WASHINGTON, D.C.: Training for the fight of his life, Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito will step up his sparring to 10 rounds this week, up from the eight-round schedule he had every other day last week.
Robert Garcia, Margarito’s chief trainer, said that the Mexican-American brawler is so focused on his preparations, he has not missed any of his tough daily routines—one hour road work Monday to Saturday, and at least two-hour gym workouts in the afternoon, including sparring with four different sparmates every other day.
“I’ve never seen a fighter train this hard,” Garcia told The Manila Times by phone from Oxnard, California. “He’s pushing himself to the limit and we expect him to be in the best shape ever for his fight with Manny Pacquiao.”
“Last week we were doing eight rounds every other day, but on the last day of sparring, Tony wanted an extra round so he went nine rounds. Next week we’re ready to go 10 rounds,” said Garcia, with just four weeks before the November 13 Pacquiao-Margarito showdown at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
He said that Margarito trains Monday to Saturday and takes Sundays off, almost the same routine as Pacquiao’s.
Garcia said that Margarito knows what it takes to be up against Pacquiao, considered the the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound.
“Tony [Margarito] has very high respect for Pacquiao, but we are not intimidated by him. We know he is fast and he has power, and we are preparing for whatever he brings to the table,” said Garcia, who is best remembered by Filipino fight fans as the trainer of Filipino world champions Nonito Donaire Jr. and Brian Viloria.
He said that their answer to Pacquiao’s speed and explosiveness is to keep him under constant pressure from the opening bell.
“Margarito will get hit, but he can hit back as well. I know [Pacquiao’s trainer] Freddie Roach is devising strategies for Pacquiao, but we have our own strategy. We’ll see. The better man wins” said Garcia, a former super featherweight (junior lightweight) world champion.
“That’s why boxing is so exciting because it is full of surprises, and I think we are ready to shock the world on fight night,” he added.
Ready for war
If Margarito’s almost daily one-hour road work are any indication—two days in the beach, two days in the park and two days in the mountains—the Tijuana Tornado is ready for a long night.
He said that a key component to their preparation is improving Margarito’s defense by moving his head and keeping his hands up all the time.
Garcia said that they want to take Pacquiao to the middle rounds, gradually break his game and then stop him in the 10th or 11th round.
“But when you put Margarito and Pacquiao in the same ring, you can’t really say what to expect,” said Garcia. “One thing I’m sure of, Tony has a big heart, he knows the stakes and he’s ready for war.”
Garcia has nothing but good words for Roach, who he said is the best trainer in the world today.
“Freddie is a real professional. My fighters and I have worked with him during workouts at Wild Card Gym and we have no complaint,” he said. “This fight against the best fighter in the world and the finest trainer in the game is a real challenge to us.”
The 35-year-old trainer also has very high regard for Pacquiao and what he has done for his country.
Garcia said that he has been to Manila twice—first when his top fighters Donaire and Viloria scored convincing wins on April 19, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum, and again in January.
“I like the Filipinos. They treated me well when I was there twice,” Garcia said. “Maybe they will hate me when we shock the world on November 13. But it’s my job [to train Margarito to win], nothing personal, really.”
Source: manilatimes.net
