ARLINGTON, Texas – Manny Pacman Pacquiao axed his eighth world title belt and was once again masterful, beating Antonio Margarito so frightfully that Margarito’s face looked as it had been pounded repeatedly by a club.
Pacquiao won a unanimous one-sided decision in a blowout from the opening seconds of the fight to capture the World Boxing Council super welterweight title before 41,734 in-awe fans at Cowboys Stadium.
Pacquiao’s title belt, coming against an opponent who had a 17-pound weight advantage when the bell rang, 165-148, was the eighth in his illustrious career. Pacquiao has won world titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and now 154 pounds.
Judges Jurgen Langos had it 120-109, Glen Crocker had it 118-110 and Oren Schellenberger had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Yahoo! Sports scored it 120-107 for Pacquiao, giving Pacquiao a 10-8 edge in the 10th round when he dominated tremendously.
Margarito, fighting for the first time in the U.S. since Jan. 24, 2009, when he was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his gloves before a loss to Shane Mosley, was never in the fight. Pacquiao’s speed was blinding and was the difference in the fight.
Pacquiao was hurt when Margarito landed a combination to the ribs, but he spun off the ropes and landed a three-punch combination to the head. Margarito’s right eye was swollen grotesquely, beginning in the fourth. By the 10th round, the left eye was a slit, too.
Pacquiao was looking at referee Laurence Cole late in the fight, asking him to stop it. Pacquiao said he eased off in the 12th round. “I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe [he took those punches].”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added “We didn’t lose a round. I wish they had stopped the fight.”
Article by Kevin Iole
Photo credits: All Voices/Ken_nic2009
and HBO
NO REMATCH?
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is not keen on putting up a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.
Not unless their 12-round fight for the super-welterweight title of the World Boxing Council (WBC) turns out to be a competitive and closely-fought bout.
The veteran promoter said a rematch is very unlikely, especially if the encounter proves to be a dominant win for Pacquiao or if conversely, Margarito ends up being too much for the world’s current top pound-for-pound fighter.
“No rematch clause. I don’t believe in rematch clause," said the long-time promoter. “Pacquiao prevailing by a mile over the heavy underdog Margarito would no longer be attractive to boxing fans."
“If the fight turns out to be one-sided (in favor of Manny), a rematch wouldn’t be saleable," pointed Arum, who’s been in the boxing business for more than four decades.
A dominating performance by the 32-year-old Mexican, on the other hand, wouldn’t also be to the best interest of the boxer considered as the best in the world today.
“And if it’s a one-sided fight (for Margarito) and Manny concludes that Margarito was just too big and too strong for him, why subject him to having to do it again?" reasoned the Harvard University alumnus.
Pacquiao and Margarito would be fighting at a catch weight of 151 pounds, the biggest weight class the three-time Boxer of the Year will be involved in since fighting as a flyweight (106 lbs) at the start of his career.
At 5-foot-11, Margarito is also the biggest opponent Pacquiao is going to face after the great Oscar De La Hoya (5-foot-10) in 2008. The Mexican slugger holds a seven-inch advantage in terms of reach.
But despite the discrepancies, the 31-year-old southpaw from General Santos City remains a big 6-1 favorite to win the fight.
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s trusted adviser, agreed with the odds.
“He’s doing OK. Manny’s going to win this fight," he said, unmindful of Pacquiao’s preparation being labeled as "the worst" by trainer Freddie Roach in his nine-year association with the boxing champion.
Pacquiao sparred for nine rounds against David Rodela, Ray Beltran and one unnamed sparmate Tuesday at the Wildcard gym.
- KY/RCJ, GMANews.TV
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A rematch?????
ReplyDeleteFor what? Mexican loser didn't come close enough to merit a second chance. He was destroyed physically, mentally, emotionally, and any other ally that you can think of....