Margarito mahina sa depensa at mabagal: Sasamantalahin ni Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Ang mahinang depensa at kabagalan ni Antonio Margarito ang siyang sa­samantalahin ni Manny Pac­quiao sa kanilang bang­gaan sa Nobyembre 13 sa Cowboys Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.

Ito ang pahayag ni trainer Freddie Roach ma­tapos mapanood ang ilang fight tapes ng 5-foot-11 na si Margarito.

“I think that we will knock Margarito out along the way,” ani Roach. “I think that Margaritos’ defense is terrible. He’s slow. I know that Margarito is supposed to be in great shape for this fight, but that’s what he’s supposed to be.”

Nakatakdang ipagpatuloy nina Pacquiao at Roach ang kanilang paghahanda sa Wild Card Boxing Gym sa Hollywood, California matapos ang kanilang trai­ning camp sa Baguio City.

“We’re going to maintain the training that we did in Baguio and maintain our conditioning,” sabi ng 5’6 na si Pacquiao, hangad ang kan­yang pang-walong world boxing crown sa walong magkakahiwalay na weight divisions.

Dalawang workout araw-araw ang gagawin ng 31-anyos na si Pacquiao sa Wild Card Gym maliban pa ang tuwing umagang pagtakbo sa Griffith Park.

Kagaya ni Pacquiao, inaasahan rin ni Roach na nasa magandang kondis­yon ang 32-anyos na si Margarito sa araw ng kani­lang laban para sa bakanteng World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight title.

“It ‘s a world title fight so that’ s what I expect. Mar­garito should be in the best shape of his life. But Pacquiao’s going to be too fast, and Margarito’s de­fense is going to be too poor, and we will dominate him,” paniniyak ng four-time Trainer of the Year.

Tangan ni Pacquiao, ang Filipino world seven-division champion, ang 51-3-2 win-loss-draw ring re­cord kasama ang 38 KOs, habang taglay ni Marga­rito ang 38-6-0 (27 KOs) slate.

Kinampihan naman ni Hall of Fame boxing trai­ner Emmanuel Steward si Pacquiao.

“Even though he has a physical advantage, I just don’t think he’s going to be sharp enough to deal with the speed and accuracy and pinpoint punching of Manny,” ani Steward kay Margarito.