No rematch clause for Pacquiao, Margarito

HOLLYWOOD—No matter the outcome of their Nov. 13 showdown for the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown, don’t expect a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Margarito Antonio.
 
Promoter Bob Arum isn’t inclined to hold a Pacquiao-Margarito Part II for the 12-round encounter set at a catch weight of 150 pounds.
 
 
“There’s no rematch clause,” Arum told Fanhouse.com during a media day recently. “I don’t believe in rematch clauses. If the fight turns out to be a one-sided fight (in Pacquiao’s favor) it won’t be saleable.”
 
But even if Margarito bucks the imposing 6-1 odds and foils Pacquiao’s bid for an unprecedented eighth world title, Arum isn’t inclined to stage a repeat even if the fight card at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, turns out to be a mega-hit just like Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey which lured 50,994 fans last March.
 
“If Manny concluded that Margarito is just too big and strong for him, why subject him to do it again?” said the 78-year-old Arum, who actually promotes both protagonists.
 
While Pacquiao, chosen Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America, is perceived to be faster than Margarito, the Mexican three-time champion towers over the Filipino ring icon by more than four inches and holds a six-inch reach advantage.
 
Oddsmakers and Arum, however, are baffled that Pacquiao, despite reports of distractions during his training in Baguio City and at the Wild Card Gym here, has been tagged a -650 favorite.
This means a bettor has to shell out $650 for Pacquiao to win $100. At +425, a $100 wager on Margarito, on the other hand, will earn $425.
 
Renowned trainer Freddie Roach went as far as saying that it was the “worst” training camp they ever had since he and Pacquiao began their successful partnership nine years ago.
 
Roach, Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, conditioning expert Alex Ariza and adviser Mike Koncz remain convinced, however, that Pacquiao will again rise to the challenge and claim Margarito as his 13th straight victim.
 
Pacquiao last tasted defeat in 2005 against Erik Morales, whom he subsequently demolished in their next two battles.
 
“Manny is going to win this fight,” Koncz told Manila-based sportswriters in a telephone interview Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila).
 
“Manny will be 100 percent ready on fight night,” Fernandez assured Fanhouse in a separate interview.
 
Los Angeles-based Winchell Campos, a member of Pacquiao’s staff, said the representative from Sarangani province, underwent nine rounds of sparring Tuesday against lightweights David Rodela, Reynaldo Beltran and an unidentified fighter.
 
The roster is in stark contrast to Pacquiao’s previous spar mates in the Philippines—middleweights Glen Tapia, Michael Medina and World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan.
 
Meanwhile, reports from the Margarito camp in Oxnard, California, indicate that the 32-year-old Tijuana Tornado is banging away at his sparring partners. But on another note, his weight is still hovering at 156-158 pounds, 11 days away from the HBO pay-per-view bout. Photo from filipinoboxingjournal.com