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By Leo Reyes (Featured Columnist) on November 5, 2010
Antonio Margarito has all the physical advantages over the much smaller Manny Pacquiao when they collide on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with one exception—speed.
Without regaining his natural speed, Pacquiao will most likely lose to Margarito, who is much bigger than the Filipino boxing superstar, aside from his five-inch advantage in height and six in reach.
Pacquiao, who is known for his power punches, especially with his left hand, cannot claim monopoly of the power game, as the Mexican boxer is likewise known for his deadly punches. This leaves Pacquiao with just a single advantage—speed.
Barely a week before fight night, Pacquiao has not regained the natural speed he had when he fought in the 147-149 range.
But today, Pacquiao announced he is reducing weight in order to regain his natural speed. He is circling around 148-149, according to ABS-CBN early evening news.
“Speed will carry me through (in this fight),” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters in Filipino after a gruelling 2.5-hour training at the gym owned by trainer Freddie Roach. “We can use that easily. If there’s speed, there’s nothing to worry about. Even Freddie (Roach) is very happy with my performance.”
Pacquiao knows he will be a bit sluggish with the agreed catch weight, and he will have to find a way to boost his speed, which was unsurpassed while fighting in the lower weight divisions.
He said gaining extra weight reduces his speed and he is concentrating on it now. His strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, is expected to concentrate on regaining his speed after moving up to face Margarito at the agreed weight.
Ariza must have decided on the weight-reduction plan before taking off for the final training phase, which starts after Pacquiao and his team arrive in Texas.
Meanwhile, at the Wild Card Gym, a 6'3" middleweight from Detroit suffered a broken nose as he tried sparring with Pacquiao on recommendation from Roach's boxing staff.
“Yeah, his performance against that big middleweight proved that there’s no longer any reason for us to worry about Manny’s condition,” Roach said.
“I pity the guy, a black American guy who just wanted to help and be helped. Instead, he went home with a dislocated nose apart from depriving himself of earning a little as one of Manny’s sparring partner,” he lamented.
“The good thing is the incident opened the door for us to move on with our training. Leave the issue of physical conditioning a bit and concentrate on the last stage of our preparations, which is strategy and game plan,” Roach said.
Roach said Pacquiao's showing in the sparring session signals his readiness to face Margarito in about a week, which means the pound-for-pound king has finally regained his natural speed.
Antonio Margarito has all the physical advantages over the much smaller Manny Pacquiao when they collide on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with one exception—speed.
Without regaining his natural speed, Pacquiao will most likely lose to Margarito, who is much bigger than the Filipino boxing superstar, aside from his five-inch advantage in height and six in reach.
Pacquiao, who is known for his power punches, especially with his left hand, cannot claim monopoly of the power game, as the Mexican boxer is likewise known for his deadly punches. This leaves Pacquiao with just a single advantage—speed.
Barely a week before fight night, Pacquiao has not regained the natural speed he had when he fought in the 147-149 range.
But today, Pacquiao announced he is reducing weight in order to regain his natural speed. He is circling around 148-149, according to ABS-CBN early evening news.
“Speed will carry me through (in this fight),” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters in Filipino after a gruelling 2.5-hour training at the gym owned by trainer Freddie Roach. “We can use that easily. If there’s speed, there’s nothing to worry about. Even Freddie (Roach) is very happy with my performance.”
Pacquiao knows he will be a bit sluggish with the agreed catch weight, and he will have to find a way to boost his speed, which was unsurpassed while fighting in the lower weight divisions.
He said gaining extra weight reduces his speed and he is concentrating on it now. His strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, is expected to concentrate on regaining his speed after moving up to face Margarito at the agreed weight.
Ariza must have decided on the weight-reduction plan before taking off for the final training phase, which starts after Pacquiao and his team arrive in Texas.
Meanwhile, at the Wild Card Gym, a 6'3" middleweight from Detroit suffered a broken nose as he tried sparring with Pacquiao on recommendation from Roach's boxing staff.
“Yeah, his performance against that big middleweight proved that there’s no longer any reason for us to worry about Manny’s condition,” Roach said.
“I pity the guy, a black American guy who just wanted to help and be helped. Instead, he went home with a dislocated nose apart from depriving himself of earning a little as one of Manny’s sparring partner,” he lamented.
“The good thing is the incident opened the door for us to move on with our training. Leave the issue of physical conditioning a bit and concentrate on the last stage of our preparations, which is strategy and game plan,” Roach said.
Roach said Pacquiao's showing in the sparring session signals his readiness to face Margarito in about a week, which means the pound-for-pound king has finally regained his natural speed.
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