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Viloria worried about Manny
MANILA, Philippines - Former two-time world lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria said the other day Antonio Margarito won’t be easy prey for Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round bout for the vacant WBC superwelterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this weekend.
“I’m worried,” said Viloria, fresh from a seventh round demolition of Thai roughhouser Liempetch Sor Veerapol at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig last Friday. “I’ve trained and jogged with Margarito. We used to work out together with trainer Robert Garcia. He’s like Manny in the gym. He punishes himself to the limit.”
What makes Margarito doubly dangerous is he’s hungry for vindication, redemption and recognition.
“Margarito is determined, possessed and obsessed,” said Viloria. “He knows a win over Manny will turn his life around. Manny shouldn’t think this fight will be like his fight against Oscar de la Hoya. Margarito may be as tall as Oscar but he’ll be a lot more competitive.”
Viloria’s cornerman Ruben Gomez, who was in Pacquiao’s corner as cutman for five fights from 2001 to 2003, said it won’t be cakewalk battling Margarito.
“If Manny doesn’t take Margarito seriously, he’s in big trouble,” said Gomez. “I see this as the toughest fight in Manny’s career. I recently saw Margarito training in Los Angeles and he looked good. He was running up and down the hills to build his stamina. I don’t think he’ll have a problem making the weight limit of 150 pounds. He’ll be in good shape.”
Gomez said Margarito has learned his lesson from putting on about 40 pounds after stopping Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas in July 2008.
“When Margarito beat Cotto, I think the win got to his head,” said Gomez. “He became an overnight sensation. He partied a lot and forgot about holding his weight down. He gained about 40 pounds so had to shed quite a bit of weight for his fight against Sugar Shane Mosley six months later. I don’t know how much it took out from Margarito.”
The Mexican’s hand-wraps were found to contain red stains or traces of calcium and sulphur in the dressing room before the Mosley bout in Los Angeles. California State Athletic Association authorities ordered new bandages for Margarito who went on to lose to Mosley by a ninth round stoppage. It was later reported that while his hand-wraps were not changed, they also had red stains in his fight against Cotto. Calcium and sulphur harden into a substance like plaster of paris when chemically reacting with oxygen and water.
“Margarito’s a physical fighter,” continued Gomez. “This is a 50-50 fight and I think it’ll end in a knockout, either way. If Manny’s in shape, there’s no way he’ll lose. But if he’s not in condition and his speed isn’t there, he could get overpowered because Margarito is so much bigger. Margarito is no (Joshua) Clottey – he’ll come in to fight, he’ll fight back. He won’t just stand there and take it.”
Viloria’s Mexican trainer Mario Morales, who was Julio Cesar Chavez’ long-time sparmate, said Margarito’s come-forward style is tailor-fit for Pacquiao.
“Margarito won’t change his style, no matter what Garcia tries to do,” said Morales who was the late Edwin Valero’s trainer. “He’s dangerous in the early rounds. He’s an aggressive fighter. He’ll come charging in. But his problem is poor footwork and you know where his punches are coming from. He has a wide wind-up and he’s slow. He’ll try to push Manny to the ropes and use his bulk to pressure Manny.”
Margarito’s size could be an advantage or disadvantage. It will be an advantage if he is able to use his body to lean on Pacquiao, tire him out and pin him to the ropes or corners. It will be a disadvantage if the bulk slows him down and makes him a flat-footed target.
Margarito’s poor fundamentals are evident in his lack of footwork. His inability to cut the ring off will be a problem. Margarito doesn’t anticipate and instead, walks towards his opponent, following him around the ring. If Pacquiao moves side-to-side, Margarito will have difficulty locating his target. He will lunge and be thrown off-balance by Pacquiao’s lateral movement. He will stalk but won’t find his prey.
Viloria said he would’ve liked to be in Arlington to cheer for Pacquiao but he’ll be busy preparing for his Dec. 3 wedding in Hawaii. Viloria will exchange vows with long-time girlfriend Erica Navarro. Their honeymoon, however, will wait until after Viloria takes on WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico in late February or early March.
“I’m worried,” said Viloria, fresh from a seventh round demolition of Thai roughhouser Liempetch Sor Veerapol at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig last Friday. “I’ve trained and jogged with Margarito. We used to work out together with trainer Robert Garcia. He’s like Manny in the gym. He punishes himself to the limit.”
What makes Margarito doubly dangerous is he’s hungry for vindication, redemption and recognition.
“Margarito is determined, possessed and obsessed,” said Viloria. “He knows a win over Manny will turn his life around. Manny shouldn’t think this fight will be like his fight against Oscar de la Hoya. Margarito may be as tall as Oscar but he’ll be a lot more competitive.”
Viloria’s cornerman Ruben Gomez, who was in Pacquiao’s corner as cutman for five fights from 2001 to 2003, said it won’t be cakewalk battling Margarito.
“If Manny doesn’t take Margarito seriously, he’s in big trouble,” said Gomez. “I see this as the toughest fight in Manny’s career. I recently saw Margarito training in Los Angeles and he looked good. He was running up and down the hills to build his stamina. I don’t think he’ll have a problem making the weight limit of 150 pounds. He’ll be in good shape.”
Gomez said Margarito has learned his lesson from putting on about 40 pounds after stopping Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas in July 2008.
“When Margarito beat Cotto, I think the win got to his head,” said Gomez. “He became an overnight sensation. He partied a lot and forgot about holding his weight down. He gained about 40 pounds so had to shed quite a bit of weight for his fight against Sugar Shane Mosley six months later. I don’t know how much it took out from Margarito.”
The Mexican’s hand-wraps were found to contain red stains or traces of calcium and sulphur in the dressing room before the Mosley bout in Los Angeles. California State Athletic Association authorities ordered new bandages for Margarito who went on to lose to Mosley by a ninth round stoppage. It was later reported that while his hand-wraps were not changed, they also had red stains in his fight against Cotto. Calcium and sulphur harden into a substance like plaster of paris when chemically reacting with oxygen and water.
“Margarito’s a physical fighter,” continued Gomez. “This is a 50-50 fight and I think it’ll end in a knockout, either way. If Manny’s in shape, there’s no way he’ll lose. But if he’s not in condition and his speed isn’t there, he could get overpowered because Margarito is so much bigger. Margarito is no (Joshua) Clottey – he’ll come in to fight, he’ll fight back. He won’t just stand there and take it.”
Viloria’s Mexican trainer Mario Morales, who was Julio Cesar Chavez’ long-time sparmate, said Margarito’s come-forward style is tailor-fit for Pacquiao.
“Margarito won’t change his style, no matter what Garcia tries to do,” said Morales who was the late Edwin Valero’s trainer. “He’s dangerous in the early rounds. He’s an aggressive fighter. He’ll come charging in. But his problem is poor footwork and you know where his punches are coming from. He has a wide wind-up and he’s slow. He’ll try to push Manny to the ropes and use his bulk to pressure Manny.”
Margarito’s size could be an advantage or disadvantage. It will be an advantage if he is able to use his body to lean on Pacquiao, tire him out and pin him to the ropes or corners. It will be a disadvantage if the bulk slows him down and makes him a flat-footed target.
Margarito’s poor fundamentals are evident in his lack of footwork. His inability to cut the ring off will be a problem. Margarito doesn’t anticipate and instead, walks towards his opponent, following him around the ring. If Pacquiao moves side-to-side, Margarito will have difficulty locating his target. He will lunge and be thrown off-balance by Pacquiao’s lateral movement. He will stalk but won’t find his prey.
Viloria said he would’ve liked to be in Arlington to cheer for Pacquiao but he’ll be busy preparing for his Dec. 3 wedding in Hawaii. Viloria will exchange vows with long-time girlfriend Erica Navarro. Their honeymoon, however, will wait until after Viloria takes on WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico in late February or early March.
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