Anyone else think Margarito is going to be a horribly difficult opponent for Pac?

I do.

Although Manny has more skill in one limb than the cheater has in his entire body, we really shouldn't be overlooking what Margarito brings to the table.

OK, he was blown away by Shane Mosley, but styles make fights, I don't think Manny will find it anywhere near as easy going vs Margo.

Because Pac performed so brilliantly against Cotto and Clottey, I think people are starting to overlook the size disparity issue here.


Margarito is 5ft 11in tall, with a 73in reach. I can't remember ever seeing his fightnight rehydration weight before a fight, but he looked far bigger, heavier and stronger than Cotto when they met, and Cotto was probably around 155, so I'd put Margarito over 160. By all accounts, Joshua Clottey was 166 in the ring vs Diego Corrales, and I think Margo looked bigger than Clottey when they met, so I think it's a safe bet that Margo is around 160-170 when he fights, especially considering he was fighting at lightmiddle earlier in his career.

Pacman is 5ft 6 1/2in, with a 67in reach. The heaviest he has ever been on fightnight was 148.5lbs.



And they are fighting at lightmiddle. This is not a standard size difference. This is something else.



Margarito has twice knocked out Kermit Cintron (5'11", 74"), who is now a top lightmiddleweight. In the latter stages of their fight, I thought Margarito was punishing Paul Williams (6'1", 82"), who now fights at 160 and 154. Margarito stopped an inexperienced Sergio Martinez (5'10", 76"), and is still the only man to ever stop the now middleweight champion. In a lightmiddleweight title fight, Margarito lost on cuts to career lightmiddleweight and world champion Daniel Santos (5'11 1/2", 74").

That this fight is going ahead at lightmiddleweight is what makes it such a fearsome proposition to me. Margarito has experience of fighting there, and has experience of fighting much bigger and stronger guys than Pacquiao. Pacquiao has never fought at 154, and has never fought anyone as big or as strong as Margarito (Oscar was weakened when he fought Manny, and Clottey is not as big as Margo, nor does he use his size or strength the way Margo does).

Margarito didn't look good in his last fight, but he was coming off a long lay-off. He didn't look good against Mosley, but Mosley was full of confidence, had the perfect tactics (Shane held Margo to stub out Margo's attacks, Pac both can't and won't do that, he doesn't have the size or strength plus it's not his style anyway), and Margo was probably unnerved by exposed as a cheater just before the fight. The move up to lightmiddle could be good for Margo, I think we'll see a stronger, meaner Margarito this time, much like he was in the Cotto fight.


Ultimately, if I had to put money on this fight, I'd go with Manny because of his speed and skill advantage, but I think he is going to have to go through hell to get there. He is probably going to be giving away 10-15lbs in the ring, and Margarito is not going to stand off like Clottey and not use that advantage. This could end up being a horrible mistake. Mayweather didn't reject $8-9m to fight Margo back then for no reason.


If he wins, I'd say this is one of his best - when else has someone overcame size and weight disadvantages to this extent? Duran-Barkley is the only modern one I can think of just now, but even then Duran had experience of fighting at middleweight before meeting the Blade.

 

I pick Manny to win but this will be a war and i doubt that Pac will ever be the same after this fight.

And thats exactly what Fraud is counting on.

 

I predict Manny will out class Margarito easy! Margo won't be able to cope with Manny's speed, movement & sharpness!

He will give him a beatdown! I reckon will end up with Pacquiao vs Margarito & Cotto vs Mayweather, then hopefully, Pacman-Floyd next year! All this waiting is bollocks though!

 

OK then moron, a 5ft 6in guy with a 67" reach who weighs 148lbs will have a lovely walk in the park against a 5ft 11in guy with a 73" reach who weighs upward of 160lbs. Yawn.

 

Hype? :huh I haven't seen any hype whatsoever. All I've saw are people predicting a very easy ride for Pacquiao.

 

You're an imbecile. A guy with no skills doesn't brutalize Miguel Cotto or stop Kermit Cintron twice. Margarito does not have a wide skillset, but he's very effective at what he does. Check his resume, watch his fights, that can't be denied, unless you're an irrational fanboy *****. Wait a minute - you are, so don't bother.