FightHype staff predictions are in for this weekend's highly-anticipated clash as WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao moves up in weight one more time to take on former champion Antonio Margarito for the WBC jr. middleweight title at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Who will win? Who will lose? Get the answers to these questions and more in FightHype's staff predictions.
MANNY PACQUIAO VS. ANTONIO MARGARITO
Ben "The Hype" Thompson - Pacquiao by Unanimous Decision
Worst training camp ever? Too many distractions? Please! You ain't foolin' me Freddie! As bad as they all supposedly want this Mayweather fight, there's no way in hell Freddie Roach would put Manny in with someone who stands a chance of beating him on even his worst night. If there's one thing the man does well, it's matchmaking. Margarito's slow, methodical, right-in-your-face style is the perfect showcase for Pacquiao's dazzling hand speed, his amazing foot work, and his flashy combinations. Freddie told you that De La hoya couldn't pull the trigger, he told you that Hatton wasn't skilled enough, he told you that Clottey covered up too much, and he told you that Cotto wasn't the same fighter. Guess what? He was right every time! If he says this fight with Margarito will be easy, which he did, then best believe Manny will have an easy night come November 13. Expect Pacquiao to jump in and out and boom, boom, boom all night long en route to an easy unanimous decision victory.
Percy "Talent" Crawford - Pacquiao by Unanimous Decision
Danny Howard - Pacquiao by Decision
Margarito will have his moments and walk through Pacquiao's shots, but by the time he gets something going, Pacquiao will have rounds in the bank. Margartio is the typecast opponent for Pacquiao: slow and technically deficient.
Felix Strunk - Pacquiao KO 5
In my opinion, Margarito isn't the same fighter he was before the Mosley. Whether that has something to do with his hand wraps in previous fights will remain a mystery, but I think even Margarito questions just how good he really is. Come November 13, he's about to find out when he steps into the ring with a fighter that's faster, has way more movement, and hits just as hard as the last man to defeat him, Shane Mosley. Pacquiao by 5th round knockout as he overwhelms the bigger, but much slower Margarito with his hand speed and combinations.
King Mo Lawal - Margarito TKO 10
Margarito in the 10th. He's just too big and too determined.
Ron Frazier - Draw
Better yet, a double KO if there is any justice.
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad - Margarito
I like Margarito if the handcuffs are off.
Ryan Kennedy - Pacquiao KO 11
I believe this is a tougher fight for Pac than people think and I wouldn't be shocked to see an upset. The general consensus is that 1) Margarito is nothing without loaded gloves, 2) Pac is too skilled, and 3) if Shane beat him up, surely Pac will. However, I encourage everyone to rewatch Margarito-Cotto and observe Margarito stalking a bicycle-riding Cotto and throwing sometimes upwards of 100 punches a round with complete disregard for every bomb that landed on his chin for a full eleven rounds. Still, I think Pac KO's him in a war.
Gary Reynolds - Draw
If you're Bob Arum, a draw is the best case scenario. Expect Pacquiao to dominate the early rounds before Margarito starts to come on in the mid to late rounds. Every round will be critical and the fight will come down to whether or not the judges favor the flashy combinations and movement of Pacquiao or the heavier, more damaging shots of Margarito, who will no doubt be moving forward the entire night. My guess is that it will be too close to call.
Elvers Brooks - Pacquiao
Pacquiao will win to further increase his value and hopefully make Mayweather-Pacquiao far richer than the mind can conceive.
Simon Ruvalcaba - Pacquiao TKO 11
Historically, when fighters are coming back to a big fight after some career chaos, like Margarito, they give enough of an effort to win back fans, but usually fall just short of actual winning. I think it'll be a good display of heart and effort from Margarito, but ultimately, the sharper and faster Pac-man catches up to him and stops him late.
Ben Jacobs - Pacquiao by Decision
I see Manny getting an early lead on the scorecards. Margarito usually starts off slow and will have trouble with Pacquiao's work rate. However, I see the Mexican's body punching causing problems for Manny later on in the fight, which will make it closer than it appears. I still see Manny edging out a 116-112 type points victory, with Margarito's late work not being quite enough.
Charles Presnell - Pacquiao by KO
Margarito has not done well with speed fighters or southpaws, so why should that change now? Arum is just putting these guys in front of Pacman knowing they will lose because he's already made his money off of them. On a political note, how is it that Panama Lewis and Luis Resto can't get near a professional ring, and yet Margarito can fight in the main event against the best fighter in boxing? And perhaps one more...how can a welterweight champion, who has fought all his welterweight fights at a catchweight below the welterweight limit, able to fight a blown-up welterweight for the jr. middleweight title at a catchweight? I guess the WBC really needs those sanctioning fees.
Jonathan Ramirez - Margarito TKO 10
Despite the attempts by Team Pacquiao to lead the public to believe that this has been a bad training camp and that Manny isn't focused, I think he'll come in as sharp and on point as he's ever been. This fight will exceed expectations and will be a very action-filled scrap. Margarito's size and pressure will be the key. He will stand and trade with Pacquiao and eventually wear down the smaller man. Margarito by stoppage in the later rounds.
Mike Juhas - Pacquiao TKO 10
While there are some concerns about Pacquiao's focus with everything going on in his life, I feel the congressman will put together a solid performance. Margarito's come-forward style is tailor-made for Pacquaio, and we should see a similar result to Margarito's disastrous fight with Shane Mosley. Manny will stick and move for the first few rounds before opening up and stopping Margarito in round ten. Speed kills, so be prepared for Manny's speed to be on full display Saturday night.
Brad Cooper - Pacquiao by Split Decision
I have a feeling that those who believe Pacquiao will simply roll over Margarito will be sorely disappointed. Despite his troubles, Plasterito is a live underdog that presents unique challenges to a certain Filipino congressman that may not be 100% motivated this time around. The upset could happen. Margarito will have his moments, and gives the Pacfans a scare a couple of times, but Pacquiao picks up a split decision that leaves some in the boxing community groaning.
SKULLSPLITTER "The CEO" - Pacquiao
Remember the Clottey fight? Well...here we go again. All signs point to this being another "Set Up." That's right, kids. Santa Claus and The Tooth Fairy are your parents. Certain fights are fixed. It's all bullshit...Pacquiao in a no-brainer. Duh!
Jack Plato - Pacquiao TKO 9
As long as Margarito does not catch him early, I see Manny on cuts by TKO in 9. He's too fast.
Nick Sanchez - Pacquiao TKO 10
I am no longer drinking the "This is the worst training camp we have ever had" Kool Aid that Freddie Roach serves us before all of Manny's fights. Manny is simply too fast and will be stronger than ever, keeping this fight in the middle of the ring and off the ropes en route to this victory. I can see a feel out process in the 1st round by both fighters. Somewhere in the early rounds, I can also see a Mosely-Mayweather Round 2 scenario (when Mosely hurt Mayweather) where Margarito will tag and hurt Manny, but not be able to finish the job. Manny will cruise to a 10th round TKO or lopsided decision.
John Bell - Margarito
Head says Pac; heart and wallet saya Margarito by stoppage in a Cotto-esque like fight. It's a style match-up. If what little Josh Clottey offered up was able to move/mark up Pac that much, I have to think Margarito's offense will be exponentially more effective. I am absolutely aware Team Roach is trying to snake charm us into thinking Manny slacked off for this one in an effort to get Margarito to relax, but I think the Tornado has one last performance left in him and enough motivation to overachieve. Margarito is going to catch him with something he doesn't see coming...like one of those hooker-cuts.
Pierre Bonny - Pacquiao KO 6
I am picking Pacquiao by sixth round KO. The fight will end up being competitive until the third round. Pacquiao will get the best of Margarito in the fourth and fifth rounds and will end up knocking Margarito out in the sixth round.
Josh Jordon - Pacquiao TKO 7
Manny is just too fast and lets his hands go too much for Margarito to hang with him. I see this playing out like Mosley-Margarito watched in fast forward.
Sandy Liptrot - Margarity by Split Decision
Yeah, I said it!
Steve "mbase" Coleman - Margarito TKO 11
I'm going with Margarito in 10 or 11 rounds. This fight should be called "Body Shots." I just think a really in shape Tornado goes religiously to the body and beats Pacquiao up in the latter half of the fight. Margarito will probably do to Pac what I thought Cotto would, until Pac took Cotto's heart. But he's not going to take Antonio's heart. If Pac wins, he will have to knock Tony out, and I just don't see that happening.
Mark Lorenzana - Pacquiao TKO 8
I really don't think those so-called distractions that plagued Manny Pacquiao's camp will mean a thing. Pacquiao will be 100 percent ready for Antonio Margarito come fight night, and I'm pretty sure that Margarito will be ready too. I think Margarito had a great camp as well. One thing to look out for in this fight is whether Pacquiao will be able to hurt Margarito. If Margarito feels Pacquiao's power - even if it isn't one-punch knockout power at this weight - the Mexican doesn't stand a chance, especially since Pacquiao will most certainly be too fast for him. Pacquiao by TKO in the eighth round.