Margarito doubts Pacman’s power as a super welter

Antonio Margarito vowed that Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s  popular trash-talking trainer, would eat his words.

“Roach should watch out what he says,” Margarito said in a recent television interview.

The Mexican three-time world champion was obviously upset about Roach’s predictions that Fighter of the Decade Pacquiao will knock him out in their showdown today (Manila time).

Boasting that he’s in the best shape of his life, Margarito said that when he hits Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king will 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 seemed unconvinced of 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’s going to have the power of a super welter,” said Margarito.

Boosting his confidence is the fact that Pacquiao started his ring career, in 1995, as a reedy 106-pound flyweight and will be fighting at the catchweight of 150 lb for the first time.

In contrast, Margarito, who has 27 knockouts in 38 wins against six losses, has fought at 154 lb (the natural welter weight limit) as early as 2004.

Garcia, the former International Boxing Federation super featherweight champion who also trains Filipino World Boxing Association super flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire Jr., 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- to five-punch combinations,” said Garcia, adding that they have devised plans on how to topple the seven-division champion. Photo by Associated Press