Bigger Margarito better for Pacquiao, says Roach

After watching Pacquiao whip himself into tiptop shape in just a week here, chief trainer Freddie Roach is convinced his prized ward will beat Margarito in their Nov. 13 showdown for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight crown.

Roach told the website The Sweet Science on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) that the 12-round bout will not be that “difficult” for Pacquiao.

“The bigger he (Margarito) is, the better it is for us,” said Roach. “I don’t think it will be a difficult fight at all.”

The four-time Trainer of the Year—who has been very accurate in his predictions of the outcome of Pacquiao’s last fights against David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey—said Margarito himself telegraphs his weaknesses.

“Margarito throws a lot of punches, he makes too many mistakes, has too many bad habits,” Roach told Examiner.com’s Michael Marley.

This line is similar to what Roach declared when he predicted a third-round knockout victory for Pacquiao over Hatton in May 2009.

The end for Hatton actually came a round early.

In earlier interviews, Roach said he expected Margarito to press his advantages in height, heft and reach against Pacquiao.

Though Margarito is expected to tip the scales at 150 pounds during the official weigh-in, the Mexican three-time world champ could bulk up to as much as 165 lb on fight night at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, has expressed preference to weigh in at 148 to 149 lb, but is not expected to enter the ring heavier than 150 to preserve his edge in speed.

A big 15 lb difference between the two fighters is possible, experts say.

Having studied numerous tapes of Margarito’s fights, Roach believes the bigger Mexican will be an easy target if he tries to bully Pacquiao, who has not weighed over 160 and fought at over 149.

Meanwhile, Texan Laurence Cole has been appointed to referee the Pacquiao-Margarito showdown, which is predicted to draw about 60,000 fans to the $1.2 billion stadium owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

A resident of Texas, the controversial Cole ruled a slip by Pacquiao as a knockdown in his November 2003 bout with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao went on to stop  Barrera in eleven rounds.