Team Pacquiao Expects Rough and Bruising Fight

 

BAGUIO CITY — Manny Pacquiao is going to be in a rough and bruising fight with Antonio Margarito, the Filipino’s famed conditioning coach said over the weekend.

“It’s going to be very physical,” said Alex Ariza, tasked to make sure Pacquiao is in excellent condition come Nov. 13 against Tony Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

Margarito stands 5-foot-11 and has long arms and Ariza believes that the Mexican will try his best to take advantage of his size and his being a naturally bigger fighter than Pacquiao.

Margarito is a natural super-welterweight (154 lbs) but has fought at extensively at middleweight (160 lbs).

Team Pacquiao is so convinced that Margarito will try to throw his weight around that chief trainer Freddie Roach doesn’t want his prized puncher to get caught sleeping on the ropes.

Roach said Pacquiao must move all the time, not giving Margarito the opportunity to unload.

“Manny doesn’t have to take blows from this guy,” said Roach, who predicts that Pacquiao will catch Margarito with vicious shots by utilizing his huge edge in speed.

During the sparring and mitts sessions the past few days, Roach has employed rough tactics, believing that Margarito will do just about anything to win the scheduled 12-round match for the vacant World Boxing Council 154-lb belt.

Even Pacquiao's sparmates – Glen Tapia and Michael Medina – have bee told to play it physical with Pacquiao, who is aiming to win an unprecedented eighth world title.
Pacquiao has so far logged eight rounds of sparring.

 

credits: mb.com.ph