Manny to test power of Margarito punch?

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—He treaded dangerous grounds against Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey by trying to test the power of their punches. He overcame.

Will Manny Pacquiao attempt to test the explosive load this time of Antonio Margarito’s punches when they clash on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for the WBC super welterweight title in Arlington, Texas?

“I don’t know yet if I’ll do it (test Margarito’s power), but it’s part of the game,” said Pacquiao, who worried fight fans and sent shivers down trainer Freddie Roach’s spine when he allowed the bigger Cotto and Clottey to take clear shots at him.

Cotto banged Pacquiao’s body and head during their fight on Nov. 14, 2009, while Clottey pounded away at his midsection in their one-sided duel last March 13.

Pacquiao absorbed the full impact of the punches but, to the surprise of boxing pundits, he didn’t flinch nor wobble.

It was part of his ploy. Pacquiao got hurt, admittedly, but pretended the punches didn’t have enough sting to send him to dreamland.

Pacquiao’s demonstration of his ability to absorb heavy punches so frustrated both Cotto and Clottey they eventually went into a retreat mode, the pundits noted.

Cotto was eventually stopped in the 12th round, while Clottey hid in his shell-like defensive armor and wound up on his feet in the end, albeit thoroughly outpointed.

In Margarito, Pacquiao is fighting his biggest foe ever. With a decisive edge in height and reach, Margarito is also expected to be stronger than the Filipino superstar, who is going for an unprecedented eighth title.

Magarito asserted on Tuesday that he “has the power to take Manny out” when they clash at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Like Pacquiao, Margarito has beaten both Cotto (by 11th round KO), and Clottey (by unanimous decision). The impressive wins showed the Mexican also packs a wallop. Photo by Associated Press