DALLAS — As Antonio Margarito was taking it nice and easy in his posh hotel room early Wednesday night, Manny Pacquiao was having some fun, jamming with his band moments after a light workout just a few steps away from where he was rocking and rolling.
Pacquiao didn’t look as though he was embarking on a major task in less than three days, sounding and acting as if his schedule for the end of the week would only see him fulfilling a showbiz commitment back in the Philippines.
Away from the maddening crowd at the makeshift gym that also served as a concert stage, Margarito was with his handful of handlers, discussing the strategy for Saturday night’s clash at Cowboys Stadium in the neighboring city of Arlington.
Earlier in the day at the famed $1.2-billion venue, Margarito talked about spoiling Pacquiao’s grand plans, telling visiting reporters from the Philippines of his bad intentions.
“I am knocking him (Pacquiao) out,” said Margarito, who is a 5-1 underdog.
And asked about his message to the Filipinos rooting for Pacquiao, Margarito did not bat an eyelash in saying he would make them all very sad.
“I am going to bring them the best fight and unfortunately, he is going to lose the fight.”
Margarito has sensed that Team Pacquiao, notably trainer Freddie Roach, is starting to get fidgety.
“They’re just very nervous about the fight as the fight is getting closer and they look at my size and they say ‘what are we getting into?’”
Roach has boldly predicted that Pacquiao would make mincemeat of Margarito, boasting that he won’t be surprised if the scheduled 12-round super-welterweight match will end early.
Since making his US debut in June 2001 as an unknown super-bantamweight (122 lbs), Pacquiao has since fought a total of eighteen times, losing only once and drawing once.
Pacquiao’s list of victims has become a veritable who’s who of bigtime boxing: Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao is guaranteed a purse of $18 million, while Margarito gets the biggest paycheck of his career at $3 million.
Both fighters stand to earn more if the pay-per-view receipts produce huge numbers, according to their common promoter, Bob Arum.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
