In the first part of my interview with trainer Tony Morgan I discussed his history with his star fighter, undefeated WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, his thoughts on Floyd Mayweather’s future in the sport as well as random rumblings about the game of boxing.
Morgan was extremely candid with his delivery and that mentality carried over to the second half of our conversation as he gave his take on such matchups as Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito and the November 20th rematch between Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams. Taking things further, Morgan delved into his belief that Margarito is a guilty fighter for his involvement in his January 2009 hand wrap scandal, his thoughts on Freddie Roach and his trash talking nature, finding a way to defeat Manny Pacquiao and whether or not Miguel Cotto is damaged goods or not.
Continue reading below for all of Morgan’s thoughts…
Pacquiao-Margarito…
“I think that it plays out both ways. I think that Pacquiao's speed is going to be very hard for Margarito to deal with. I don’t know his trainer or their game plan. But I know they have all the tools to beat Manny Pacquiao. I just don’t think they are going to be able to push play on that night. Pacquiao is going to be in and out, in and out and that he is going to pepper Margarito with a barrage of punches. I think he’s going to end up busting up Margarito and maybe even stopping him. I think that Margarito has all the tools to beat him because he’s tall, he’s strong and he can throw a bunch of punches. But Manny’s not going to be right in front of him like they need him to be.”
Latin persona…
“Margarito is a Latin fighter and like the persona that has been given to Latin fighters in that they just go forward and punch. That’s kind of what he does. If you cant’ get out of his way, he’s a damn freight train. He’ll beat your brains out. Without the cement hands I think it’s going to be a tough fight.”
Defeating Manny Pacquiao…
“I think you got to beat Manny Pacquiao at his own game. I think you got to use speed and power. I think that Manny is a threat to anybody because of his work ethic. He comes in, he’s in and out, he throws a bunch of punches and he never gets tired.”
Pacquiao’s tremendous success at the higher weight classes…
“One thing I don’t understand is that Manny all of a sudden has almost devastating power. Because he fought all these little guys and he banged them up but he never really destroyed them. He fought a lot of the tough Latin fighters that came in. He fought wars and some of the fights he won you could have said he lost like Marquez. But now he comes up and I think Floyd brought up a very good point in drug testing these guys. Like USADA and UWADA, which is what you use when you go to the Olympics.”
Pacquiao’s devastation…
“Not saying that Manny’s on anything but I mean you almost go to wonder ‘Damn, he wasn’t knocking anybody dead like this when he was little’. And now he’s just crushing guys. Not too many times does a smaller man just come into a bigger man’s weight class and just destroy them. Not coming from where he came from? 126 or 130. You don’t just come up through the ranks and destroy people like that. Could it be phenomenal plyometrics training and a strict regimen? Yes, I believe in that stuff. But usually you see small things, not devastating things. I don’t want to say anybody’s on steroids because I believe in Manny Pacquiao and I think he’s very talented.”
Thoughts on Freddie Roach…
“I think Freddie Roach has done a very good job with him. I respect Freddie Roach as a trainer even though I don’t know him like that. Very few of the trainers I respect. I think he has a problem with downing a lot of guys and putting them down. For somebody being a trainer and being in the sport, you should have a little more respect for people in the sport. Before he was making noise, people didn’t talk shit about him. But he has done his work and he does have the right to do that. To each his own. If he that’s what he wants to do, so be it.”
Miguel Cotto’s future…
“I think he’s still damaged goods. I think if you watch the fight closely against Yuri, there were hints when Yuri touched him that it looked like it rattled Miguel. Yuri truthfully, and I love Yuri and he’s a great kid, he couldn’t crack an egg. I think as long as they pick the right opponents they are going to put some money in his pocket. They need to keep him away from any type of puncher. As long as he’s in with a boxer I think he will be fine.”
Chastising Margarito…
“I think Margarito should never, ever be able to wear a glove. I think whoever managed him, whoever promoted him, I think all those people should be banished from boxing. Well, not so much the promoter. Definitely the trainer, and I know Sergio Diaz, his manager, and I like the guy but it just makes it hard for me to believe that he didn’t know something”
When Cotto was a force…
“When he did that to Cotto, Cotto to me was the bad boy. Cotto was the kid that I seen come up from 140, after having trouble at 140, and came to 147 and just dominated. He was a force and I was telling people before I said ‘Look, this kid is going to come to 147 and he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. He was killing himself to make 140 and I told people to watch when he came to 147. I just hate that fact because Cotto was that dude and he just has to make as much money as he can and walk away.”
What really happened…
“We don’t know what really happened to Cotto, but he said after the 5th round, he said it felt like every time he got hit it was with a baseball bat. And he said I have never felt punches like that in my life. And I believe Margarito fought with Reyes gloves and if you know gloves, Reyes gloves are incredibly soft so you rely a lot on hand strength and wrap. That’s why Berto will never wear Reyes gloves, because he has child hands.”
Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez II…
“I think Paul is very talented. But I think Paul is very basic. Sometimes basic wins. He goes out there and the throws a hundred plus punches around. And being 6’3 or whatever he is, when you do that it makes you very hard to beat. I think he has his hands full because I truthfully felt that he lost the last fight. But we’ll see. Paul is read head strong and he seems to do real good with his rematches like he did with Quintana. I was at the first fight and Quintana beat the hell out of him. The second fight he came out and caught Quintana early and did what he had to do. But I’m probably going to pick Sergio in that one.”
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com
Comments
Manny, fight your game and never fight Margarito's game. Be quick and get the first few rounds just like what you did with Cotto on second round. Show him that he'll have difficulty to cope up with your speed and he'll end up disappointed just like Oscar Dela Hoya.
PACQUIAO, THE CHOSEN ONE
Even though Margarito will octuple his preparation in his coming fight with Pacquiao, he will never defeat Pacquiao. After the fight, Margarito will then say that he had lost his strength, power and speed during the fight; that is the time Margarito will admit that Pacquiao has been willed by God to be the greatest boxer the world will ever have. Nobody in this world in Pacquiao’s future fights will be able to defeat him. You Margarito, the more you are arrogant, the more you will be knockout by Pacquiao in the early rounds. Do not be afraid you all Paquiao fans, for you will see how Margarito, the cheater, will be punished in this coming fight.
PACQUIAO’S DEATH IS NEAR
The spirit of God The Father had said to Edriz: “Pacquiao’s life is short. I will take out his life, not long from now.” How short is that, God The Father has withheld it to Edriz; how it will be taken out, God The Father, likewise, has not revealed it to Edriz. To the people of the world, Pacquiao will be with us for a short time from now. Not long from now we will miss Pacquiao, who has been willed by God The Father to be the greatest boxer the world will ever have. There is still a time for you Floyd Jr. to fight Pacquiao. Your refusal to fight Pacquiao, undeniably indicates your cowardice and the people of the world will perpetually condemn and consider you as the most coward boxer. To those who do not believe to these words of Edriz, let him/them remain as unbeliever. You all people of the world will know later whether these words are true or not as coming from the Spirit Of God The Father.
Sir, Repeat again, what are you trying to say about suddenly knocking big guys, and ROIDS. Repeat one more time por favor about those ROIDS?
When Manny goes up in weight all of his opponent, from Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Clottey and now Margarito (and even the fight analyst) were saying that they are bigger, stronger and that they can take Manny's punch and that Manny can't take thir punches. The question is what happened? Though, with due respect to Margarito, I believe that he might be the strongest among all mentioned boxers but not fast enough to answer Manny's barrage of punches. The main reason why Dela Hoya, Cotto and Clottey ended up covering and running from Manny is the fact that they can't take Manny's punches. They say they were not hurt by Manny but why can't they fight back. Is the answer, obvious?
He doesn't want to admit that he never really watched Pacquiao's early fights. So he's just passing on the misinformation that Pac wasn't devastating in the lower weights.
well what can u say another doubter... have pacquiao tested and u'll see nothings there.. have floydie tested and i doubt that he's clean..
Do you think Manny was really not in good shape as Arum said on his training, or it was just part of the hype as others said that they won't watch because they believe that it would be lopsided victory for Manny? To me it's may be true. Because, Manny is so passionate and at this point in time boxing and Congree divided Manny attention and he may not have the proper focus based on what he said to Roach that he miss his job in Congress.
Experts really in disbelief that the Pacman was so Blessed because of his HUMILITY. GOD grant him his Hammer like Fists.
This poor guy before, GOD exalted because of his hardwork and reliance to the Lord in prayers and gratitude.
do your proper reasearch Mr. Morgan, even at lower weight he Manny Pacquaio had been knocking out his less talented oppopnet, Ledwaba, Barera, Marquez,, Diaz and many more. This names are not just ordinary fighter, Manny fought them when they are the champions of their weight class. Maybe you have to get more videos of Manny's fights before you open your big stinking mouth!
Who were the smaller fighthers that Manny did not KO? I believe it was on Marquez whom he knocked down 4 times, and Morales in the first fight. What is this guy talking about. He opnes his mouth without knwoing his facts.
I WANNA SEE ILOCANOS VS ILOCANOS TO THE DEATH!
Tony you must first review videos of Pacquiao's devastation in lower weights! clearly you are miss informed.
I'm sorry, but Manny Pacquiao destroyed Ledwaba's career precisely because of devastating power. And Manny only had 2 weeks to train for that fight.
Ledwaba is a good guy and it's a pity his career went downhill after the clash with Pacquiao. If truth be told, Ledwaba is a really good fighter, as good a fighter as he was billed to be. But at that time, no one really knew just how great Pacquiao would be.
Erik Morales never got KOed until he fought Manny. Barrera got busted up when he fought Manny.
Marquez avoided toe-to-toe fighting precisely because Manny had devastating power. Despite that, he fell to the canvass a total of 4 times.
At the lower weights, Manny had to dehydrate himself to make weight. That affects power. Plus, lighter fighters are naturally quicker. Not Manny quick, but much faster than welterweights. Hence, Manny was not as efficient in terms of punch landed.
At the higher weights, Manny is able to retain his speed against naturally slower guys. Plus, he never has to dehydrate to make weight. Hence, he can retain his power more effectively.
Manny doping??? please. Manny was 16 when he weighed 108 pounds and gradually gained his weight.
He was fighting as a superfeatherweight from 2005-2008. And from 2006- January 2008, Manny's fighting weight ranged from 140-144 lbs. Since that time campaigning from lightweight to welterweight, Manny's fighting weight ranged from 146-149 lbs.
Again, no signs of doping.
More importantly, Manny doesn't exhibit any side-effects of drugs such as roid rage, increased upper body mass and the like.
Bigots like the Mayweather kool-aid drinkers think the way they do because they jkust can't accept that non-Americans can excell and achieve greatness.
What many people do not know like this ignorant trainers is that Pacquiao has been felling opponents like trees even lifting them off their feet with his punches before he broke the US public prior to Barrerra fight. You can ask Ledwaba, Lucero, 3K Battery and many others..
This guy Tony Morgan is an IDIOT! Like this trying hard writer Chris Robinson who's a Pac Hater Klu Klux Klan. His fighter Andre Berto is nowhere near a star status because of their boxing ignorance. Pacquiao has never been tested positive of any PED. The question that this IDIOTS should be taking to account is, does steroids make your chin tough? does steroids make your stamina long lasting? Does steroid enhances your speed? Does steroid enhances your boxing ability? does steroid gives you ability to take a solid punch? This are the questions that you should be asking yourselves IDIOTS! And if the answer is NO, then you don't have a case. Mosley is a steroid user and he lost to Winky and Vargas was knock out. so these steroid didn't help them win fights. Pacquiao has been struggling in lower weights but still overcame. He was knocked out because he can't make the weight. Now he's not on diet and is comfortable at 147 without starving himself to death. Now because this guy Morgan is saying Pac is on PED, I say NO to Pac vs Berto!!!
Pacquiao not destroying his opponents at lower class? If that was not called destroying, I don't know what is.
hey mr.Tony Morgan ,would you please do some more research about how Pac fought his previous opponents.your arguments is weak and rediculous.
hey mr.Tony Morgan ,would you please do some more research about how Pac fought his previous opponents.your arguments is weak and rediculous.
pac came from nothing, with his extraordinary talent. talent that is, the thing they all envy.
--"pag ang puno hitik sa bunga, asahan mong maraming pupukol sa kanya."-
Funny how tony moran was tlkn bout pacman struggling with smaller fighters and even hints at PED's than he goes on how cotto struggled at 140 until he moved up to 147.. isnt that the same logic as pacman who has been malnourished most part of his life until he got the resources to feed himself with good amount of food.... Just goes to show how stupid people can be when they start believing what other ppl say instead of thinking for themselves
MANNY THE PACMAN IS THE " POPEYE " OF THE PHILIPPINES...WITH PACMAN TREMENDOUS POWER MARGO'S CHIN WILL SHUTTER INTO PIECES....
People can become big and really big with proper nutrition coupled with proper food supplements and vitamins. Pac didn't grow big overnight. Look around you and make a research. It is just extraordinary that Pac is winning left and right even though he grew big. But that's the logic behind it. The bigger a man is the more he gain power. With the plus talent given to Pac, how can one doubt it. Anyway, I still believe there are more logical people elsewhere than this forum. And you doubters are entitled to your own opinion.
MR. MORGAN YOUR CRASY AND IDOIT!!!,..YOU KNOW MAN THAT MANNY THE PACMAN IS THE " POPEYE " OF THE PHILIPPINES THATS WHY PACMAN HAS EXTRA ORDINARY POWER THAT CANNOT BE FOUND TO OTHER BOXER,..ONLY THE PACMAN HAS IT....
ALL BOXER MUST START EATING MORE CORN IF THEY WANT TO FIGHT PACMAN..THATS THE WEAKNESSES OF PACMAN IF HE CANNOT EAT CORN HE WILL LOSE THE FIGHT....LOL
I don't think so...at smaller weight classes manny was already destroying his opponents, at 122 Barrera, at 130 Morales, 135 Diaz....marquez was down 4 times. not to mention lesser known fighters, this trainer should get his fact straight are you in boxing or what. It's just pure talent man.
Tony Morgan shouldn't comment based on his gut feelings more so talkin about boxer's history because there are facts he can google unless he is dumb to go back to and read it! FYI Mr Morgan about 80% of Pacman's fights in his lower rank were all via knockout! Pacquiao is naturally heavy fisted even @ 106 lbs. Ariza just enhanced it with plyometrics!
TONY MORGAN IS A PUSSY ASSHOLE AND AN IDIOT
of course he said pacquiao is on something in so many ways and his denial doesn't change that. he's not even man enough to say he suspects pacquiao uses them.
let me explain this to DUMB BOXING TRAINERS LIKE MORGAN. pacquiao was knocking people out WHEN HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO BOX. all pacquiao knew was to JAB - JAB - STRAIGHT LEFT. pacquiao's epiphany came after the MP/JMM 2 in his fight with david diaz wherein he stayed mostly on the outside employing the hit and not get hit strategy, in and out, lateral movement, jumping, lunging, explosiveness pop in his punches and other stuff morgan knows nothing about because he's a moron) and pacquiao said to himself " wow, i didn't know fighting is so easy and so much fun. i can do this till im 50". check out his fights on youtube he never looked back on his old fighting style not even his old reliable jab - jab - straiight left..
he stayed with this new fight plan ever since and never stopped learning and coming up with new stuff all the time. did you see that 1st knockdown he gave cotto. have you ever seen anything so fluid and powerful in it's delivery? lucky for cotto pac's left uppercut did not catch him square in the face?
if morgan's comments is an indication of his intelligence (he believes the ped story that no one has ever found like the holy grail) it is a sad portent of what's in store for his ward berto. he doesn't even realize that the mayweathers are only using the peds as an excuse not to fight the greatest fighter of all time. i hope he's got some sense not to sic berto on pacquiao and find out he's got face like his baby hands cuz pac will surely turn it to mush.
So Pacfans why is Pacroid afraid to fight BLACK BOXERS ????????????????
KiKi
I don't know.. ask floyd..
I don't know.. ask floyd..
The Pacroid will be exposed along with his mediocre trainer Freddie Roach. Margarito will knock out Manny before round 11. Bet against Margarito as that is what the system wants you to believe (remember the odds against Cotto) and house will rake the money from all those misguided by emotion.
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