By Jason Kim: Michael Koncz, the personal adviser for World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, thinks the Pacquiao’s next fight against former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will be taking place in Abu Dhabi rather than Monterrey, Mexico. Abu Dhabi is the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates, and is a very wealthy city. It’s understandable why Bob Arum of Top Rank would want to have the fight take place there. The taxes would be nonexistent and Pacquiao would do well financially. In an article at Philboxing.com, Koncz pointed out that he had been contacted by the Abu Dhabi group and he’s pretty sure that the Margarito-Pacquiao fight can be made and take place in Abu Dhabi.
Pacquiao vs. Margarito
Pacquiao says he’ll fight Margarito between 147-150
By Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao appears to be happy that he could be facing Antonio Margarito in his next fight. Pacquiao said “That’s good,” about a possible fight against Margarito by an interviewer from Aba-cbnnews.com. Pacquiao, 31, would be facing Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight title. But here is where it gets weird. Pacquiao says “I’ll probably fight him [Margarito] at 150-147 pounds. Around that weight.” Excuse me but if Pacquiao fights Margarito at 147-150, that would be a huge catch weight for Pacquiao to be fighting at, since the junior middleweight division goes up to 154. 147 is the welterweight limit. There has been talk of a catch weight for this fight and you have to wonder whether it will fall into the range of 147-150. How in the heck is Pacquiao going to be fighting for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title when he’s weighing only 147?
Margarito looking to get boxing license in Nevada to fight Pacquiao on November 13th
By Jim Dower: Having been denied once by the Nevada Athletic Commission in trying to get his boxing license back, attorneys for former two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito have filed a legal brief to the Nevada Athletic Commission, looking to get his boxing license to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13th in Nevada, according to news from the LA Times. Margarito lost his boxing license last year after a plaster-like material was found on his hand wraps before his title fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009. At the time, Margarito was the World Boxing Association welterweight champion.
Bradley, Cotto, or Margarito: Who Should Win The Pacquiao Sweepstakes?
By Lemarcus: The collective opinions reflected in boxing columns continue to amaze and confuse me. Especially where the “Pac Man Sweepstakes” is concerned in regards to who should claim the prize. Bradley is an excellent fighter no doubt, (I am a fan of him myself), but he doesn’t deserve a shot against Pacquiao nor will he ever get a shot at MP. (More on that later)
Arum planning a trip to visit Monterrey, Mexico – News
By Jason Kim: According to fightnews.com, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is planning on taking a trip to Monterrey, Mexico, presumably so he can scout out the city for his two fighters Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito. Arum has been leaning in the direction of having Pacquiao fight Margarito next rather than putting Pacquiao in a rematch that few boxing fans want to see right now with Miguel Cotto.
Boxing fans want Pacquiao to fight Bradley, but instead we get Margarito or Cotto
By Chris Williams: Ever since WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KO’s) moved up in weight to easily defeat knockout artist and top welterweight contender Luis Carlos Abregu (29-1, 23 KO’s) last weekend, boxing fans have been asking why Manny Pacquiao won’t fight Bradley instead of who he will end up fighting Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.
For Pacquiao, it’s either Cotto or Margarito
By Chris Williams: If your a fan of competitive fights, then you can pretty much forget about seeing any interesting match-ups involving WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Roach wants Pacquiao to fight Margarito, thinks it will be an easy fight for Manny
By Jason Kim: Trainer Freddie Roach thinks that former two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) would be an easy fight for World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO’s), and would like to see Pacquiao fight him rather than fighting Miguel Cotto once again. In an article by Michael Rosenthal of The Ring, Roach, who trains Pacquiao, said “Would be like as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Arum says it’s up to Pacquiao to decide who he wants to fight next – but is it?
By Chris Williams: In Friday night’s midnight conference call to the media by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum when asked by Greg Leon of Boxing Talk about who makes the decision about who Manny Pacquiao will be fighting next, Top Rank or Pacquiao, Arum said “It falls on Manny.” But does it really? I only see two names being offered up as opponents by Arum – Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito – and both of them coincidentally are members of Arum’s Top Rank stable of fighters.
Arum says he can put together a fight between Pacquiao and Cotto or Margarito within 10 days
By Jason Kim: For what it’s worth, Floyd Mayweather Jr. still has around 10 days to speak up and agree to a fight with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s Top Rank promoter, said that he can put together a fight between Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito in 10 days or less.