Pacquiao and Margarito come face to face

Yesterday in Beverly Hills, L.A we got the first chance to see Filipino pound-for-pound legend Manny Pacquiao and disgraced former welterweight champ Antonio Margarito come face to face for the start of their press tour ahead of their November 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Pacquiao seemed to be focused on Margarito’s previous form, and repeatedly criticized and questioned the shamed Mexican hardman, all the while saying he deserves another chance . When asked if he believed Margarito knew his hands were wrapped prior to the Mosley fight, a claim Margarito strongly denies, Pacquiao answered “Absolutely. I know that he knew. He is just making alibis but he badly wants to fight again and to entertain people.”

“We give him the fight because he deserves a chance. We are just human you know.. not perfect, and he wants to show that he is clean.”

Despite this Pacquiao has insisted that Margarito is supervised at all times in the dressing room prior to their fight, to ensure that the wrapping of the gloves is all above-board and legal.

Many fans of course will be disappointed that a certain Floyd Mayweather isn’t in the opposing corner to Pacquiao, but the Pacman can take no blame for that, and claims he prefers the Margarito fight.

“I’m happy, because I’m fighting a tall guy. He’s a good fighter, a World champion. I’m not disappointed about failing to get the fight with Mayweather, and I don’t even want to  talk about that fight. Forget about that”

Those are strong words indeed from the mild-mannered Filipino, and yet further evidence, if it’s needed, that the Pacquiao-Mayweather superfight is as far from being signed as ever.

Promoter Bob Arum was in an even more defiant mood, lambasting the media for their allegations over Margarito, and claiming there was no evidence for much of what has been written.

“Antonio Margarito did not know those hand wraps were illegal,” said Arum. “Lack of evidence means there shouldn’t have been any penalty in the first place.”

“Boxing writers have said: ‘He must have known’. Well, five top trainers were interviewed and all of them said they could put a bad pad in hand wraps and the fighter would never know.”

Regardless of what has gone in the past, or what’s being said now, Antonio Margarito remains a highly dangerous opponent for anyone and Manny Pacquiao isn’t excluded. It isn’t hard to see Margarito pulling of a giant upset come November 13, as we mustn’t forget that he is a World class fighter regardless of what else he has done to tarnish his reputation, and seems focused on the fight.

“Everything that has happened is in the past. We are now in the present. It’s time to show everyone I’m still very good,” said Margarito.

“Nobody wants to miss this fight. It’s going to be a great fight. I also want to thank the commission of Texas for re-licensing me.”

1. Pacquiao 144.6, Margarito 150
2. Margarito confirmed as Pacquiao opponent