By Mark Vester
Manny Pacquiao shocked the world when he moved up from lightweight to welterweight and stopped the much bigger Oscar De La Hoya in a dominating eight round performance. The fighter viewed as the top guy at the weight is WBA champ Antonio Margarito. Boxing fans began to chatter and debate on how Pacquiao would do against a welterweight like Margarito, who has a body and the strenght of a middleweight.
The question was presented to Margarito a few weeks, and he said that he would gladly fight Pacquiao if the Filipino fighter challenged him.
"Pacquiao looked very good and showed that he can fight against the better welterweights. If he and the promoters agree, and want to do it [a fight with me] - I will gladly do it," Margarito told El Nuevo Dia.
They say never say never in boxing - but not in this case. Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promotes both Margarito and Pacquiao, says the fight will never happen. He feels Margarito is too big, too strong and has one of the best chins in the sport. He even shared his thoughts with Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.
"Freddie knows this. No way Manny’s going to fight him. Margarito takes a hell of a punch," Arum told Filipino outlet Tempo.
Margarito is scheduled to fight Shane Mosley on January 24 and Pacquiao is almost set to fight Ricky Hatton on May 2.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
