Pacquiao Versus

Pacquiao Versus Mosley: Let The Mind Games Begin

2010-12-23T01:07:00.000-08:00

NOW that he’s been formally anointed as the next man to challenge Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Shane Mosley asserted he’s going to make the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter realize his mistake of picking him in a short list of possible contenders.

On Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), Top Rank promoter Bob Arum announced a fight between Pacquiao and Mosley has been sealed following a meeting with him and James Prince, the representative of the former three-time world champion, in Arum’s office in Las Vegas.

The fight will be for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt penciled for May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

While Arum insists Mosley clinched the deal over two others in long-time Pacquiao nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez and reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight king Andre Berto since a fight with him is the ‘most sellable’, the 39-year-old native of Pomona, California thinks otherwise.

“I know that they think I’m an old man and that Manny is going to beat me. Let them think that,” said Mosley moments after the announcement of the fight.

Added the former world champion, who won titles as a lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight, “I still have power and speed. So they can think whatever they want. I know what I can do.”

That such impression had been imprinted on Mosley of late is understandable.

Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a lopsided 12-round decision last April, and then settled for a draw against ‘The Contender’ star Sergio Mora in a junior middleweight showdown five months later.

Mosley had his own reasons for his two sub-par performances, claiming he was able to hurt Mayweather despite the one-sided bout, and that Mora didn’t beat him at all, contending his opponent run away from him all night.

The same won’t be happening in Pacquiao’s case.

“Come on, man. I’m a bigger guy than him and he gets hit. And you saw how I hurt Floyd. Manny is going to come forward and I will hit him on the chin at some point. His defense is not like Floyd’s. Manny will come at me and I will knock him out,” said Mosley in an ESPN interview.

Mosley winning the Pacquiao sweepstakes also signaled the end of his partnership with Golden Boy Promotions, the rival group of Top Rank, with which the American boxer reportedly owns a stake of four percent.

The lure of big prize money just by fighting Pacquiao definitely has something to do with that.

Mosley is assured of a $5 million guaranteed prize for the May 7 fight and a $5 share per pay-per-view buy above 500,000, meaning a 1.2 million sales in per-per-view translates to a total of $8.5 million take for the only man to beat the great Oscar De La Hoya twice.

His biggest career earning was $7 million in his loss against Mayweather Jr.

Arum believes hitting the 1 million mark in pay-per-view is doable.

“I though Mosley was the best draw of the three and it would do the best business,” said the Top Rank Promotions chief.

The 79-year-old promoter also said the fight doing well in pay-per-view sales would give Pacquiao his biggest paycheck to date as he is likely to receive between $12-$15 million in guaranteed purse.

Of course, it won’t be an easy one, that Arum assures.

“Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trample says it’s a very difficult fight. I believe it will be an exciting fight,” said Arum. “Shane knows how to fight and how to deal with the speed. Manny is in for a hellacious fight. I really believe styles make fights.”

Manny Pacquiao Could Earn $70 if Pacquiao Mayweather Match Pushes Through

2010-12-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

MANNY Pacquiao can well afford to retire if and when a super fight with brash talking Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally gets sealed.

An estimated earning of no lower than $70 million (roughly P3 billion) can be made by the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter in facing Mayweather in a blockbuster showdown that has long been in waiting, yet can’t seem to fall in place together.

The mind-boggling figures represent a guaranteed purse Pacquiao will receive, plus his take home with the pay-per-view buys.

“Kung makuha niya si Mayweather, ok na siyang mag-retire. $70 million na `yun. $50 million guaranteed na, plus pay-per-view pa,” said former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis `Chavit’ Singson, a close associate and adviser to the 31-year-old best boxer in the world today, who hosted a sumptuous victory party for Pacquiao Monday night in his Quezon City mansion following the Filipino’s 12-round lopsided win over Mexican Antonio Margarito three weeks ago.

This developed as a Texas court issued a temporary restraining order representing a portion of Pacquiao’s prize purse ($1.5 million) in his fight with Margarito following a $1.18 million in damages was filed against him by a Filipino promoter.

Edmundo Lozano of Imperial Ed promotions, said in his complaint that Pacquiao entered into a written contract with his company for a number of social and promotional appearances in McAllen, Texas last September.

Lozano claimed that Pacquiao was paid $100,000 in exchange for his appearances, which the Filipino boxing icon later failed to commit.

Court documents showed the contract was signed in General Santos City.

“Kung talunin niya, retire na. Tigil na,” Chavit said.

That both fighters may end up receiving such huge amount of money for engaging each other inside the ring may not come as a surprise.

The 2007 light middleweight title clash between Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya went down as the richest fight ever in the history of prizefighting, earning a cool $19 million in live gate attendance and $120 million in pay-per-view revenue following its record breaking buys of 2.4 million.

De La Hoya emerged $52 million richer after the fight, surpassing the previous record of $35 million earned by both heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Mayweather Jr. came away with $25 million.
And given the animosity and hype that preceded two failed attempts to get the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, the likelihood of it going down as the biggest fight of all time in terms of financial earnings, is not that impossible.

But the problem, according to Singson, is Mayweather’s reluctance to get the fight done.

‘Takot si Mayweather. Alam niyang si Manny ang tatalo sa kanya,” said the former national security adviser in an obvious reference to Mayweather’s unbeaten mark of 41-0, with 25 KOs.

Singson noted how the Filipino boxing sensation has acceded in meeting the demands made by the 33-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, including submitting himself to a series of drug testing leading to the day of the fight.

“Lahat ng gusto niya (Mayweather), pumayag na si Manny, peros siya naman ang ayaw,” he said.
One major development that could force Mayweather Jr. to accept the bout, however, is the result of the two felony coercion and one felony robbery charges filed against him by former girlfriend Josie Harris. Arraignment for the case is set on January 24.

“Nahihirapan ngayon `yun (Mayweather). Maraming kaso, baka maubos ang pera. Baka sakali, lalaban na `yun,” said Singson.

But given the difficult nature of putting together a fight involving two of the best boxer in the planet today, Singson said Pacquiao has a lot of available contingencies in case Mayweather remains an elusive opponent.
“Mayweather muna kung lalaban. Tapos no. 2 si Mosley and then, Marquez,” said Singson, stressing that a third fight with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez should be made at 145 and above.

As for the others, Singson said they can forget about earning their biggest payday at the expense of Pacquiao.

“Yung mga Berto (Andre, the reigning World Boxing Council welterweight champion) walang pera dun,” he said. “Maraming gustong lumaban sa kanya, pero hindi kikita.”

Juan Manuel Marquez And Andre Berto Both Want Match With Manny Pacquiao

2010-11-28T21:08:00.000-08:00

[Sports.Inquirer.Net] Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez recovered from a third round knockdown to stop Australian Michael Katsidis in the ninth and retain his WBA and WBO lightweight titles in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Immediately after the victory, Marquez called for a third fight with eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Pacquiao and Marquez drew their first bout in 2004, and Pacquiao won a split decision in a rematch four years later.

“We know Pacquiao is avoiding us,” said Marquez afterward. “A third fight is what the public wants.”

In the undercard, unbeaten American Andre Berto impressively defended his World Boxing Council welterweight belt, stopping Freddy Hernandez at 2:07 in the first round.

Berto improved to 27-0 with 21 knockouts.

Berto was later quoted by Fighthype as saying: “I think I would definitely be the best fight out there for him
(Pacquiao). He needs somebody with speed, he needs somebody young, he needs somebody strong, and we’re going to see what happens.”

After a fast-paced opening two rounds, in which Mexican Marquez landed blistering counter combinations as his
Australian challenger pressed forward, Katsidis, 27-3 (22 KOs) dropped Marquez in round three with a short left hook.

The champion appeared badly hurt but was able to survive the onslaught and by the end of the round was troubling his opponent with pinpoint punches to the body and head.

Katsidis continued to swarm forward aggressively, throwing a high volume of punches, but Marquez, 52-5-1 (38 KOs) responded with devastatingly accurate counters.

In the ninth, Marquez stepped up the pressure, landing with combinations and backing Katsidis across the ring. As
Marquez continued to land at will, referee Kenny Bayless called a halt to the contest.

Katsidis was fighting despite the death of his brother, Stathi, last month. Stathi, a professional jockey, was found dead in his Brisbane home on Oct. 19 from as yet undisclosed causes.

“I went through a lot to make it to this fight,” Katsidis admitted afterward. “It was a hard thing to even make it through this fight,” he added tearfully.

Pacquiao has repeatedly said that he is willing to face anybody lined up for him by his promoter (Bob Arum).

In Marquez’s case, Pacquiao wants a guaranteed purse and said the Mexican’s camp should undertake all the promotional aspect of the bout which could be done from 140-147 pounds.

Pacquiao The Crime Buster

2010-11-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

CRIME rate was practically non-existent yesterday as even criminals watched and cheered the Pambansang Kamao, Manny Pacquiao.

The Philippine National Police recorded a phenomenal minimal crime incidence especially in Metro Manila where only one crime was reported – a robbery in a jewelry shop in Manila.

“Apparently, even criminals took time out to watch the People’s champ. How we wish that we can enjoy minimal crime rate all year round,” PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said.

Maybe Manny Pacquiao should stop politics and be a police beating up crime like he did Antonio Margarito.

Manny Pacquiao Is The Best

2010-11-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

The size disparity was obvious with just one look at Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.

But on this cool Saturday night, it was the boxing wonder from the Philippines who stood tall.

Behind a blinding speed and thundering punches, Pacquiao, the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, reduced the bigger but slow Margarito to a bloody pulp, carving out a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision and winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight championship for his record eighth world title.

Peppering his tough, 5-foot-11 Mexican opponent with power punches left and right, Pacquiao had no trouble pulling off this one, dominating Margarito from the opening bell onwards and dealing him the worst loss of his tarnished career before an electrified crowd of 41,734 at the elegant Cowboys Stadium here.

So overriding the victory was, that Margarito, his face a bloody mess after the fight, only won a total of three rounds on all the judges’ scorecards that read 120-108 (Laurence Cole), 118-110 (Glen Crocker) and 119-110 (Oren Shellenberger).

“I don’t think Manny lost a single round,” stressed trainer Freddie Roach in the post-fight conference. “I wish we had knocked him out. He’s a very tough guy. I was surprised how tough he was.”

Pacquiao, the fighting congressman from the province of Sarangani who now has won world titles as a flyweight super-bantamweight, featherweight, super-featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight, was just as stunned as his well-respected trainer.

“I’m really trying to knock him out, but I can’t believe that he’s tough,” said the 31-year-old Filipino southpaw, who also sported some bruises on his face and two swollen hand after turning his opponent into a virtual moving target. “He had a braveheart.”

Indeed, Margarito had.

Based on Compu box statistics, Pacquiao landed a total of 474 out of the total 1,069 punches thrown. Out of those punches landed, 411 were power shots or an average of 34 power punches per round, 21 more than the weight class average.

“Those numbers are absolutely out of sight,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, obviously astonished with the figures,” admitted later.

Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 Kos) relentlessly strafed Margarito in the fourth, opening a nasty cut just under the right eye that eventually shut close as the fight wore on.

The former three-time world champion from Tijuana, Mexico, said the complexion of the highly-entertaining match changed from that point on.

“I was doing good until I was cut in the fourth. That’s when the problem started coming,” said Margarito, who skipped the post-fight conference as he had to be brought to the hospital for checkup.

Margarito had his best moments in the middle rounds, especially in the sixth when he staggered Pacquiao with a left to the side after briefly managing to pin the boxing sensation on the ropes.

“He hurt me in the ropes. He hurt me with that body shot,” the former pandesal vendor turned ring champion said of that incident.

But Pacquiao quickly turned the fight around with two more dominant showings in the 10th and 11th, respectively, landing 108 of a total 164 power punches thrown at Margarito (38-7, 27 Kos).

The barrage of punches left Margarito’s both eyes badly swelling that the Filipino at one time, asked referee Laurence Cole to stop the carnage.

“His face was a mess. My opponent looked bad,” said Pacquiao, who earned a cool $15 million, a figure that could likely increase to as much as $20 million when the pay-per-view sales come in next week.

“I wanted the referee to stop it. In the 12th round I was just looking to get thru the fight. I eased up on him. I told the referee, ‘Look at his eyes.’ I didn’t want to damage him permanently. That’s not what boxing is about,” added Pacquiao.

Margarito took home $3 million, his biggest paycheck ever despite coming off a one-year suspension after his license was revoked when he was caught guilty of loading his handwraps prior to a January 2009 title fight with Sugar Shane Mosley.

Although Cole thought many times during the course of the fight whether to stop it or not, the Mexican wouldn’t allow such thing to happen.

“He’s very fast. It’s hard to land a punch on that guy, but there’s no way I was going to quit in the fight. I am a Mexican and we fight to the end,” said Margarito.

Shane Mosley Wants Manny Pacquiao

2010-11-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

"Sugar" Shane Mosley spoke with BoxingScene.com to discuss his status with Golden Boy Promotions and to clear up some of the rumors being circulated on the internet. Mosley told BoxingScene that he is not signing a promotional agreement with Top Rank. While Mosley is still a partner in Golden Boy, he plans to fight outside of their promotional banner in order to get fights with Top Rank-promoted boxers.

Golden Boy and Top Rank have an ongoing rivalry which has escalated to the point where the two companies are not doing any business with each other. Without the involvement of Golden Boy in the promotion, Mosley is confident that he can reach an agreement with Top Rank to fight Manny Pacquiao, or possible rematches with Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

If a deal is reached for Mosley to face a Top Rank-promoted boxer, he plans to fight under his own personal promotional company.

[Courtesy: Ernest Gabion]

Singapore Open Golfers Watch Pacquiao Vs Margarito Instead

2010-11-13T23:49:00.000-08:00

Golfers at the Singapore Open took full advantage of another long weather delay by tuning into the Manny Pacquiao v Antonio Margarito WBC super welteweight title fight on television on Sunday.

The final round of the $6 million co-sanctioned tournament was halted shortly before noon local time as a tropical downpour lashed the Serapong course and the threat of lightning forced players into the clubhouse.

Defending champion Ian Poulter and U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell were two of those who watched the Filipino, known as Pac Man, dominate Margarito for 12 rounds at Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

"Not the worst storm delay of all time as we all got to watch the Pacquiao fight, but it means we are struggling to get finished today," McDowell said on his Twitter feed.

McDowell could leaprfrog German Martin Kaymer at the top of the Race to Dubai standings if he wins in Singapore, though the tournament now looks likely to finish on Monday due to the delay.

"70 players watching the Pac Man fight," Poulter tweeted on his page. "Wow it's a belter."

Poulter, Adam Scott and Kang Kyung-nam are leading the tournament on 14-under-par after three holes of the final round with McDowell two strokes back.

Small But Terrible

2010-11-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

The marvelous Manny Pacquiao did it again. The 98-pound weakling kicked sand in the big guy's face. Yet another Paul Bunyan was chopped down, although this one, a tough and game Antonio Margarito, never allowed anyone to yell "Timber."

Pacquiao did what his camp, and especially his trainer, Freddie Roach, said he would. He methodically sliced apart a man who had five inches on him in height, six inches of reach and 16 pounds by fight time.

The Congressman from the Sarangani district of the Philippines, a boxing wonder, countered off most of Margarito's plodding charges with flurries of combinations. By the fourth round, Margarito's face was a mess and Pacquiao was in control.

By the 11th round, the cut under Margarito's right eye, inspected in his corner after each round, was so bad and Pacquiao was doing such damage that Pacquiao kept glancing at the referee, expecting him to step in and stop it. He even admitted after the fight that he had backed off a bit in the last two rounds because he didn't want to damage the eye any more. The result was a unanimous decision and the WBC junior-middleweight title.

Margarito kept coming forward, plodding, lunging, lurching and occasionally landing.

Little did we think that there was another body part in Pacquiao's arsenal that we hadn't identified. Now we have: his chin. Margarito connected several times. Pacquiao took the hits, danced away and peppered Margarito with four or five quick shots in return.

"I never expected him to be as strong as he was," Pacquiao said.

Margarito said, "I am a Mexican. I would never quit."

Roach was less diplomatic. He said the Margarito corner "probably ruined Margarito's career by not stopping it earlier."

[Courtesy: Bill Dwyer | LA Times]

Pacquiao Versus Mayweather Still A Possibility?

2010-11-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

In the days and weeks before he would fight Diego Corrales in Las Vegas in 2001 in the first major fight of his career, Floyd Mayweather Jr. railed against the evils of domestic violence.

Corrales was facing a prison term on charges of spousal abuse, and Mayweather taunted him about it relentlessly. He promised to defeat Corrales on behalf of battered women everywhere.

Now, nearly a full decade later, there is a certain sad irony in the fact that what would be the richest fight in boxing history may never be made because Mayweather is facing a potential lengthy prison sentence because of a domestic violence charge pending against him.

Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are the two best fighters in the sport. Some prefer Pacquiao because he’s become an offensive dynamo whose fast hands have led to destructive wins over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Others prefer Mayweather, whose amazing defensive instincts make it next to impossible for mere mortals to land a haymaker.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. They’re 1 and 1-A, and nobody else is close.

They’re also the two biggest draws in the sport. Pacquiao is expected to draw a huge crowd to Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, when he’ll meet Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight title that Mayweather once held. Promoter Bob Arum said there is a chance that there could be as many as 70,000 people in the stadium, but it’s a slam dunk that the figure will exceed the 51,000 who showed up in March to watch Pacquiao take Joshua Clottey apart.

Mayweather’s 2007 fight with De La Hoya established records for most pay-per-view sales, at 2.45 million, and largest gate, at $18.4 million.

There were two aborted attempts – one late last year and the other this past summer – to make the fight, and each time it fell apart. In the summer negotiations, things were so bad that the Mayweather side tried to insist there were no negotiations.

But now, there is no other legitimate challenger for either man. In January, after talks broke down the first time, Pacquiao turned to Clottey and Mayweather turned to Shane Mosley. Clottey was viable because most believe he deserved a win over Miguel Cotto when they fought, and that only a bad judging decision cost him the victory. Mosley was viable for Mayweather because he’d destroyed Margarito in 2009, had two wins over De La Hoya and was regarded by most experts as one of the top 10 fighters in the world.

Pacquiao routed Clottey and Mayweather did the same to Mosley. Mosley was also lackluster in fighting to a split draw with Sergio Mora in September.

Assuming Pacquiao defeats Margarito on Saturday – Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach not only predicts a knockout inside of eight rounds but insists Pacquiao won’t lose a second of the fight – the only man for Pacquiao is Mayweather and the only man for Mayweather is Pacquiao.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao wants the Mayweather fight and will say that on Saturday if or when he defeats Margarito. If not, Arum added, the choices for Pacquiao’s next opponent would be Mosley, Cotto or Juan Manuel Marquez.

None of the three are remotely attractive anymore. Mosley is 39 years old and clearly on the downside of his career. He was horrific in the fight against Mayweather and lackluster at best against Mora. Pacquiao already destroyed Cotto, stopping him in the 12th round of a bout that could have been – and probably should have been – halted four or five rounds earlier. Pacquiao and Marquez have fought a pair of sensational fights, battling to a 2004 draw in a featherweight match before Pacquiao pulled out a split-decision victory in a 2008 super featherweight title fight.

Marquez is a lightweight, however, and Pacquiao is a welterweight. Pacquiao will no longer fight lighter than about 144 pounds, meaning Marquez would have to move up. And while Marquez is clearly one of the world’s finest fighters, he proved conclusively in a 2009 loss to Mayweather that he’s no welterweight. He was slow and didn’t have his usual fire.

The possibilities for either man, then, are limited. They need each other.

Not only does Mayweather face potential jail time, but his trainer/uncle – Roger Mayweather – does as well. On the same day that Floyd Mayweather Jr. must appear in a Las Vegas court for a preliminary hearing, Roger Mayweather is set to stand trial on charges he assaulted a female boxer he once trained.

Arum said he’d reach out to Mayweather next week if Pacquiao wins on Saturday, seeking permission to speak with Mayweather’s highly regarded Las Vegas defense attorney, Richard Wright, about his case. Arum does not want to put up millions of dollars for a fight if the domestic violence case is going to interfere.

Whether Mayweather will grant that permission is dubious, given his bitter relationship with Arum. Even if he does, there are huge obstacles to making the fight.

Mayweather likely wouldn’t want to fight without his uncle in his corner, so not only will Floyd’s legal issues have to be resolved but Roger’s as well.

They’ll need to come to a deal on the drug testing that Mayweather was insisting upon previously, and which ultimately scuttled the first fight when everything else seemed settled.

They’ll need to agree on a purse split. Arum said even if Pacquiao’s fight with Margarito does more pay-per-view sales than the 1.4 million that the Mayweather-Mosley fight did, he’ll agree to 50-50. Whether Mayweather will agree, however, is anyone’s guess.

Given the intense feelings in the relationship between the sides, the little things will also be big – and could prove to be stumbling blocks.

It makes sense for Pacquiao-Mayweather to be the next fight on the agenda for each man, but as we’ve seen already in this mess, common sense rarely prevails. Don’t hold your breath waiting for the match, and consider yourself extremely fortunate if you ever get to see it.

[Courtesy: Kevin Iole]

What's Next For Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

2010-11-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

What's next for Manny Pacquiao? Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Or...

Post-fight Interview With Manny Pacquiao

2010-11-13T23:20:00.000-08:00

Jaime Motta talks with Manny Pacquiao following his unanimous decision victory over Antonio Margarito in Dallas below.

[Courtesy: ESPN Sports]

Pacquiao Margarito Fight Highlights

2010-11-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

Bigger doesn't mean better and Manny Pacquiao proved that small is terrible too.

Manny Pacquiao more than made up with speed what he lacked in size, turning Antonio Margarito into a bloody mess with a dizzying array of punches Saturday night in a lopsided decision victory.

In a spectacular performance before a delighted crowd of 41,734 at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao cemented his claim to being the best boxer in the world by dominating the bigger but slower Margarito almost from the opening bell.

Pacquiao won round after round, opening a cut on Margarito’s cheek and closing his right eye.

The punches came quickly, and they came often. Margarito was plenty game as he tried to stalk Pacquiao around the ring, but every time he got close Pacquiao would land a four- or five-punch combination that snapped his head back and stopped him in his tracks.

The beating was so thorough that the congressman from the Philippines turned to referee Laurence Cole several times in the 11th round, imploring him to stop the fight. It went on, though, even though Margarito had no chance to win.

“I can’t believe that I beat someone this big and this strong,” Pacquiao said. “It’s hard. I really do my best to win the fight.”

Pacquiao moved up in weight yet again to take on Margarito, a natural welterweight with a reputation for ruggedness in the ring. And rugged he was, though he took a beating all night long at the hands of a faster and seemingly more powerful opponent.

“There was no way I was gong to quit. I’m a Mexican, we fight until the end,” Margarito said.

Pacquiao won every round on one scorecard, 120-108, and was ahead 119-109 and 118-110 on the other two. The Associated Press had it a 120-108 shutout.

“We didn’t lose a round,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “I wish they would have stopped the fight.”

That almost happened, but Cole allowed it to go on even as Margarito kept taking such a beating that he went directly to a hospital afterward for treatment of his cuts. There wasn’t any way Margarito was going to win the fight, but he could still see out of one eye and wanted to continue.

“I told the referee, `Look at his eyes, look at his cuts,”’ Pacquiao said. “I did not want to damage him permanently. That’s not what boxing is about.”

Ringside punch stats reflected Pacquiao’s dominance, showing him landing 474 punches to 229 for Margarito. But it wasn’t just the sheer volume of punches, but the power in which they came at almost every angle.

Roach predicted before the fight that Pacquiao would carve Margarito apart because he was simply much too quick for his opponent. He did just that, starting from the first round when he landed an early flurry up the middle that seemed to set the tone for the fight.

It wasn’t entirely easy, though. Pacquiao said Margarito hurt him in the middle rounds with shots to the head and the body, though he was unable to land more than one of two punches at a time. When he did manage to land, more often than not Pacquiao was there to fire right back with volleys of his own that found their mark almost every time.

“Manny is the best fighter in the world,” said Margarito’s trainer, Robert Garcia. “He is just too fast—very, very quick.”

While there was no controversy in the ring, there was a dispute in the dressing room before the fight when a member of Pacquiao’s camp saw a weight-loss supplement in Margarito’s gear and demanded his blood be tested immediately for possible banned substances. Texas boxing officials ruled that would not be necessary, and the fight went on.

Roach also made sure he was in the dressing room to watch the hands of Margarito, who is still banned in California for a hand wrapping scandal, get wrapped. But it was Margarito’s corner who demanded Roach also rewrap his fighter’s hands in a display of gamemanship.

Once the fight started it didn’t matter. Pacquiao landed some big left hands early, cutting Margarito beneath the right eye and causing it to swell. By the middle of the fight he couldn’t see out of that eye and his left eye began closing, too.

The fight was for the WBC 154-pound title even though the contract weight was 150 pounds. Margarito weighed 150 at Friday’s weigh-in, but was 165 on the unofficial HBO scale before the fight while Pacquiao, who had been 144.6, was 148 pounds.

Pacquiao also gave away 4 1/2 inches in height and was at a six-inch reach disadvantage, but that didn’t matter either.

Pacquiao earned a guaranteed $15 million, though he is likely to make millions more on his cut of the television revenues. He planned to give a concert at Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and then return to his political duties in the Philippines.

“I have another job after this,” Pacquiao said. “I’m going back to the Philippines to do my other job and be a public servant.”

[Courtesy: Tim Dahlberg | Yahoo! Sports]

Manny Pacquiao Beats Up Antonio Margarito For 8th Title

2010-11-13T22:59:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao was once again masterful, beating Antonio Margarito so frightfully that Margarito’s face looked as it had been pounded repeatedly by a club.

Pacquiao won a unanimous one-sided decision in a blowout from the opening seconds of the fight to capture the World Boxing Council super welterweight title before 41,734 in-awe fans at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao’s title belt, coming against an opponent who had a 17-pound weight advantage when the bell rang, 165-148, was the eighth in his illustrious career. Pacquiao has won world titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and now 154 pounds.

Judges Jurgen Langos had it 120-109, Glen Crocker had it 118-110 and Oren Schellenberger had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Yahoo! Sports scored it 120-107 for Pacquiao, giving Pacquiao a 10-8 edge in the 10th round when he dominated tremendously.

Margarito, fighting for the first time in the U.S. since Jan. 24, 2009, when he was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his gloves before a loss to Shane Mosley, was never in the fight. Pacquiao’s speed was blinding and was the difference in the fight.

Pacquiao was hurt when Margarito landed a combination to the ribs, but he spun off the ropes and landed a three-punch combination to the head. Margarito’s right eye was swollen grotesquely, beginning in the fourth. By the 10th round, the left eye was a slit, too.

Pacquiao was looking at referee Laurence Cole late in the fight, asking him to stop it. Pacquiao said he eased off in the 12th round. “I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe [he took those punches].”

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added, “We didn’t lose a round. I wish they had stopped the fight. They probably ruined his career by not stopping the fight.”

[Boxing News Source: Kevin Iole]

Pacquiao Exposes Margarito's Flaw

2010-11-13T22:46:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Congressman Manny Pacquiao for winning his eight world boxing title after decisively beating Antonio Margarito. Give credit to Antonio Margarito for standing his ground and lasting 12 rounds despite the systematic onslaught by Manny Pacquiao.

Click HERE for Pacquiao-Margarito Picture Gallery

Credit also goes to Freddie Roach. Now I understand the 'flaw' he was talking about. Antonio Margarito prepared his mind and body. He even showed it off during the official weigh-in and people started to doubt if Manny Pacquiao could beat the bigger and strong Antonio Margarito.

Except, when fight time came, Manny Pacquiao disregarded going after the body and instead followed Freddie Roach's strategy to go after the 'flaw.' Antonio Margarito failed to protect his face and he paid the price terribly. Round after round, Manny Pacquiao systematically pounded Antonio Margarito's face 'til all he could see were blurry punches striking from every angle. The once smiling and proud face promptly disappeared.

Watch Pacquiao Versus Margarito WBC Junior Middleweight Title Live Stream

2010-11-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

The Mega-boxing event of the year is just around the corner. Manny Pacquiao goes for another record-breaking 8th world boxing title while Antonio Margarito fights for a chance at redemption (although, that videoclip about him mocking Roach's condition surely won't help his case).

If you don't have a subscription to HBO PPV for the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito event, don't fret. We'll share it with you here on PacmanVS.

A live stream for the Manny Pacquiao - Antonio Margarito showdown will be shown here.

If you can see the live stream below, then you're good to go. If not, take the opportunity to update your browsers and plug-ins. If you're still stuck with Internet Explorer 6 then it's gonna suck. I recommend IE8, Mozilla Firefox, or Chrome for maximum compatibility. Also download plug-ins that are used in video streaming like Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and Veetle.

Manny Pacquiao Versus Antonio Margarito Fight Night in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium will start at 9PM Eastern Time. Of course, there will be undercard fights, so Pacquiao and Margarito will probably enter the ring at around 11.

At the official weighin at the Dallas cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao came in at 144.6 lbs. while Margarito made it in time to weigh in at 150 lbs. Pacquiao expects to weigh the same while Margarito could stuff it til 160lbs.

[Video Courtesy: fightfan.com | Youtube]

Manny Pacquiao - Antonio Margarito Official Weigh-in

2010-11-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

Pound for pound king and 7 weight division champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito of Mexico pose during the official weigh-in at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Friday afternoon for their WBC Junior Middleweight Title bout Saturday night at the same venue here. Pacquiao came in at 144.6 lbs. while Margarito tipped in at 150 lbs.

Jorge Arce: Only Knockout Could Save Antonio Margarito

2010-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Although highly-regarded as a gritty Mexican boxing hero, Jorge Arce, the five-time world champion, isn’t ashamed to admit how he admires Manny Pacquiao.

Although having witnessed in action several times in the past the man reviled by many of his countrymen for beating one Mexican great after the other, Arce said he still has one major wish he wants to get done when it comes to the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

“It’s always a dream of mine to see Pacquiao in training,” said Arce, who stood out again through his signature fedora hat.

Quizzing Manila-based reporters on the exact time the seven-time world champion would work out, Arce, 31, didn’t lose time tracking down Pacquiao at the Longhorn Exhibition Hall late Thursday afternoon as he conducts his final training day for his title bout against Arce’s compatriot, Antonio Margarito.

So, there was Arce savoring the moment at ringside as he watched Pacquiao dazzle him and the rest of the crowd with his power punches and noted handspeed in the ring along with trainer Freddie Roach.

Afterwards, he said only a knockout of Pacquiao 48 hours from now could save the day for Margarito.

Otherwise, it will be an all Pacquiao show in the event the 12-round fight ends up in the judges’ scorecard.

Arce provided the simple, yet reasonable assessment based on the strengths the two fighters will be bringing with them inside the ring.

Margarito thrives on his size and physical strength, while Pacquiao has always relied on his speed and quickness.

Overweight Margarito: "There is No Way That We Can Lose This Fight"

2010-11-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Antonio Margarito is ready for war on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The former three time welterweight champion is confident in his ability to knock Manny Pacquiao out. He doesn't see Pacquiao being able to last the twelve round distance. There have been insults thrown around by both camps for many weeks. Margarito said he only threw insults in response to the verbal attacks from Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.

"I came here to fight and not to make friends," said Margarito. "We were peaceful, but the team of Pacquiao, Freddie Roach in particular, tried to intimidate us and it was time to fight back. I guess they are nervous. Roach has talked a lot about us."

Margarito doesn't see any possibility for Pacquiao to win. They will fight at a catch-weight of 150-pounds. Margarito thinks Pacquiao and his team made a very big mistake by agreeing to fight him at junior middleweight.

"I feel very good, very different, and even better than when I faced Miguel Cotto. There is no way we can lose this fight. I'm going to knock him out," Margarito said.

Antonio Margarito suffering the same fate as Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto at the hands of Manny Pacquiao won’t come as a surprise to Alex Ariza. [Jhonny Gonzalez]

Antonio Margarito is Overweight

Pacquiao’s great strength and conditioning coach believes Margarito is still a bit overweight heading into Friday’s official weigh-in (Saturday in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium.

The signs are there, according to Ariza, for everyone to see – doing roadwork at night, wearing sunglasses during the final press conference for the 12-round title fight, and even wearing plastic (suits) from the opening to the final day of his training.

“He doesn’t look good to me,” Ariza disclosed. “I’ve been in this business for a long time and I knew what fighters look like in scales”.

“I think he’s overweight. And I think he’s grossly emaciated and gaunt. He looks terrible to me. He looks like he left everything in the ring.”

Drained after attempting to go down in weight, both De La Hoya and Cotto were stopped in the ninth and 12th rounds, respectively ,by Pacquiao.

Ariza, who’s been in-charge of conditioning Pacquiao every fight since 2008, added Margarito’s case can be likened to De La Hoya two years ago.

Without a doubt, Ariza thinks the former three-time world champion from Tijuana, Mexico will make the catchweight (150).

“But he’s gonna kill himself to make that weight. He’s gonna look like a shell. Gonna be a shell of a fighter inside that,” Ariza said.[Gerry Ramos]

Robert Garcia:Pacquiao Will Go Down In The 11th Round

2010-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, predicted the fight will end at the 8th round, but Robert Garcia thinks otherwise. He believes Antonio Margarito has what it takes to knock out the man considered as the best boxer in the planet today.

And as proof of that, the trainer of the Mexican fighter who’s on the comeback trail, has picked the particular round where the end will come for Manny Pacquiao.

“I like it in later rounds. I’m picking 11,” said Garcia moments after stepping down from the ring following the open public workout the 32-year-old Margarito did Tuesday afternoon at the Longhorn Exhibit Hall of the Gaylord Texan Hotel here.

Freddie Roach, the counterpart of Garcia in Pacquiao’s corner, has been consistent in his forecast of Margarito going down between the eighth and ninth round.

But Garcia, 39 and a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-featherweight champion, believes their chances of pulling one of boxing’s biggest upsets relies on the fight stretching in the late rounds.

“The longer the fight goes, the better our chances. That’s guaranteed,” he said.

And there’s no other way for them to win this one than stopping the world’s pound-for-pound king on his tracks.

“Knockout, knockout. No doubt about it,,” Garcia added. “But it’s going to be a tough fight.”

Asked about why he’s confident Margarito can knock out the Filipino ring superstar, Garcia stressed, “I know my fighter. I know the condition he is in, the heart that he’s got. And I’ve been watching those Pacquiao fights over and over again the past three months.”

By repeatedly viewing Pacquiao’s previous fights, Garcia admitted having seen a lot of flaws in the seven-time world champion’s fighting style, but would rather not bare them in public.

“You guys will see that on the day of the fight. Margarito’s height and reach will be a big advantage, but we’ll gonna push him to fight,” Garcia said.

Margarito’s trainer also addressed the issue surrounding the Mexican’s weight problem, pointing out he has no trouble meeting the catchweight of 150 pounds set for the fight.

As of Tuesday, Garcia said Margarito is on weight already.

“He’ll be coming in at 150 during the weigh-in,” he said. And come fight night? “160, 162 maybe. But no, we won’t go up at 165.”

What's Next For Manny Pacquiao?

2010-11-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

[Examiner.com] Boxer Manny Pacquiao will be on 60 Minutes Sunday night and the interview has been really hush-hush in what it will share with the viewers. Known as one of the greatest fighters in the world, Manny (also known as Pacman) was in Los Angeles for the filming of the segment.

Bob Simon was taking a break outside, while Manny was eating inside and talked to other reporters covering the boxing champion. In his interview, Bob Simon shares that he thinks this might be Manny's last fight. With no one else to challenge in the ring and pursuing politics, it might be we won't see him again after the boxing match on November 13.

This interview is extraordinarily rare as most of the 60 minute staff will only talk to their cameras. Since Mr. Simon was so nice to talk about the champion boxer in the behind the scenes interview, you might want to take a peek. He even admits he knew little to nothing about boxing before he started this segment.

[Video Courtesy: CBSNewsonline | Youtube]

Pacquio And Entourage Arrive In Texas

2010-11-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao set foot on the site of one of his most dominant performances ever after arriving in Texas Monday night for his 12-round title fight with Antonio Margarito of Mexico Saturday at the elegant Cowboys Stadium.

An entourage numbering 188 accompanied Pacquiao in a three-hour flight from Los Angeles to the Lone Star state here aboard a chartered Boeing 757 courtesy of the Miami Airline International.

Pacquiao was also at the home of the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks eight months ago when he convincingly defeated Ghanaian Joshua Clottey to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title belt before a record crowd of 50,994.

The 31-year-old superstar dominated Clottey in the entire 12-round bout, throwing punches totaling 1,231, landing 246 of them.

But the same can’t be expected of the 32-year-old Margarito, who at 5-foot-11, will be the biggest and strongest opponent the Filipino southpaw will ever face in the ring in his quest for an eighth world title in eight different weight classes.

Yet, Pacquiao said he’s ready at whatever the Mexcian, dubbed the ‘Tijuana Tornado’, will bring in the ring for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight championship.

“Let’s get this on,” he said, smiling. “One hundred percent na tayong ready at hinihintay na lang natin ‘yung araw ng laban.”

The world’ top pound-for-pound fighter also has great respect for Margarito, never mind if he was once caught with loaded handwraps, an offense that led to the revocation of his license and a one-year suspension from the ring.

“Magandang laban ito dahil gusto ko ‘yung style nya. He is always coming forward. Aggressive fighter who is always throwing punches,” said Pacquiao of his towering opponent who sports a 38-6 record, with 27 knockouts.

And so leaving nothing to chance, the Filipino congressman had to work hard on his final day at training camp at the Wild Card gym, going four rounds of sparring with old hand David Rodela Monday.

He then hit the speed bag, double end and skipped ropes before being told to finally call off the two-hour training session as his entourage is about to leave for Dallas later.

Pacquiao actually began the day running in the mountains of Griffth Park despite the slight morning drizzle.

Later in the afternoon, it’s off to the Los Angeles International Airport for the three-hour plane ride to Texas, where Margarito had already been waiting as early as Sunday.

Wearing a black trench coat over a cream polo and jeans, Pacquiao was the last to arrive in the airport together with lovely wife Jinkee and sat in the business class of the plane where he was joined by his mother Dionisia, trainer Freddie Roach, physical and strength conditioning coach Alex Ariza, Wild Card stablemates Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Amir Khan.

Arriving at the Dallas/Fortworth airport at around 10 p.m., Pacquiao and his immediate family was whisked right away in a black Navigator and drove off to the Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center, where his entourage is billeted together with those of Margarito.

Pacquiao starts his first day in Texas by doing track work at the Grapevine High School and then will have an open public workout in the afternoon at the Longhorn exhibit of the Gaylor Hotel, preceding Margarito himself.

Would You Like Antonio Margarito To Win Against Manny Pacquaio?

2010-11-09T00:39:00.000-08:00

Bill Detloff, THE RING Magazine's Senior Writer, lays out several reasons why an Antonio Margarito victory over Manny Pacquiao this coming Saturday is going to be a good thing for the sport of boxing.

Conventional thinking holds that as a business, boxing is largely dependent on the success of its most-popular participant. Within the context of its position in the sporting world, boxing has been at its most commercially vibrant when its biggest heroes -- Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya -- were at the peak of their powers, transcending the sport and creating new fans with each win.

By this logic, all of us who hope for good things for the sport should likewise hope that Manny Pacquiao, by far the most-popular prizefighter in the world and one of the most successful athletes overall, vaporizes Antonio Margarito when they meet on Saturday night on HBO PPV.

By virtue of a charisma that finds its genesis in the improbable combination of humble, cuddly playmate and criminally gifted assassin, Pacquiao has parlayed his success in the ring into international superstardom.

Aided by flawless promotion and a nation of hero-worshipping boxing fans, Pacquiao has captured the hearts of sports fans to such a degree that even his pedestrian singing ability and occasional giddy cluelessness -- both of which were evident during a recent appearance on American late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live -- serve only to make him more lovable.

Which brings us to the best-possible outcome for boxing when Pacquiao and Margarito meet in front of an expected 70,000 or so fans at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas: a conclusive victory for Margarito.

The reasons are several.

First, upsets are good for business. Think Douglas-Tyson. Think Ali-Foreman. Think Spinks-Ali. Grand upsets remind everyone that what will happen in a prize ring is never a certainty and that is part of the sport’s great, enduring appeal.

At this writing, Pacquiao is roughly a 5-1 favorite. Most expect him to dominate Margarito on the way to stopping him late or winning a unanimous decision. An upset would very likely lead the sports news segments on Nov. 14.

Next, great theater demands both hero and villain and there’s no doubt who is who in this drama. Even if Margarito hadn’t been caught loading his gloves against Shane Mosley, he would be the villain here by virtue of his appreciable size advantage and an appearance that grows more or less sinister in relation to the length and pointiness of his goatee. Moreover, until promoter Bob Arum finds a way to match his star against a basket of puppies, Pacquiao will always be the good guy.

And if there’s one law in the ongoing drama that is good vs. evil, it is this: The good guy can’t always win. Sometimes the bad guy has to win. It’s an essential piece of good story-telling. Evil sometimes has to triumph over good. Not all the time. But enough of the time to keep the outcome in doubt. Good vs. evil, with the right balance of wins for each side, sells. Ask Vince McMahon. Good must have some adversity from which to rebound.

Which brings us to the next reason a Margarito win would be good for the sport: The rematch would blow the roof off everything. If they can put 70,000 in Cowboys Stadium for this match, which isn’t viewed as especially competitive or compelling, what do you think a rematch would do with a Pacquiao who has re-dedicated himself to boxing and a Margarito who has proven he can win the biggest fights without the aid of a crowbar in his gloves? It would break the bank.

As a bonus to all you Mayweather haters out there, a win by Margarito on Saturday and then an immediate rematch would essentially freeze Mayweather out of the picture and forces him to sit on the sideline watching a hugely important fight play out. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Finally, everyone loves a redemption story. Once a cheater, Margarito finds true success playing by the rules. It’s not a perfect redemption story, but it doesn’t have to be to sell. Redemption always sells, even when it‘s flawed -- or fabricated entirely.

If the odds are right and Pacquiao wins fairly easily, don’t fret. There are worse things. A Pacquiao win presumably brings us closer to Pacquiao-Mayweather next year. But a Margarito victory would really shake this sport up. And that’s never a bad thing.

Pacquiao-Margarito Fight Week Erupts With Bang

2010-11-09T00:15:00.000-08:00

[Lem Satterfield | BoxingScene.com] The most anticipated fight of the year is only a few days away. WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will pursue an eight divisional title by rising to 150-pounds to face former title-holder Antonio Margarito on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) vs. Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) will headline a four fight televised card on HBO pay per view.

Pacquiao has been unbeaten since March of 2005, when he dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to Erik Morales at super featherweight. Pacquiao returned to knock Morales out in the next two fights of their trilogy. On Saturday night, he will attempt to secure his 13th straight victory and the ninth knockout of his run.

"It's [moving up in weight] difficult, because I'm used to training and losing weight. When you train, you automatically lose weight. But I have to eat around 7,000 calories a day to keep the weight on. I have to get up in the middle of the night and eat eggs just to keep the weight on," said Pacquiao to FanHouse.

"So that's difficult. But then again, it's also nice, because I don't have to lose weight at the weigh in. It's fine for me to fight bigger guys or smaller guys, I'm just looking to fight. I weigh around 150 pounds right now. I do not have to lose any weight on the day of the weigh-in."

The fight has had it’s fair share of controversy and negative headlines. Before the state of Texas granted his application for a boxing license in the month of August, Margarito had been unable to fight in the United States as a result of a hand-wrapping scandal which stemmed from his ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January of 2009. Margarito was previously turned down for a license renewal when he applied in California.

Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, discovered two hard inserts with a plaster-like substance in Margarito's wraps and alerted an officer of the California State Athletic Commission. Margarito’s boxing license was revoked in February 2009 when he appeared before the commission in California. Despite Margarito’s claim that his former trainer, Javier Capetillo, planted the inserts without his knowledge, Pacquiao believes he was fully aware of what his trainer was doing. But, he also believes that Margarito served out his punishment and deserves to make a living.

"I think he [Margarito] knew what he was doing, but he's already been punished enough," said Pacquiao. "I can't say for sure what he did or didn't know, but I'm just a fighter, and I fight."

Even with the controversy, and the negative headlines over Margarito’s involvement in such a major event, thousands of fans are flocking to the state of Texas to attend the fight. Pacquiao’s fight in March, against Clottey, drew nearly 51,000 fans to Cowboys Stadium. Based on recent media events in Texas, Top Rank expects that number to be broken.

Margarito’s media functions, which took place on Sunday, were mobbed by thousands of fans who were eager to express their support for the Mexican fighter. The massive crowds even caught Team Margarito by surprise. After arriving in Dallas, Margarito was met by thousands of fans who turned out to greet him both at the Tamale Festival in Dallas, and, later, at the La Gran Plaza Shopping Mall in Fort Worth.

"Thousands of people showed up. But it's been this way everywhere that we've taken him. He's been getting big crowds," said Lee Samuels, Top Rank's head of public relations, who is in Dallas handling the promotion. "When he was at the Cowboys' Stadium the last time, we had trouble moving him around the stadium a few months ago. He's very popular."

Margarito's trainer, Robert Garcia, said the turnout was unbelievable.

"Oh, man, it was crazy. It was unbelievable. I couldn't believe how many people showed up. The thing is, there were a lot of people here for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, but, you know, Clottey didn't have any fans here," said Garcia.

"Antonio was very, very grateful that the fans showed up, and to know that all of those people are behind him. I mean, you know, Antonio Margarito has a lot of fans here, so, you know, Saturday night, when the fight comes around, it's really going to be a crazy night."

There was a crowd of 63,315 at the Superdome in New Orleans to witness Muhammad Ali's decision victory over Leon Spinks in their 1978 rematch. The Ali-Spinks rematch still holds the indoor attendance record. Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum, told reporters during a recent conference call that he hoped to surpass "over 60,000" in attendance at the stadium.

The crowd of 50,944 for Pacquiao-Clottey was the third largest for an indoor event in boxing history, and Arum said that Pacquiao-Margarito is "tracking well ahead of where we were of the Clottey fight, so I'm very optimistic."

Antonio Margarito's 4-Step Plan For Redemption

2010-11-09T00:06:00.000-08:00

With THE EVENT Manny Pacquiao Versus Antonio Margarito just around the corner, Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports lists 4 steps how Margarito could, if not fully rehabilitate his reputation, lessen the damage caused by his previous fight scandal.

1. Apologize and plead for mercy

Margarito never publicly has apologized to the fans, Mosley and promoter Bob Arum for what occurred that night. He can’t apologize for something he didn’t do, but he did hire Capetillo. While there is at least some doubt Margarito is complicit, there is zero question Capetillo is culpable.

Margarito is the man who hired Capetillo, and Margarito is in charge of his team. If a member of his team makes a mistake, responsibility for it falls on Margarito’s shoulders.

In 2002, the Nevada Athletic Commission fined Fernando Vargas a staggering $100,000 and suspended him for nine months after stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, was discovered in his system following a loss to Oscar De La Hoya. Vargas said that his nutritionist, Maz Ali, gave it to him without his consent.

But Vargas accepted the penalty because Ali worked for him and he had hired Ali.

“I don’t place blame on anyone except myself,” Vargas said following the Nov. 20, 2002, hearing in Las Vegas. “At the end of the day, I’m the captain of my ship.” Capetillo has accepted responsibility. Because Margarito was the boss and the one who hired Capetillo, he needs to apologize and admit responsibility, even if it occurred without his knowledge.

2. Have the wrappings of his hands videotaped every time

When Robert Garcia wraps Margarito’s hands on Saturday, it will be the most scrutinized hand wrapping in history. HBO cameras will be in the locker room to document it.

But Margarito presumably is going to continue to fight after the Pacquiao bout, win or lose. He needs to routinely arrange to have himself videotaped getting his hands wrapped every time he fights to prove he’s on the up and up.

The person wrapping Margarito’s hands should show his hands to the camera before beginning the wrapping to prove he’s not cupping anything illegal in some kind of sleight-of-hand attempt.

3. Remove the wrappings in the ring, in public view

He must allow a neutral party to cut the tape off his hands at the end of every fight and in view of the public. That person needs to deliver the wraps to the relevant authorities for them to inspect.

4. Have the wrapping material purchased and delivered by a third party

As one final layer of transparency, neither Margarito nor anyone in his employ should have the authority to buy the gauze and the tape used to wrap his hands. Having a neutral third party do it would remove any lingering doubts.

Margarito never is going to be boxing’s most beloved figure. He probably never will be so much as well-liked. But at least if he can follow those four simple steps for the remainder of his career, he’ll give the impression that he wants to do the right thing and that he grasps the gravity of the situation.

If he eschews transparency, he’ll be telling us all we need to know about his knowledge of the events of Jan. 24, 2009.

Antonio Margarito Arrives To Much Fanfare, Vows To Defeat Pacquiao

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

[Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News] Antonio Margarito is now in Dallas, Texas where he is making the rounds and meeting his fans.

Margarito looked relaxed and happy as he arrived in Texas with his wife, child and team. A bus with a huge photo of Margarito picked up the group.

In the morning, Team Margarito visited the Dallas Market Hall where thousands of Mexican fans awaited the 3-time boxing champion.

It was a happy scene: there was dancing, fans cheering the 'Tijuana Tornado'.

Margarito said he traveled to Texas a little earlier to enjoy the support from the huge Mexican community in the state.

Fans believe Margarito will upset the biggest name in boxing today, which is the Filipino Pacman.

Margarito showed off his muscle - the fruit of very hard training over the last 3 months. He then spent over an hour signing autographs.

Later in the day, team Margarito moved on to the Fort Worth Mall for another big fans rally.

Thousands more Mexicans were in attendance.

A mariachi band livened up the event. Fans were thrilled as Margarito declared he is ready to battle Pacquiao. The boxer sang a little bit, keeping in light for now before facing the biggest challenge of his boxing career come Sunday.

The Pacman has been beating up his Mexican opponents for the last five years, but Margarito said he will be the Mexican that will finally defeat the Pinoy, and take along with him as well the championship belt in the super welterweight division.