Pacquiao said, "the key to victory over Margarito is speed"

Just about three weeks on his training for a duel with the biggest and tallest opponent of his boxing career, Filipino boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao has admitted that he still lacks speed to supplement his power which he has regained after three weeks of training.

As Margarito towers over the pound-for-pound king with his five inches height advantage, Pacquiao is expected to use his full power to attack Margarito's body where his punches can land easily as the Tijuana Tornado aims for power head shots.

“Speed is my key,” Pacquiao told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday, noting that the concentration in the earlier part of his training was on building up his body and his muscles so he would be strong.

Pacquiao will face Margarito at no more 151 pounds and it will be his biggest weight movement in his boxing career as he aims for the vacant junior middleweight title.

Pacquiao knows he will be a bit sluggish with the agreed catch weight and he will have to find a way to boost his speed which was unsurpassed while fighting in the lower weight divisions.

He said gaining extra weight reduces his speed and he is concentrating on it now. His strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza is expected to concentrate on regaining his speed after moving up to face Margarito on the agreed weight.

Addressing concerns about Margarito's height and reach advantages, Pacquiao was quoted to have said: "Don't worry, there is always the body."

In the meantime, at the camp of Antonio Margarito, Robert Garcia seems to have anticipated Freddie Roach's strategy come fight night. Garcia was seen concentrating on Margarito's abdominal exercises to firm up his ability to withstand Pacquiao's powerful body shots.

Roach is Pacquiao's trainer while Robert Garcia is handling Margarito. Both coaches are ex-professional boxers.

But boxing fans believe Roach's strategy is a diversionary tactic aimed at confusing Margarito in the process while Pacquiao switches to deliver his killer power shots on Margarito's chin via Pacquiao's lightning-fast uppercut that could send Margarito to dreamland.

Margarito's durable chin has been widely discussed as one of his best-kept assets, but he could be in for the surprise of his life, as Pacquiao could again unleash the same series of combinations which led to Ricky Hatton's devastating knockout, which sent the Briton to retirement for good.

Glen Tapia and Michael Medina, Pacquiao's current sparring partners, have attested to Pacquiao's skills, speed and power. They are of the opinion that Pacquiao will dominate Antonio Margarito as they clash on November 13 at the Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Freddie Roach predicted Pacquiao will dispose Margarito in round eight while Margarito's coach Robert Garcia says Pacquiao will go down in Round 11.

Bob Arum, who is currently in Pacquiao's training camp in Baguio City and who acts as promoter of the two boxers, seems unimpressed with Pacquiao's progress as he talks about the way Margarito is training and preparing for the fight of his life.

Although Arum would not categorically say who is he siding with, it appears the popular promoter is much more impressed with Margarito's progress at this time.Don’t dare to watch Pacquiao vs Margarito Fight on November 13, 2010 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. See you there!

Source: digitaljournal