DALLAS — Who trained the hardest will determine the winner of Saturday night’s world super welterweight title clash between Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Mexican mauler Antonio Margarito. This was the sentiment of Puerto Rican banger Miguel Cotto, the fighter both Pacquiao and Margarito had fought.
Cotto remains hesitant to issue a forecast, telling the Bulletin during the official weigh in on Friday that “whoever prepared the hardest will have the advantage” come fight night at Cowboys Stadium.
“The training is the key in knowing who will win this fight,” Cotto said.
Cotto had been stopped by Margarito in July 2008, while Pacquiao had dealt him the same type of beating in Nov. 2009.
“It’s hard to say even if I had faced them before but the training is going to be the key,” said Cotto, who is aiming to make a return to the ring next year.
Cotto, Margarito and Pacquiao are under the promotional arm of Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.
Even if Pacquiao had a few bumps along the way during training camp, he said he was able to catch up and is in tip-top shape.
Margarito said he has prepared long and hard and is looking forward to an upset win.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
