Watch Pacquiao vs. Margarito. Top boxing promoter Bob Arum has only glowing words for Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito, who is training “like there is no tomorrow” for his November 13 showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao.
“Margarito looks great and he’s very sharp,” Arum said by phone on Wednesday. “He’s training extremely hard, and I think his new trainer [Robert Garcia] is doing wonders [on him].”
The Hall of Fame promoter announced that he will leave for the Philippines on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to visit his prized fighter and to preside over Pacquiao’s October 18 media day in Baguio City, where the Filipino ring superstar is holding training camp.
When asked how Pacquiao’s training was going, Arum said, “I checked with them and they said that he’s doing well. I really don’t know, but I will see for myself.”
In Baguio City, Freddie Roach was reported to have asked Pacquiao to concentrate on his training by doing away with basketball and weekend trips to Manila that the trainer feels are interfering with Pacquiao’s training.
Reports by the local media indicate that Pacquiao has skipped his usual early-morning road work because of apparent tiredness from playing basketball the night before, and has left camp for two consecutive weekends to attend to functions in Manila.
Arum, chief executive of Top Rank Promotions, said that Pacquiao-Margarito promises to be an exciting fight between two proud and talented fighters known for their ferociousness in the ring.
He added that the fight will be a classic clash between Pacquiao’s vaunted speed and explosiveness against Margarito’s relentless attack and punching power.
Both boxers, who are under Top Rank’s promotional umbrella, will fight for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight title.
Arum said that the fight has no rematch clause but Pacquiao, being the bigger fighter in the draw, would be given a rematch by Margarito in case of a big upset.
Bookmakers have pegged Pacquiao a 6-1 betting favorite, although boxing pundits consider the odds quite unrealistic.
Source:Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/42-rokstories/28938-margarito-looking-very-sharp
