By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao has pretty much everything going for him in his upcoming November 13th fight against Antonio Margarito – hand speed, power, movement, and better boxing skills. With all that going for him, why does Pacquiao need a 150 pound catch weight to fight Margarito? That’s four pounds under the 154 pound maximum weight for the junior middleweight division. Why does Pacquiao need a catch weight, and how is he allowed to fight for a title when he’s not going to be fighting at the full weight? But more importantly, how can Pacquiao be fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight title when he’s not even ranked in the top #15 in the division?
Antonio Margarito
Antonio Margarito boxing news
Chavez Jr. to serve as one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners to prepare for Margarito
By Chris Williams: Undefeated junior middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) will be used as one of Manny Pacquiao’s many sparring partners to help him prepare for his November 13th bout against the Mexican Antonio Margarito. Chavez Jr., who fights a lot like Margarito, is someone that Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach feels can do a good job mimicking Margarito’s style to help Pacquiao.
Hasn’t Margarito been punished enough? Fans need to welcome his fight against Pacquiao
By Matt Stein: It seems like boxing fans will never forgive Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) for the hand wrap incident before his fight against Shane Mosley last year in January. At that time, a plaster-like substance was found on Margarito’s hand wraps immediately before his fight against Mosley. After the hand wraps were removed and a set of substitute non-plaster containing hand wraps were put on Margarito’s hands, he went out and was stopped in the 9th round by Mosley. A week later, Margarito had his boxing license revoked for one year by the California Athletic Commission.
Ariza thinks Pacquiao-Margarito is a “Very good fight”
By Chris Williams: For what it’s worth, Alex Ariza, the strength and conditioning coach for World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao thinks his November 13th fight against former two time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is a good fight. In an interview at Philboxing.com, Ariza says “It’s a very good fight.” Of course, it would be a shock if Ariza said it was a crummy fight, which is pretty much what the entire civilized boxing world is saying. Diehard fans of both Margarito and Pacquiao just love the fight, they say, but then again they probably would back Pacquiao even if he were fighting a 3rd tier fighter.
What happens if Margarito walks through Pacquiao’s shots and starts battering him?
By Dave Lahr: Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao may not have thought about this, but what happens if Antonio Margarito isn’t phased by Pacquiao’s shots, and just walks right through them and starts beating the tar out of Pacquiao at close range. What will Roach do? Worse than that; what will Pacquiao do to stop the Mexican tornado? Bob Arum is the one that wants the Margarito-Pacquiao fight, because he thinks it’s going to be a bout that will sell well to the boxing public. I kind of doubt it, but when you promote both of the fighters involved, you’re going to do really well even if it doesn’t bring in the monster numbers that a Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout would bring in.
Should Pacquiao be allowed to fight Margarito at a catch weight for the WBC junior middleweight title?
By Eric Thomas: I can’t say I was surprised to learn today that Manny Pacquiao will likely be fighting Antonio Margarito at a 150 pound catch weight for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight title on November 13th at a still to be determined site. While I have no problems with Pacquiao fighting Margarito at a catch weight, since I see that are something that two fighters should be able to do if they want. But I think the WBC title shouldn’t be on the line for the fight. That doesn’t seem right that a fighter can compete for a title when the other fighter is being held back from fighting at the maximum weight for the division.
Look for Nevada to give Margarito back his boxing license for the Pacquiao fight
By Jim Dower: Antonio Margarito will be getting another chance at trying to get his boxing license back with the Nevada Athletic Commission in August. They already rejected Margarito’s attempt at getting his license back. However, this time I’m pretty sure they’ll give it to him. Things have changed dramatically from the last time that Margarito applied to the Commission. Before, Margarito didn’t have an opponent lined up, and it was easy for the Commission to deny his request by a 4-1 vote and to tell him to go to the California Athletic Commission and try his luck there. But Margarito is now lined up to fight Manny Pacquiao, one of the biggest stars in boxing. Something tells me that the Nevada Athletic Commission won’t hesitate to give Margarito his boxing license back on the 2nd attempt. My guess is they’ll give back his license by a slam dunk 5-0 vote.
Margarito has already agreed to Pacquiao’s 150 pound catch weight
By Jason Kim: According to Michael Marley from Examiner.com, two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has already agreed to the 150 pound catch weight limit that Manny Pacquiao wants for their November 13th bout. Both fighters are from Top Rank, so ironing out this problem was a piece of cake for Bob Arum, who said “The catch is not an issue just as it wasn’t for [Miguel] Cotto, coming in at 145 to fight Manny. Margarito faces difficulty making 147, but there is an understanding about the three extra pounds between the parties.”
Roach sees Pacquiao-Margarito as a “Marketable” fight
By Chris Williams: Trainer Freddie Roach believes that the November 13th match-up between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito is a saleable fight that the boxing public will want to see. In an article at 8countnews.com, Roach describes the Margarito-Pacquiao fight as “Marketable,”, and says “Manny will knock him out, we will knock him out.” This is the typical prediction for Roach.
Pacquiao wants to fight Margarito at a 150 pound catch weight
By Jason Kim: If Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) wants a fight with Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO’s) on November 13th, he’s going to have to agree to fight him at a 150 pound catch weight. According to the Manila Bulletin at Mb.com.ph, Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal says “150 pounds,” in response to a question about weight the fight would be taking place at. Pacquiao and Margarito, both Top Rank fighters, will be fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight title.