MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Margarito said Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank have committed a huge mistake in choosing him to fight the world's pound-for-pound king.
Margarito is facing Pacquiao in a world super-welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and the Mexican slugger said he is preparing like never before and that he will shock the world on Nov. 13.
"I guess they were thinking it's an easy fight against a guy with a lot of issues and a lot of weight on his shoulders," Margarito told the Los Angeles Times. "They chose the wrong time to pick me as an opponent."
Margarito is obviously referring to his one-year suspension that was only lifted a few months ago for using loading up his fists with a Plaster of Paris-like substance in a fight with Shane Mosley in 2009. Mosley's trainer discovered the loaded handwraps during an inspection just before the match and Margarito's licensewas later revoked.
Pacquiao and Margarito both fight under the Top Rank banner of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who hinted last week in Baguio City that an upset win by Margarito would certainly pave the way for a much-awaited rematch even if there is no rematch clause in the contract signed by the two parties.
Margarito's training hasn't a missed a beat and trainer Robert Garcia is of the belief that an upset is possible.
Garcia said he knows how to capitalize on Pacquiao's so-called weaknesses and that Margarito's sheer size and pressure would be too much for the Filipino star to overcome.
Meanwhile, the next phase of Pacquiao's buildup – something that taskmaster Freddie Roach said would be the toughest and most crucial – would kick off Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Roach said Pacquiao is sure to regain his focus once he begins working out at the Wild Card.
Source: mb.com.ph
