Harrison and Margarito are outsiders for a reason

I think this is a good article, genuinely.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/BN08/detail.asp?id=2058





IN a recent column BN Editor Tris Dixon focused on a small but significant shift in public opinion regarding Audley Harrison's chances against David Haye a week on Saturday (November 13). This apparent swing in “A Force’s” favour is not merely restricted to fans; while only three experts in a recent Boxing Monthly poll picked Harrison to triumph - Dereck Chisora, Anthony Farnell and Joe Gallagher - that simply has to be three more than when the fight was first announced.


A similar movement is occurring regarding the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito contest on the same night. Panned as a mismatch when first mooted, now there are murmurs in the BN office of a tough test for the Filipino and our regular guest columnist, Teddy Atlas, has gone even further, actually tipping Margarito to emerge victorious.


I am happy to lay my cards on the table and declare that I have long thought, and indeed still believe, that both contests will be one-sided in favour of Haye and Pacquiao. But I do not criticise anyone who backs either underdog, though I believe some of these people – esteemed colleagues aside – may be falling victim to the myths and exaggerations propagated by the media and the respective promoters to increase interest in the fights. I am aware these pairings will sell out their venues regardless, but pay-per-view TV revenue is even more crucial. The buying public must believe the underdog has a realistic chance of pulling off the upset if they are to pay for the show. So in the interests of preventing fellow boxing-lovers from losing the house to the bookies, and at the risk of inviting vast amounts of egg onto my face, please allow me to debunk four key misconceptions.



Harrison is a puncher
No, he is not. At least not in the way Mike Tyson or George Foreman were punchers. Audley is undeniably a big man and anyone that large who hits an opponent cleanly is going to hurt them. But one admittedly superb left finishing off a tired sitting duck in Michael Sprott, who lay on the ropes asking for trouble, does not the second coming of Earnie Shavers make. I applaud Harrison for promoting this reinvention but he is not even in the current top 10 of hardest heavyweight hitters.



Haye is chinny
The oldest myth of all. Yes Haye has been cracked on the temple by clean, hard shots and dropped as result. But he certainly has not been felled by someone considered a non-puncher – a la Amir Khan against Willie Limond. Lolenga Mock has not been stopped since dropping Dave before getting halted in four, huge banger Carl Thompson forced a count and stopped a knackered “Hayemaker”, Jean Marc Mormeck was world-class yet Haye got off the deck to defeat him in Paris and the flash knockdown against Monte Barrett was just that. Most, if not all of those shots would have decked Harrison. Lest we forget Audley was knocked out clean by Sprott.



Pacquiao has encountered problems in camp
Really? Does anyone actually believe this? Not that Manny cannot have a bad camp – it happens to the best fighters – but would the wider boxing community be allowed to find out about it before the fight? Anyone who has witnessed Pacquiao training at the Wild Card says he is focused, working hard and ready for Margarito. There have apparently been distractions. Well, hold the front page! It's Manny Pacquiao, there will always be distractions, other demands on his time. But they have, as yet, never affected his performance. This smacks of a rumour designed to drum up more interest in the fight.



The weight will be a problem for Manny
I can see the logic at least. At 151lbs Pacquiao will be competing at a weight he has never fought at before and for a man who started out at flyweight it's easy to see how that could be an issue. But the little marvel is hardly jumping straight up from 8st – he's dominated strong welterweights in Miguel Cotto (now a champ at light-middle) and Joshua Clottey in his last two bouts – and is not taking on a Paul Williams or Sergio Martinez here. Margarito was a very good welterweight. There is no reason to believe he will be far better as a (near-)light-middle. In fact, he will be older and, crucially, slower, in a fight where speed could prove a key factor. Pacquiao will not be seeking to win this contest on strength, just as Roy Jones did not believe his physicality would overwhelm John Ruiz, and we all know what happened there.

In summation, I hope I have dragged a few people from the poor-house door. But for those few optimistic dreamers planning to put a lump on the Harrison-Magarito-Chisora treble – and I know you are out there – Jamie Carragher will score a hat-trick before you do. And as a Liverpool fan (a Liverfool?), I know all about optimistic dreaming. Until next time...

 

I agree. I cant see it happening but I'd love for it to happen.