Come November 13th, seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) will strut his wares against the hard-hitting mauler Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs). Both guys come forward. Both boxers are high-output volume punchers. Aside from the size and reach, the obvious difference is that Pacquiao is an elite speedster while Margarito is a topnotch power puncher. Their upcoming bout is another case of speed versus power, no doubt about it.
And many people are thinking speed will carry Manny through en route to an 8th title in as many weight classes. And it is quite understandable why. But if you care to look at history, speed winning over power is not always the case.
Nine years ago, a same high profile clash of champions occurred and it ended in a major upset. Speed demon and heavy favorite Zab Judah, then the IBF light welterweight champion, slugged it out with Australia’s heavy bomber and then WBC and WBC light welterweight titlist Kostya Tszyu.
Judah, brash and undefeated, was Tszyu’s superior in speed, skills, ring savvy, and whose power was nearly equal to Tsyzu’s, at the time. Many predicted a big victory for Judah, but Tsyzu would end the night in a very surprising and emphatic fashion.
Tsyu, a bruiser who relies mostly on his power, was getting bruised up by Judah in the first round. The American exploited Tszyu’s slow reflexes and tagged the Australian almost at will. If anything, the first inning showed that Judah is too fast and too quick for the heavy hitting albeit slow Kostya Tsyzu. The second round was relatively the same as the first. However, something happened that nobody really was bracing for.
TSZYU KNOCKED OUT JUDAH. AT THE DYING SECONDS OF ROUND 2.
Judah was backing down from an attacking Tsyzu when the Australian caught Judah with a huge right cross to the chin, sending Judah to the canvass. The power of the Tszyu’s cross was too strong that a wobbly Judah fell to the mat one more time after trying to beat the referee’s count.
Lucky shot? Maybe. But there is no doubt that power owned speed in that fight.
Fast forward to nine years later. Pacquiao will definitely exhaust his speed advantage against the much slower yet durable and heavy pounding Margarito. Now, this is no prediction that Pacquiao will lose. Both men can lose or win.
And supporters from each side can present a valid argument. There is no doubt that Pacquiao-Margarito will be a war of speed against power. A classic matchup that will definitely hook in fight fans all over the world.
Will Pacquiao’s speed fully capitalize on Margarito’s slowness? Will Margarito heavy shots find their target? The answers will surface come fight night. But as the lessons of Judah-Tszyu taught us boxing fans, better brace yourself for a different result.
Source: filipinoboxingjournal.com
