Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito fight review

Martial artists, boxers and boxing enthusiasts in Chicago gather around big screen televisions across the city and chip in for the pay per view fight of the season; Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito.  The twelve round super welterweight fight is much anticipated.  Manny Pacquiao has won titles in seven weight classes and many wondered who he would fight next after his victory over Joshua Clottey.  The controversial Antonio Margarito steps into the ring.

Drama begins before the fight when Manny Pacquiao, who weighed in much lighter than the heavier Margarito, was accused of having pre-wrapped gauze inserted into his wraps before the Margarito camp was able to check.  Freddie Roach came back with an accusation that Margarito was taking an illegal stimulant after seeing him pour unidentified powder into his water just before the fight. 

"I hope this is better than the last few fights," states Chicago black belt Mike Figueroa, with a comment on the dissapointing judging on a mostly lack luster undercard.

"I want Pacquiao to win, " says Kristin Gearhart, three time Chicago Golden Gloves winner. "I think Margarito might win.  He's just so big.  I think he's the biggest guy Pacquiao has fought so far."

The fight begins after the singing of the  national anthems of Mexico, the Philippines and the United States and a performance by Nelly.

Margarito, coming into the fight after his one year suspension, has four and a half inches of height and 17 pounds of weight as an advantage on Pacquiao coming into the fight. 

The first round begins both fighters feeling each other out.  Pacquiao looks much smaller than Margarito, the size difference is very apparent seeing them together in the ring for the first time.  Both fighters are basically toe to toe in the beginning of the round.  Margarito is using his jab effectively, however, Pacquiao is using his uppercut effectively when he gets in.  Both fighters are scoring, however, Pacquiao seems to be figuring him out and is using effective combinations when he is able to work his way inside.  The round ends with no clear domination, both fighters are working well.  The first round goes to Pacquiao.

The second round begins much the same way.  Pacquiao begins to use his combinations earlier.  He is now blocking or avoiding most of Margarito's jabs and landing nice combos when he works his way inside.  Pacquiao's punches are landing solidly.  Margarito gets Pacquiao's back on the ropes briefly, but Pacquiao quickly moves out.  Margarito does land some good jabs, but Pacquiao gives back just as good.  Both fighters land come good clean shots.  Margarito manages to land a couple fo uppercuts, until this point he had only been landing with his jab.  Pacquiao does well with his powershots when he works his way inside.  Pacqiuao gets the second round, he is still throwing and landing more than Margarito, although Margarito is fighting well.  The fighters are only separated by a few punches in terms of punches landed.

Pacquiao lands with his first two combinations, his speed is apparent.  Pacquiao is using his movement more at the start of this round.  Margarito does not seem to be bothered much by the punches, although they are landing cleanly.  Margarito almost gets Pacquiao into the corner, but he moves out quickly and fires back a quick and powerful combination, backing Margarito up.  Margarito lands a few clean straight punches.  Both fighters are keeping their guards up well.  Pacquiao begins pressing Margarito at the end of the round using his speed.  He seems to be fighting his fight at this point.  Pacquiao landed a lot more punches in the third round and his corner encourages him to put some pressure on.  The third round also goes to Pacquiao.

Pacquiao lands a few strong hooks to the head in the beginning of the round after a few exploratory jabs by both fighters.  Although Margarito has beeing doing well, Pacquiao is winning each round.  He has been keeping to his game plan and keeping off the ropes.  Pacquiao lands more combinations and his dominating in th emiddle of the fourth round.  Margarito lands a few punches, but Pacquiao comes back with twice and many.  Margarito appears to be cut and is clearly loosing energy in the face of Pacquiao's pressure.  Pacquiao continues to dominate the round even after the energy slows down.  He clearly takes the fourth round.  Margarito is cut under the right eye and his corner attempts to stop the bleeding.  His eye is already swelling.

Margarito attemps to come out in the fifth round with more jabs, but looks very tired and Pacquiao is avoiding and countering well.  Margarito gets Pacquiao on the ropes and lands five or six punches, but Pacquiao comes off and puts the pressure on, landing several combinations without return.  Pacquiao is quick, landing overhands when he's inside and uppercuts from further out.  He has a nice flow of body shots to headshots.  Margarito is trying to hang in, but Pacquiao is now clearly fighting his own fight and fighting his fight.  Pacquiao is now countering off of every punch Margarito throws as the round ends.  Another round to Pacquiao.

Round six is still going Pacquiao's way.  Margarito is obviously tired and Pacquiao is working his angles now.  The throws a punch or a combo and then moves away immediately.  Pacquiao's training and stamina is apparent.  Pacquiao continues to demonstrate his conditioning, moving and punching without looking like he's lost the least bit of energy.  Margarito is landing a few punchs and chases Pacquiao back against the ropes and Pacquiao moves away.  Margarito gets Pacquiao back onto the ropes for a minute in a burst of renewed energy, but Pacquiao lands a few solid punches and  backs Margarito up.  A better round for Margarito, but Pacquiao still takes the round.

Margarito's eye is swelling at the start of the seventh round.  Pacquiao gets a few clean shots to Margarito's injured eye right off the bat.  Margarito throw a few strong jabs and backs Pacquiao up very briefly, but Pacquiao comes back instantly with harder punches. He appears to be snapping Margarito's head back slightly each time.  Margarito is trying to survive at this point, he won't be able to win this fight.  For every punch Margarito lands, Pacquiao seems to land six.  Pacquiao is on the ropes again, but almost seems to work Margarito just as well from that position as he does from the center of the ring.  He clearly dominates and wins yet another round.

Pacquiao seems fresh and not even winded entering the eighth round.  Margarito attempts to work his jab and briefly gets Pacquiao on the ropes, but Pacquiao gets out and backs Margarito back up and works the injured eye.  Pacquiao almost appears to be backing into the ropes on purpose to tease Margarito, taking some shots and then coming back and giving more than he got.  Although Pacquiao is 17 pounds lighter than Margarito, his punches definitely seem to be doing more damage.  Another round to Pacquiao, although he is taking some shots.  Margarito's eye is looking bad and his corner brings out the inswell to attempt to bring it under control.

Entering the ninth round, Pacquiao moves more often and begins just to box Margarito, taking less punishment.  Margarito lands a few straight punches, but Pacquiao counters and lands some good four punch combinations right to Margarito's head.  Pacquiao has obviously decided to use his movement this round and take a break from taking the hits from his much heavier opponent.  Pacquiao wins another round.  Margarito's eye is looking worse.

The ref checks Margarito to make sure he can see how many fingers he is holding up before the round begins.  Pacquiao again continues to move, and avoids all of Margarito's punches, continuing to land his own combinations.  Margarito continues to try and work his jab, but Pacquiao is just punishing him at this point.  The crowd begins the "Manny" chant.  Margarito lands a few punchs, but as usual Pacquiao counters right away with more punches that look much more effective.  At this point Margarito is just trying to stay on his feet.  Pacquiao is backing Margarito up with punishing combinations to the head.   It looks like a knockout is possible when the round ends.  Margarito's corner tells him to give it all in the next round and try and knock Pacquiao out.  I don't believe this will happen.

Round eleven, Pacquiao still looks quite lively.  Margarito is inching forward looking for his knockout opportunity, but is unable to find it.  Pacquiao meanwhile continues to land punches, each one appearing to land cleanly to head or body.  Pacuqiao is now picking Margarito apart. The ref checks Margarito's eye once again and lets the fight continue.  Pacquiao avoids most of the punches Margarito throws and the few that do land look weak.  Pacquiao's punches continue to snap Margarito's head back.  The round ends again.  Pacquiao obviously takes the round and Margarito's eye appears to be swollen shut with the other one coming close behind.  He's just in the final round to try and finish the fight.  He only landed six out of 18 punches to Pacuqiao's 51 out of 75.

Final round.  Pacquiao seems to be taking it easy on Margarito in the final round in the first few seconds.  He seems to be pulling his punches, although he still lands them all cleanly.  Pacquiao still lands multi punch combinations.  Margarito doesn't seem to be scoring at all this round.  In the final thirty seconds, Pacquiao puts on some more energy to make sure it is clear that he is winning the round, although he doesn't punish Margarito more than necessary. 

Every round of the fight goes to Pacquiao.  Margarito has at least finished the fight, but his face looks swollen and abused.  Pacquiao has sustained a few scrapes, but nothing nearly as significant as his heavier opponent.  Pacquiao completely shut out his heaviest opponent yet and seems even more unstoppable.  Manny Pacquiao has won his eighth world title.