lpinoy
10-19-2010, 07:11 PM
C/P
By;411 mania
Top Rank supremo Bob Arum flew in to the Philippines last weekend, to observe Manny Pacquiao's training first-hand, ahead of his November 13th clash with Antonio Margarito.
The Hall of Fame promoter spoke to The Philippine Star at Baguio City's Shape Up Gym, prior to Pacquiao's media workout, and revealed how he was left unimpressed by what he witnessed during his visit, in typically blunt manner:
"When I watched Manny on Saturday, I didn't see the kind of speed that he would need to beat Margarito… If the fight happened on Saturday Margarito would win the fight,"
Reports surrounding Pacquaio's indifferent preparations have been well circulated in recent weeks, and Arum is only too aware of the stories. However the Top Rank chief has no intention of expressing his views to his number-one fighter.
"It's not my place to stand in between the trainer and the fighter. But he's got to focus and stop all this nonsense. But if Freddie [Roach] needs my help I'd be happy to do it," said Arum.
The latest tidbit, concerns Pacquiao entrenching himself in one of his hotel's function rooms on Sunday night, to rehearse for his post-fight concert in Arlington. So this, in addition to the pound-for-pound king skipping road work, missing gym sessions, and playing too much basketball, has led to a growing worry that Pacquiao is taking his opponent lightly.
Arum's apprehension gets kicked up a notch or two further upon hearing of how Antonio Margarito's preparations are unfolding:
"Antonio Margarito is a very focused fighter. With all the problems he has had, he knows that if he wins this fight then sky's the limit. He's got no problems at all getting focused…He's done everything possible for him to be ready physically and mentally,"
"Bruce [Trampler, Top Rank matchmaker] said he was tremendous when he sparred 12 rounds with four different partners,"
Critics have pointed to Pacquiao's preference to train in his native Philippines for the initial stages of his camp - before completing his preparations at LA's Wild Card Boxing Club - citing the presence of too many distractions surrounding the Filipino phenom. Arum eludes to this school of thought:
"I never interfere with where a fighter should train. That's between Manny and Freddie. I think training in Baguio is okay, but I think I would have been happier if Manny left last Saturday to go to Los Angeles instead of this Saturday."
There was a glimmer of positivity, albeit tempered, when a reporter simply asked Arum if Pacquiao can overcome the Mexican pressure-fighter at Cowboys Stadium:
"Absolutely, he has plenty of time to get into shape, and be the old Manny Pacquiao. And if he's the old Manny Pacquiao, he's too fast and too talented to get beaten by Margarito...But this Manny Pacquiao is not enough. That's all."
By;411 mania
Top Rank supremo Bob Arum flew in to the Philippines last weekend, to observe Manny Pacquiao's training first-hand, ahead of his November 13th clash with Antonio Margarito.
The Hall of Fame promoter spoke to The Philippine Star at Baguio City's Shape Up Gym, prior to Pacquiao's media workout, and revealed how he was left unimpressed by what he witnessed during his visit, in typically blunt manner:
"When I watched Manny on Saturday, I didn't see the kind of speed that he would need to beat Margarito… If the fight happened on Saturday Margarito would win the fight,"
Reports surrounding Pacquaio's indifferent preparations have been well circulated in recent weeks, and Arum is only too aware of the stories. However the Top Rank chief has no intention of expressing his views to his number-one fighter.
"It's not my place to stand in between the trainer and the fighter. But he's got to focus and stop all this nonsense. But if Freddie [Roach] needs my help I'd be happy to do it," said Arum.
The latest tidbit, concerns Pacquiao entrenching himself in one of his hotel's function rooms on Sunday night, to rehearse for his post-fight concert in Arlington. So this, in addition to the pound-for-pound king skipping road work, missing gym sessions, and playing too much basketball, has led to a growing worry that Pacquiao is taking his opponent lightly.
Arum's apprehension gets kicked up a notch or two further upon hearing of how Antonio Margarito's preparations are unfolding:
"Antonio Margarito is a very focused fighter. With all the problems he has had, he knows that if he wins this fight then sky's the limit. He's got no problems at all getting focused…He's done everything possible for him to be ready physically and mentally,"
"Bruce [Trampler, Top Rank matchmaker] said he was tremendous when he sparred 12 rounds with four different partners,"
Critics have pointed to Pacquiao's preference to train in his native Philippines for the initial stages of his camp - before completing his preparations at LA's Wild Card Boxing Club - citing the presence of too many distractions surrounding the Filipino phenom. Arum eludes to this school of thought:
"I never interfere with where a fighter should train. That's between Manny and Freddie. I think training in Baguio is okay, but I think I would have been happier if Manny left last Saturday to go to Los Angeles instead of this Saturday."
There was a glimmer of positivity, albeit tempered, when a reporter simply asked Arum if Pacquiao can overcome the Mexican pressure-fighter at Cowboys Stadium:
"Absolutely, he has plenty of time to get into shape, and be the old Manny Pacquiao. And if he's the old Manny Pacquiao, he's too fast and too talented to get beaten by Margarito...But this Manny Pacquiao is not enough. That's all."