By Mark Vester
It was a few short weeks ago that trainer Freddie Roach told veteran scribe Ron Borges that Manny Pacquiao wanted a piece of WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. The Mexican champion is much bigger and much stronger, but Roach told Borges that Pacquiao is confident that he can outbox Margarito over twelve rounds.
“Manny wants to fight Margarito,’’ Roach said. “Manny thinks he can outbox him. Margarito is a big welterweight. He’d have a lot of advantages physically but Manny doesn’t really worry about that. I don’t know but he believes he can beat him."
Javier Capetillo, trainer of Antonio Margarito, spoke with Luis Sandoval of BoxingScene.com, and made it clear that Antonio is ready and willing to take Pacquiao's challenge. Capetillo feels that Pacquiao would make a big mistake by going after Margarito, but he is very happy that Manny believes he can win.
"I also heard the rumor that Freddie Roach is saying that Pacquiao is ready for Margarito. I'm VERY happy to hear that. I think they are making a mistake but hopefully that fight actually happens. Pacquiao is a great fighter, I can't take anything away from him but yes, I have heard what Freddie Roach has been saying. He's saying they want to fight Margarito, that they are going to beat him and that's great. I'm happy to hear that.
"This is a business as well as a sport and if he thinks he can win, they are more than welcome to try. Also, he's (Pacquiao) beaten many mexican fighters so why not. I'm glad he's doing all the talking first and that he's saying they are going to beat Margarito. It makes me very happy to hear that."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com