GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—They initially predicted a knockout victory for Manny Pacquiao more out of respect for their compatriot’s stature and record.
But after watching Antonio Margarito work out Tuesday afternoon, accomplished Filipino boxers Gerry Peñalosa and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco were all the more convinced that the Mexican is headed for the slaughterhouse in their Nov. 13 fight for the WBC super welterweight title.
“Don’t be surprised if the fight ends early,” said Peñalosa, the former WBC super flyweight titlist and World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion, who retired on Oct. 10 after a fourth-round stoppage of Thai Yodsaenkeng Kietmangmee in Zamboanga City.
“[Margarito] is slow, made to order for Manny,” added Peñalosa, whom trainer Freddie Roach regards as the best technically sound Filipino boxer ever. “Manny won’t learn anything new anymore.”
The 36-year-old Velasco, an Olympic silver medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games, agreed with Peñalosa after they reviewed the tape of Margarito’s workout.
“It won’t last long; the longest will be eight rounds,” said Velasco, who serves as a Philippine Sports Commission consultant.
Shrugging off Antonio’s reputation as having a granite chin, Velasco said, “With Manny there’s no strong jaw. Margarito will fall, either with the left or right blow.”