Some say Manny Pacquiao's title fight against the disgraced Antonio Margarito is tough to call. But if the challenger wins it will be the shock of the year
What a lot of hot air has enveloped Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito ahead of their allegedly "light-middleweight" title fight in Texas on Saturday.
Some smart writers have totally bought into "stories" that Congressman Pacquiao is said to be too wrapped up in his political duties and trained poorly in the Philippines before going to the Wild Card in LA. Really? Now, of course, the fight is no longer the one-sided smashing of a seasoned pro (six defeats in 45 fights, remember) but an even-money affair, so roll up, roll up.
Pause for a minute: 32-year-old Margarito is a legitimate opponent; he did, after all, do a number on Miguel Cotto (although who knows how legal his gloves were that night). He also had to hold off an ambitious Roberto Garc�a over 10 rounds in May.
But he has lost to the following: way back in 1994 to Tijuana tumbler Victor Lozoya, who was coming off a kayo loss and went on to lose to nine other no-names; Larry Dixon (ditto), who lost three more and quit boxing in 1998; Rodney Jones, a decent fighter whose last fight was three years ago, losing to Cory Spinks over 12 rounds for the IBF light-middle title; Daniel Santos (on cuts); Paul Williams three years ago at welterweight; and, most significantly, to Shane Mosley in his last real test.
In January 2009 ? that's 22 months ago ? Mosley demolished Margarito with the last dregs of his once phenomenal hand speed and movement ? and nobody moves more quickly or quirkily than the Pacman.
But the seers say he is distracted, off his game, complacent. Pacquiao has lived with chaos and hardship since he was an urchin on the streets of General Santos City, juggling boxing with survival. He has an entourage bigger than the president. He lets some of them sleep at the foot of his bed. And he fits all of that in around the toughest training regime in boxing. A couple of blisters from wearing dress shoes to fancy functions in Manila a few weeks ago are not going to worry him in a mere fist fight.
What still worries Pacman's coach, Freddie Roach, apparently, is the prospect of Margarito sneaking some help into his gloves. "You have fucking rocks in your hand, you know it," he told BoxingScene.com. "Against Santos and Williams and so forth, he doesn't look like he's that big a puncher. Against [Kermit] Cintron [whom he cut in half with a vicious body shot] and Cotto, something was different."
So, presuming it's clean, Pacquiao should do a number on Margarito ? who I still don't think should be anywhere near a boxing ring after being caught with loaded gloves moments before the Mosley fight, and then was banned for only a year.
Similarly, though, it is a liberty that Pacquiao should be allowed to make this fight at three pounds inside the light-middleweight limit of 154lbs. After the weigh-in, Margarito will add at least half a stone; I doubt it will do him much good. If Margarito wins, it will be the shock of the year ? but at least the fight writers who fell for the hype will be able to say I told you so.
Rumour mill cranks into gear
The countdown to Haye-Harrison got off to a cracking start on the rumour mill. Firstly, there was 39-year-old American southpaw Tony Thompson knocking the champion over in the gym (unsubstantiated, denied, probably nonsense); then there was Audley sparking four sparring partners in one session (no comment from the challenger, no witnesses, smiles from Haye).
And Ian McNeilly of Boxrec.com has given life to this one. If Adam Smith is vacating the microphone to head up Sky's negotiations with the major promoters, it will, as McNeilly suggests, take some neat diplomacy for a guy who up to now has been a genial ringside frontman to be firm with Frank Warren, Barry Hearn, Frank Maloney, Ricky Hatton and Haye, their main promotional partners. Good luck, Adam.
I had a chat with Haye on his way to Soccer AM on Saturday morning (what a jolly old lads' zoo that programme is), and he confirmed that everyone from Roy Jones Jr to Bernard Hopkins had been on the phone asking for a title shot.
He reckons the rematch clause Nikolai Valuev had with him has lapsed ? for which we should all be grateful ? and he doubts the Uzbekistani Ruslan Chagaev will pass a health test for their mandatory, slated for February or March.
Believe it or not, that's when Roy Jones might be fighting the Prizefighter winner Michael Sprott. Won't be queueing for that one.
Lest we forget, by the way, Sprott was boxing the ears off Audley Harrison in April before being knocked out by a desperate left hook. It's 14 years since Sprott, now 35, started out with the late Terry Lawless ? and more than three years since he kayoed Audley in their first fight. Some career.
Sprott is off to Germany soon to help Wladimir Klitschko get ready for Dereck Chisora on 11 December ? providing Delboy gets an adjournment from the police on an assault charge this week.
Haye v Harrison ? handbags?
Not sure if I buy the feud between Haye and Harrison. There is friction there, but these are experienced deal-makers who would know how to big-up a kid's birthday party.
I did like Haye's crack that, by the time Audley throws his left hook, he'll be back at the after-party.
Expect hugs at the finish.
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