Pacquiao: Margarito better than Clottey

MANILA, Philippines—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao believes Antonio Margarito is better than Joshua Clottey and sees an action-packed bout when they tangle for the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

In an interview with the Inquirerprior to his departure for Los Angeles Monday night, Pacquiao noted that Margarito “is a very aggressive fighter” and the Mexican’s height and reach advantage will make it “difficult for me.”

Pacquiao predicted “it’s going to be a good fight because Margarito likes to come forward all the time and throw punches and that’s what we like—plenty of action. For sure there’s going to be a lot of action in the ring and it won’t be like the Joshua Clottey fight.”

In their 147-pound showdown at the same venue last March 13, Clottey merely took the punches thrown by Pacquiao and hardly fought back.

Pacquiao compared the upcoming clash with the 5-foot-11 Margarito to his fight with the 5-10 Oscar De La Hoya, who quit at the end of the eighth round after taking a beating.

Pacquiao also said he doesn’t believe Margarito’s claim that he didn’t know about the illegal hand-wraps that were discovered prior to his fight against Shane Mosley, when Margarito suffered a ninth-round TKO and lost his WBA super world welterweight title on Jan. 24, 2009.

“I don’t believe him (Margarito),” Pacquiao said. “Of course he knows about that (illegal hand-wraps). Its his hands and he watches the taping.” Pacquiao believes Margarito denied he knew about the hand-wraps because he was “looking for a way out so his reputation won’t be damaged among his fans.”

However, Pacquiao noted that Margarito had “paid his dues by sacrificing and not fighting for one year.

“I hope he learned his lesson and will not repeat the same mistake.” At the same time, Pacquiao said he is not taking any chances, pointing out that “we can watch his hands being wrapped because our agreement is we will have two representatives led by my coach (Freddie Roach) to watch the taping.”

Reacting to the comments of boxing writers who wanted him to punish Margarito for what he did Pacquiao said: “No, I can’t do that. He is good fighter. He’s big and skilled and also has power. We will do what we are capable of so that we will win for our country.” The Pacquiao-Margarito promotional tour kicks off Tuesday at the Rodeo Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Hagler says Floyd scared of Pacman

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. “might be a little scared” of fighting Manny Pacquiao.

Former undisputed world middleweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler said this Tuesday over On the Ropes Boxing Radio, adding that the Filipino champion was right in his decision to move on and fight Antonio Margarito instead.

Hagler, a Hall of Famer whose resumé includes epic showdowns with all-time greats Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, said one has to fight the best to be considered the best in the world. Hagler said it was clear that Pacquiao wants to fight Mayweather, but the former lord of the ring keeps on coming up with conditions. The American also said it should be just a matter of saying yes or no to the fight.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles on Monday to kick off the promotional tour for his scheduled showdown with Margarito at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Nov. 13, although the Mexican still has to get a license to fight from the Texas Commission. Susan Stanford, public relations officer of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), informed the Inquirer that “the review process is currently under way.”

She said a TDLR licensing program specialist and a compliance program specialist will review the application with executive director William Kuntz deciding on whether to grant or deny a license. Stanford said Margarito’s perfected application and a check for the required fee of $20 were received on Aug. 23 and that the average license review process is 10 days.

“I am hoping a decision will be made by the end of the week and we will release a statement at that time,” she added. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said the press tour would begin in Los Angeles on Monday, proceed to New York and wind up in Dallas before Pacquiao returns to Manila.

The Sarangani representative will begin training for the fight, with the vacant WBC light middleweight title at stake, on Sept. 20, with chief trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza coming over. Although the TDLR hasn’t issued Margarito a license to fight in Dallas, Koncz told the Inquirer that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had been assured that it was “a done deal.”

Arum was banking on a letter sent to the various state commissions by the Association of Boxing Commissions president Timothy Lueckenhoff in which the ABC board noted Margarito had “fulfilled his obligations.” Margarito appeared before the California Commission, as originally required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, when he applied for a license to fight in Las Vegas.

It's Margarito for Pacquiao

RELATED TOPICS

• It's Margarito for Pacquiao

A new opponent, another peak to conquer for Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino pound-for-pound king will be fighting Mexican Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council light middleweight crown on Nov. 13 in a bid to further bolster his sterling credential as boxing’s only seven-division champion.

Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, chose Margarito over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, the other replacement candidate after negotiations with the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a megabuck showdown fell through on July 15.

Arum told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports on Friday (Saturday in Manila) that he picked Margarito because the three-time former world champion is perceived to be a more competitive opponent than Cotto, who was stopped by Pacquiao in the 12th round to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title last November.

The venue of Pacquiao-Margarito is uncertain so far with Monterrey, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as preferred sites and Abu Dhabi as a long-shot host.

Margarito is still barred from fighting in the United States even after serving a one-year suspension for use of hardened hand wraps against Shane Mosely in 2009.

But casino operators are expected to exert their influence and try to convince the Nevada State Athletic Commission to grant the Mexican even a temporary license to fight in Las Vegas.

The Nevada Gaming Commission bared that casinos had their best night in two years due to the influx of Asian high-rollers last Nov. 14 when Pacquiao dethroned Cotto.

If the NSAC refuses to budge, a 22,000-seat arena, is available in Monterrey, where Margarito and even Pacquiao, due to his reputation as Mexican Assassin, enjoy a huge following.

In an earlier interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillo, Pacquiao said he has no qualms facing Margarito in Mexico, where he spent a short but pleasant vacation with his family in June. Pacquiao, who stands 5-foot-6, indicated that he’s willing to tangle with the 5-foot-11 Margarito at a catch weight of not exceeding 150 pounds.

In his return bout on May 8, Margarito won by unanimous decision over Robert Garcia to raise his record to 38-6 with 27 knockouts.

With the demand of his new job as congressman of Sarangani province, Pacquiao (51-3-2) may spend most of his training in Manila, with chief trainer Freddie Roachcoming over middle of September. Roach will be flying in with physical conditioning expert Alex Ariza and several sparring partners, reportedly to be headed by unbeaten and popular Mexican Julio Chavez Jr. After whipping himself into shape, Pacquiao will wind up his preparation with a three-week stint at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Pacquiao-Margarito will be telecast through pay-per-view by HBO.

Pacquiao starts sparring today

RELATED TOPICS

• It's Margarito for Pacquiao
• Manny’s foe turns to Texas for license
• Hagler says Floyd scared of Pacman
• Ariza predicts a knockout performance from Pacquiao vs Margarito
• Pacquiao: Margarito better than Clottey

MANILA—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao begins his sparring sessions against Michael Medina Thursday at the Cooyesan Hotel gym in Baguio City.

The 24-year-old Mexican super welterweight (22-2-2 with 19 KOs) is expected to provide Pacquiao a stiff test as he approximates the longer reach of Antonio Margarito, who fights the Filipino for the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown on Nov. 13 in Arlington, Texas.

American trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza even consider the 6-foot Medina “not a sparring partner but a contender” for a world title.

Originally slated Tuesday, Roach pushed back the sparring session after Pacquiao played basketball late into the night Monday. Roach also did not want to aggravate the sprain Pacquiao sustained on his right foot after jogging in the morning.

Last Friday, Pacquiao also complained that his left foot was hurting.

Pacquiao seemed back in form yesterday as he trained at the Burnham Park, interspersing his runs with sprints while a huge crowd watched in awe.

However, Roach made it clear that when Manny spars he will shut down the gym to keep their game plan from prying eyes.

It was the intense sparring with Medina that helped Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. beat Irishman John Duddy to win the WBC silver middleweight title last June 26.

Medina lost a controversial split decision to Duddy in a 10-round bout on March 15.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz disclosed that Pacquiao will leave for Los Angeles to train at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym on Oct. 24, which is earlier than originally planned.

Koncz told the Inquirer that Pacquiao will drive down to Manila from his training camp in Baguio City on Oct. 22.

The seven-time, seven division champion will have one last day of sparring at the Johnny Elorde Gym in Quezon City before flying to LA the following evening aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is scheduled to arrive from Las Vegas on Oct. 18 while Chavez, who will also spar with Pacquiao, is slated to plane in on Oct. 8.

In an exclusive interview earlier, Margarito’s chief trainer Robert Garcia disclosed that Margarito had started sparring Monday against three southpaws.

“They bring speed, they bring power and have a lot of good movements, good head movements. They are doing a great job,” Garcia said of Margarito’s sparmates.

Garcia conceded though that “it is hard to say we have someone who fights just like Pacquiao because he has his own style but we have guys who are fast, throw a lot of punches and have good footwork. It’s impossible to find somebody that fights just like Manny but we have good sparring partners.” With a report from Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Pacquiao dares Mayweather to face him

Pacquiao dares Mayweather to face him

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao stressed that as the 7-division world champion, he should not be the one running after Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. for their super showdown to finally take place. “I am the champion, I have the belts and I should not be the one challenging you. I should not even be the one trying to make this fight happen,” Pacquiao said in his August 8 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com.

“But Pacquiao vs Mayweather is what everyone wants, that's why I am calling out your names. My promoter Bob Arum will be waiting for your call and will be very glad to hear what you have to say. The sooner, the better,” the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king added. Pacquiao said this after being informed that Mayweather could possibly forge a partnership with legendary promoter Don King. The Filipino boxing superstar even said that he is happy for both Americans even if their partnership is not yet final.

“Natutuwa ako dahil baka naman ngayon ay magbabago na ang ihip ng hangin at biglang magdedesisyon si Mayweather na labanan akong bigla,” he wrote. “Sana ay magkasundo sila sa lalong madaling panahon.”

Top Rank, Inc. CEO Bob Arum, who serves as Pacquiao’s promoter, declared last week that the boxing world’s much-awaited fight could happen with the possible entry of King in the negotiations. (Read: Arum: Pacquiao-Mayweather possible with Don King) Pacquiao then called on the undefeated Mayweather to prove that he is courageous enough to face the world’s only 7-division world champion.

“I hope Mayweather is serious enough in doing business with Don King and is not doing this only to save face. I hope Don King does the same in return, that he can make miracles happen. I say this to both these men: Let's Get It On. Fight like warriors and brave men,” he stated.

“This is the only way for Mayweather to save face. Make the fight happen in November and stop using Mr. Don King for publicity stunts,” Pacquiao continued. “He claims he is the best. He says he is No. 1. There is only one way to prove his greatness and that is to face me. I should be ready by November.”

Mayweather over Margarito

After talks for the Pacquiao-Mayweather November 13 fight fell apart, Arum announced that the American’s replacement would be Mexican Antonio "Tijuana Tornado" Margarito.

But Pacquiao said his bout with Margarito has not yet been finalized. He added that possible venues for a Margarito fight are Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Arlington, Texas, Monterrey, Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Margarito is required to reapply for a license if he wants to fight again in the US after being suspended last year by the California State Athletic Commission. In January 2009, he was caught with a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps before his fight against Shane Mosley.

However, if given a choice, Pacquiao said he would much rather go into battle with Mayweather. “Para sa akin, walang kasing-gandang balita kung magpapalit ng isip ang kampo ni Mayweather at siguradong lahat ng boxing fans o kahit na mga sports fans ang tututok sa labang ito,” he stated. “Kung hindi kikilos si Mayweather ngayon, marami pa ang mawawala sa kaniya."

He also expressed confidence that boxing promoters can organize his fight with Mayweather. But he clarified that he will be ready for whoever Arum chooses as his opponent for the November 13 event.

Training as a congressman

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is expected to train in Manila as he has to fulfill his duties as congressman of Sarangani Province.

“Medyo excited na akong bumalik sa ring at mag-ensayo. Nami-miss ko ang amoy ng gym at ang paghahanda sa laban pero gayunpaman, nag-eenjoy naman ako sa Congress kahit na maraming trabaho ang nakatambak,” said the neophyte legislator.

He also assured that he can juggle his boxing training and work in the Lower House with proper time management. “Hindi naman po nangangahulugan na tinatalikuran ko na o mapapabayaan ko ang aking responsibilidad bilang isang Kongresista sa panahon ng paghahanda sa laban,” he added.