Antonio Margarito ready for most important fight of his career
As team Pacquiao continues to iron out internal problems and training setbacks, team Margarito is running smooth and enjoying the sights.
Antonio Margarito is calling his upcoming November 13 bout with Manny Pacquiao the “most important fight of his career.” That might be an understatement. The fight, for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title, offers unique rewards for Margarito.
In January of last year “The Tijuana Tornado” was caught with illegal inserts in his hand wraps — an incident that ultimately resulted in his ban from boxing for the better part of year. While he has always maintained his innocence, the clash with Pacquiao
offers redemption, and an opportunity for the expected lawbreaker to set a new precedent.
"I have always prepared well, but this is the most important fight my life, even more so than when I won the title for the first time or when I beat [Miguel] Cotto,” Margarito recently said. “I've never felt as good as I do now. I'm very motivated.”
Margarito is training in Oxnard, California, with trainer Robert Garcia. By most accounts, including one made recently by noted boxing reporter Doug Fischer, Margarito looks sharp and in his element. With any luck the news mean Pacquiao, the smaller man,
will have a long night ahead of him.
While Margarito knows he can’t match “Pacman” in speed, he thinks he’ll be able to wear him down by the end of the fight and capitalize.
"I think I'm going to knock him out,” Margarito said confidently. “I'm sometimes amazed at how well I'm doing in camp. It can't get any better. We're close to finishing the strength training. I'm working hard on my combinations and applying pressure. I
cannot allow Manny to dictate the fight. I will not be faster than him but he still won't handle the pressure.”
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