MANILA, Philippines – Mexican toughie Antonio Margarito believes he has enough weapons to knock out World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in their November 13 super welterweight fight in Texas (Watch Pacquiao vs. Margarito).
In an interview with Fan House.com’s Elie Seckbach, Margarito also claimed that Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s boxing coach, is apprehensive about his ward’s upcoming fight.
“Freddie Roach is scared that we're gonna beat Manny Pacquiao,” said the Tijuana Tornado in Spanish, which was translated by fellow Mexican Robert Garcia.
The three-time world champion Margarito said he’s training hard and well for the fight.
He has no doubt things will go in his favor when he battles the 7-division world champion from the Philippines.
“It was better than ever,” Garcia said of his ward’s ongoing training. “Better than he won his first title, better than when he beat [Miguel] Cotto. This is the time to beat Manny Pacquiao.”
The 5’11” Margarito is 5 inches taller than Pacquiao, who stands at 5’6 ½”. The Mexican also has a 6-inch reach advantage.
Garcia said his prized fighter also has several weapons in his arsenal which he can use to knock out Pacquiao.
“Anything… it could be an uppercut, a right hand, a body shot, whatever, he'll get him with,” he said.
Roach earlier said Pacquiao is capable of knocking out Margarito late in the fight.
In an HBO Face-Off video with host Max Kellerman that had Roach, Pacquiao, Margarito and Garcia in a roundtable discussion, the American trainer claimed the Filipino could finish Margarito.
“I think Manny can knock him out inside 8 rounds,” said Roach.
“What, does he see me crippled or something?” Margarito replied in Spanish.
“I saw your last two fights,” answered Roach.
Roach was referring to Margarito’s technical knockout loss to American Shane Mosley in January 2009, and his unimpressive decision win over middleweight contender Roberto Garcia last May.
source: abs-cbn news
