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Manny Pacquiao works on the mitts with Freddie Roach. (Inset) Bob Arum |
Either way, the ageless boxing promoter said, MannyPacquiao will come out the winner.
“It’s either a late stoppage or a close decision. For Manny,” Arum said over the phone yesterday from his home in Las Vegas.
It’s just 11 days before Pacquiao faces Antonio Margarito for the
vacant WBC super-welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I see Margarito coming right at Manny and trying to bully him,” he said. “But Manny will stand in there and trade punches with him. And once he gets going, as he always does, he’ll start moving around and start nailing him with his left and his right,” he said.
Arum said it could be Pacquiao-Cotto all over again, referring to the fight against Miguel Cotto, who took hits from all directions until the fight was stopped in the 12th and final round.
A lot of things have been said about how both fighters have prepared for this fight, pegged at a catchweight of 151 lb, and better things have been said of the Mexican camp.
Margarito is the bigger and stronger fighter, and based on reports over the last month or two the 32-year-old Mexican has appeared to be more focused in training.
Pacquiao isn’t actually taking things lightly. But there have been so many distractions around him, from people very close to him, that doubts have been raised on him this time.
Yes, no one trains harder than Pacquiao, but his chief handlers, trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, think they could have done better if not for the distractions.
Roach described the camp as “the worst camp ever” for Pacquiao.
A couple of weeks ago, the Top Rank chief visited Pacquiao in his training camp in Baguio City, and said he didn’t see the speed the Filipino would need to beat Margarito.
But that was a couple of weeks ago, and Arum said his son-in-law, Todd duBeof, now the Top Rank president, was at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles the other day.
“Todd was there and he said Manny was sensational,” said Arum.
Pacquiao is probably the only person who doesn’t look concerned over reports that Margarito is in the best shape of his life, and that the 5-foot-11 “Tijuana Tornado” is out to get him.
“Manny knows Manny. He knows what he’s doing. He’s ready to go,” said Arum.
“Todd was there and he said Manny was sensational,” said Arum.
Pacquiao is probably the only person who doesn’t look concerned over reports that Margarito is in the best shape of his life, and that the 5-foot-11 “Tijuana Tornado” is out to get him.
“Manny knows Manny. He knows what he’s doing. He’s ready to go,” said Arum.
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