so-ferocious ring persona that Pacquiao has been widely known for

“My concern, however, with Margarito is, just from looking at him and things, I'm hoping that he didn't over-train,” Cunningham said.

Another boxing expert, Steve Farhood, shares that he doesn’t see a knockout in Sunday’s bout. Though he expects Pacquiao to overwhelm Margarito en route to a victory via decision, he worries that the Filipino might get tired penetrating Margarito’s defense in the later rounds.

“He (Pacquiao) just might hit the bigger Margarito until he can't hit him anymore, and then fade in the late rounds,” said Farhood, a boxing analyst at Showtime. “Manny's a fighter with limitations, not a miracle-worker, so don't expect fireworks this time.”

Speed, has always been Pacquiao’s greatest asset — something that helped him triumph over the likes of bigger guys like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and Joshua Clottey. This, Kevin Iole said, will prove to be the key for a 13th straight Pacquiao victory and a seemingly unmatchable feat in the history of boxing.

“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,” said Iole, a sports analyst for Yahoo! Sports. “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.”

Still, Iole doesn’t discount the possibility of Margarito turning the tables to his favor, what with his vaunted body punching skills and hard-hitting combinations.

“If Margarito is somehow able to corner Pacquiao or pin him on the ropes, it would be a very different fight,” Iole adds. “But trainer Freddie Roach will never allow that to happen.”

Pacquiao’s advantage in speed is also what Norm Frauenheim of 15rounds.com sees as the biggest factor that will eventually get him the win, even as he reveals that anything can happen inside the ring just like what Pacquiao went through during his first fight with Erik Morales in 2005.

“Blood is a notable exception. He lost a decision to Morales in their first fight in 2005 after he was badly cut in early round,” Frauenheim said. “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.”

He also expects Pacquiao to beat Margarito to the pulp with his trademark combinations and power punches from all angles.

“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.”

Pacquiao is coming into the fight aiming to be the first boxer ever to win eight world titles in as many weight divisions, before probably deciding to call it a day and retire from the sport which catapulted him to fame.

Margarito, on the other hand, wants to regain his lost pride and reputation — something that eluded him very badly while he was battling the illegal hand wraps controversy.

Whatever predictions have been made, everything will certainly go out of the window once the bell rings to signal the start of the fight. With pride, honor, and glory at stake come Sunday, the world will stop to a halt with Pacquiao and Margarito getting down to business.

Everybody is definitely feeling the heat.

By ERICKSON BECO

Manila Bulletin