Tornado warning: I'll knock Manny out

DALLAS – Antonio Margarito’s message to the Filipino people is short, simple and scary.

“I’m knocking him out,” said the Tijuana Tornado during Wednesday’s final press conference at the end zone platform of the Cowboys Stadium.

Margarito vowed to bring out the best in him, and said in doing so he will deliver bad news for the 90 million Filipinos.

“I’m gonna bring them the best fight and unfortunately he’s gonna lose it,” said Margarito.

But it will be so much easier said than done because the man on the other side of the ring is Manny Pacquiao.

For one, the 31-year-old Filipino is not only considered the best fighter in the planet today, but the fastest and probably the strongest as well.

Pacquiao is the heavy favorite in Saturday’s fight, going as high as -650 (meaning you need $650 to win a hundred bucks) a couple of weeks ago. The odds, no matter what other people say, don’t lie.

And Pacquiao is going to prove that on Saturday.

“I believe we can give a good fight,” said Pacquiao, who sat just a few feet away from Margarito during the presscon.

“He’s doing his best in training and I’m doing my best. Margarito is a very aggressive fighter and that’s what I want.”

Still, Margarito is hoping for the victory that should clear his name. He was suspended for a year because of illegal plasters found in his hand wraps for the Shane Mosley fight in January of 2009.

Margarito stands close to six feet and is easily five inches taller than Pacquiao. He is also bigger, with a wingspan of 73 inches against the latter’s 67.

He said Pacquiao and his team members are slowly realizing the type of fight standing in front of them.

“I think they are getting very nervous about the whole fight. As it gets closer they see my size and they see me, and think ‘What have we gotten ourselves into?’” said Margarito.

Margarito’s trainer, Robert Garcia, said nine weeks of training will certainly bring out the best out of the 32-year-old Mexican on fight night.

“Tony trained for nine weeks, like never before. He’s in the best shape of his life. Everything is possible when you have a fighter with the will and heart to do it,” added one of the great, young trainers out there.

“He will do it,” said Garcia.

And that means breaking the hearts of 90 million Filipinos.

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)