Margarito and why he's a threat to Pacman

[lurkyshaka]

I understand that feelings towards Margaritro are at an all time low and understandably so given his circumstances. But i do feel many people are underestimating the threat he poses to Manny. Not to say he will spring the upset, but i do feel he poses a genuine danger that many folk don't seem to be recognising.

Below is an article i wrote for Livefight where i offer up some reasoning why Margarito is a dangerous opponent for Manny. Interested in a bit of feedback.....



http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_ ... =2010&m=10


Before looking at why Margarito IS a threat to Manny Pacquiao, we need to look at the reasons folk think he's NOT......

They say he'll be able to hit Margarito all night at will such is the speed advantage he'll enjoy.

They say Margarito is damaged goods after his stoppage loss to Mosley.

They say Margarito has no power and needed rocks in his gloves to be effective.

They say Manny will be hitting, hurting and bouncing Margarito off the floor on the way to an easy win!


Ok so first off it has to be recognised that there is a major speed differential between the two fighters, there is a gulf there. No question Manny is far faster but if he tries to put his speed to use by attempting to blast away at Margarito then he'll play into the Mexican's hands. More likely Roach will have instilled in him the need to box, move, box, move....but implementing that tactic might not be so easy against Margarito.

Manny managed to move around and outbox the bigger, stronger Clottey....but Clottey didn't try and make his advantages tell. Instead he fought timidly and aided Manny as the Pacman stuck to a gameplan that goes against his natural urges. Without a doubt, Margarito won't be so compliant. He will be chomping at the bit and will do everything in his power to get at Manny, and for all the talk of him being so slow and easy to outbox.....How many fighters have been able to simply outbox, outmove and not get involved with the Mexican? Despite his 'slowness' Margarito finds a way at getting at his opponents and making them fight with him.


Onto the damaged goods theory....this may hold some weight. Margarito was hit with some hellacious bombs against Mosley and Cotto and that surely has to add up and have an effect. But on the flipside, Margarito's enforced absence will have allowed his body to rest up and heal. That ban and subsequent time out of the ring could well prove to have been a blessing in disguise.

Margarito lacks power and needed loaded gloves to hurt?....Not so sure about that notion. I personally reckon Margarito will have enough thudding power to hurt an opponent naturally so much smaller that him such as Manny, if he's able to find the target.

To those that think this will be oh so so easy for Manny.......they need to bear in mind that Margarito will be the biggest opponent ever faced at the highest ever weight for Manny, and at some point even Manny has to reach a roof.

As Manny has climbed through the weights he's crucially still been able to hurt the opposition, but is Margarito the man he can't? Bigger foes have either been blasted out or hurt and forced to fight with caution to such a point where their offense has been stunted....but if Manny can't hurt Margarito how easy will he find it keeping Margarito contained?

Just because Mosley was able to hurt and stop the Mexican, doesn't necessarily mean Manny can do likewise. Key to Shane's success was his ability to match Margarito for pure brute strength, and stand in with him at times. Because of this ability Shane was able really plant his feet, dig his toes into the canvas and get maximum impact on his punches.

I don't see Manny being able to stand in with Margarito and follow a similar path to Shane. Instead he's going to be hitting and moving and as such will lose some of the pop on his punches. It took repeated full force blasts from Mosley to crack Margarito, not sure Manny on the back foot will be able to make such an impact. And trying to go front foot against an opponent so much bigger surely wouldn't be wise.

The strength of Shane was more key to his success against Magarito than basic punch power, Manny lacks that strength.

All in all, i see Margarito as a very serious opponent for Manny. Bigger, stronger and starving hungry. Despite all the hate aimed his way, Margarito wins this fight he is right back on top. This fight is his world cup final, his final chance! A desperate fighter is a dangerous one. While Manny has a ton of other stuff going on and other fights out there for him. This is IT for Margarito. It'll mean everything to him.

If Manny is able to sweep Margarito aside with ease he'll deserve a ton of credit, if he's able to bounce him off the floor mutilple times it'll be an amazing feat!

More likely Margarito turns out to be one of the toughest, hardest fights Manny has ever fought. Whatever the rights or wrongs of Margarito's involvement in a superfight, i think this will prove to be a cracking fight.

I give Manny big credit for taking on such a dangerous opponent when he simply didn't have too, but wonder if that may come back to haunt him. I consider Margarito to pose a very real and genuine threat. I'm surprised more Pac fans aren't concerned about this one.

People can hate him, but nobody should sleep on Margarito.

[JC]

Well firstly nice work

Since you ask for feedback the one thing I would say where you write "They say Margarito has no power and needed rocks in his gloves to be effective. I think this is a bit of straw man, nobody with two good eyes who knows boxing thinks Margarito lacks power and buys that it was all down to loaded gloves.

The only other thing I would add is I think a big factor in this fight is that Margarito is a very slow starter. He gave away the first half of the fight vs Cotto until the damage mounted up and Cotto started to run out of run out of gas. It was awesome to watch Margarito ware Cotto him down after taking his best (he also came on strong late against Paul Williams) but I'm not sure he'll be able to afford to do the same v.s. the brutal speed and accuracy of Pacquiao.

I'm really looking forward to this one should be interesting.