Roach mind games starting to work?

HOLLYWOOD—It seems that slowly but surely, Freddie Roach’s trash talking is getting into Antonio Margarito’s mind.

Having read and heard reports about Roach’s predictions that Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao is going to knock him out in their showdown on Nov. 13, the Mexican three-time world champion warned Roach that he could end up eating his words.

“Roach should watch out what he says,” Margarito said on HBO’s 24/7 preview of the bout to be aired on pay-per-view.

Boasting that he’s in the best shape of his life, Margarito said that when he hits Pacquiao the pound-for-pound king would ask himself: “What I have gotten myself into?”

Though aware that Pacquiao is unbeaten in his last 12 fights, dominating bigger guys like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, Margarito seems unconcerned about Pacquiao’s punching power that has stopped 38 of 51 victims.

“I don’t know how hard he punches, but it’s impossible that he’d have the power of a super welter,” said Margarito.

Margarito’s disbelief probably stems from the fact that Pacquiao started his ring career in 1995 as a reedy 106-pounder and will be fighting at the catch weight of 150 pounds for the first time.

In contrast, Margarito, who has 27 knockouts in 38 wins and six losses, has fought at 154 pounds as early as 2004.

Reiterating that they’ve had a great camp in Oxnard, California, with trainer Robert Garcia, Margarito said “we’re just counting down the hours.” 

Garcia, the former International Boxing Federation super featherweight champion who also trains Filipino World Boxing Association super flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire, bared in earlier reports that he noted some flaws in Pacquiao’s arsenal.

“He could be the fastest man in the planet, but he easily backs up when given four-five punch combinations,” said Garcia, adding that they have devised plans on how to topple the seven-time, seven-division champion.

In the same HBO episode, Pacquiao chided Margarito.

“He talks too much. Let’s get it on.”