MANILA, Philippines—Former three-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has promised a “war” when he battles pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao for the vacant WBC super welterweight title at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Nov. 13.
But, according to conditioning expert Alex Ariza, Pacquiao is prepared to give it to the Mexican dubbed the “Tijuana Tornado.”
Ariza believes it would be the seven-division world champion who would bring the fight to the taller, bigger Margarito.
“Once we are done preparing Manny… for fight night, I don’t see Margarito lasting more than eight rounds,” said Ariza.
“I really don’t. I don’t think he’ll be able to take Manny’s power. And as far as Margarito pushing him, I think it’s going to be Manny pushing him.”
Ariza said he won’t be surprised if “we see Margarito go on retreat and stay away from Manny because he is not going to be able to deal with his power.”
Ariza, who began working alongside celebrated trainer Freddie Roach a few weeks before the Pacquiao-David Diaz fight, also shrugged off Margarito’s five-inch height and six-inch reach advantage.
“[They) don’t mean anything,” said Ariza. “Speed negates all of that stuff. People seem to have forgotten that Manny hits hard.
“Ricky Hatton was supposed to be stronger, Oscar De La Hoya was supposed to be stronger, and Miguel Cotto was definitely supposed to be bigger and stronger, but Manny proved that he is stronger than them,” Ariza added.
Margarito, who has moved to Oxnard, California, with trainer Robert Garcia, wound up a two-week initial training phase in South El Monte, where the fighter put emphasis on mountain roadwork and light workouts in the gym.
Garcia, who also handled former IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria and now mentors Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, said Margarito will continue with his early morning run in Oxnard before beginning sparring this week.
Margarito said he is highly motivated for the megabuck, pay-per-view bout.
“I know how important this fight is to my career and to all of Mexico,” Margarito told Boxing.com. “That is why I will defeat Pacquiao.” With a report from Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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