Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito Predictions

The latest chapter in Manny Pacquiao's remarkable career will unfold a few hours from now when he steps into the ring against Antonio Margarito in Texas.

The Boxing Bulletin will be providing coverage of the show, with undercard updates and detailed round by round updates of the main-event.  Click here for round by round updates starting at 9 PM EST, but for now let's check out some predictions for the 150lb match-up...

The Boxing Bulletin - Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito Preview

Jason Karp... I see this fight as a battle of volume; the fighter who is capable of punching at a higher rate will ultimately carry the advantage, since both men's strategy will inevitably hinge on throwing punches in bunches.  Margarito has always been a quantity over quality guy, and for Manny to neutralize that he'll have to keep Tony occupied with what's coming at him.  My gut feeling says Pacquiao's speed will rule the day, both hand and foot.  But there are a number of wild cards in Margarito's corner that make it difficult to settle on any one prediction: namely, Tony's punching power, his stamina, his chin, and his ability to make weight comfortably.  I'm going with Pacquiao by a late stoppage, in the 11th.  But it comes down to the wild cars, and if they swing in Margarito's favor, it could be a very different fight.

The Boxing Bulletin - Keeping Pace: Does Margarito Stand a Chance Against Pacquiao

Lee Payton... As is usually the case, Margarito will be the hunter in this fight, so he will have to pump the jab and cut off the ring in order to catch up to his speedy opponent. Has he ever done those things well? Not really. Footwork has never been is strength. Even at his best he would follow opponents, always a step behind. This time it will be more like 2 or 3 steps. I expect Manny to move laterally, as he did against De La Hoya, and walk Tony into punches all night.

Here's a question I've asked before all of Manny's welterweight fights- how is he going to miss?

At this point, Margarito is a big punching bag and Pacquiao will treat him like one for as long as it lasts.

Bad Left Hook Fight Preview: Manny Pacquiao v. Antonio Margarito

Scott Christ... I might be wrong, as anyone might be trying to pick a fight, but I don't think this is going to be particularly competitive. I look for Pacquiao to employ his speed, timing, and masterful use of angles to completely overwhelm and systematically destroy Margarito, who used to be like the Terminator but now I suspect is more like Arnold in Terminator 3 with all the wrinkles and bad jokes. No longer could you believe in his mechanical badassery, because the times they had a-changed, and he just wasn't who he was before. If Margarito wins this fight, it will be because he's the first man in a good while to land a huge shot on Pacquiao. The last time Manny took many clean blows was his 2008 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, which now seems like a dog's age in the past, and was at 130 pounds. Margarito has a puncher's chance and that's it. I don't think he's good enough to capitalize on the advantages he has, or good enough to keep Pacquiao from utilizing the advantages that Pacquiao has. Pacquaio TKO-9

The Cruelest Sport - The Uncertainty Principle: Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito Preview

Carlos Acevedo... Because Pacquiao, 31, throws so many punches in bursts, there is a good possibility that Margarito will spend a lot of time on his back foot, taking punishment, or trying to parry blows. Since he is not the most skilled counterpuncher in the world, Margarito will have to try to punch in between the combinations of one of the fastest boxers in the world. That will open him up to being strafed with pinpoint shots, but it will be his only chance to score the upset. Little by little Margarito ought to be able to close the gap on Pacquiao, and this might force some heavy exchanges between the two. If Margarito can make it to that point, then we will have all the answers we need.

In the end, Pacquiao is probably too fleet-footed and quick-fisted for Margarito. Although it is not the guarantee that paying taxes is, Pacquiao ought to be able to survive a scare here or there and score a clear decision over Margarito.

Safe Side of the Ropes: Power Play: Pacquiao vs Margarito Preview & Prediction

Andrew Harrison... Pacquiao’s strategy requires endless fuel, deft skill and a discipline he can appear to lack on occasion. It also requires a touch of genius and verve. He’s in for a white hot battle, one which will test his stomach and condition against a free swinging monster who will be looking to ram all of the bile he’s been made to chew on (unduly in his mind) back down the throats of his critics. With his hand wraps under more scrutiny than the Treasury’s finances, he’ll be looking to legitimise his entire career in a single fight, one which has been under suspicion since the Mosley debacle.

In a fight of the year candidate, I expect a bruised and bloodied Pacquiao to emerge victorious via unanimous decision. Margarito will prove his point, yet a smidge past his best and possibly overtrained, he’ll come up just short.

The Queensbury Rules - Too Big, Too Fast Or None Of The Above?: Preview And Prediction For Manny Pacquiao Vs. Antonio Margarito

Tim Starks... It’s possible Margarito makes a battle of it, of course, and there’s an argument or two in his favor that aren’t wildly unconvincing. If he does, and especially if he wins, the people who supported this bout as competitive will crow, and they have every right. Maybe I’ll even be grateful for a competitive bout, because it will reduce the worst suspicions I have about Margarito, suspicions I wish I didn’t have. And everybody roots for great, competitive fights.

But I don’t think this one will be. And I won’t take any consolation in the "Pacquiao will mete out some justice" angle. Margarito will end the year with no worse than the third or fourth biggest paycheck any boxer in 2010 got. A beating is a small price to pay for such a rich reward. Pacquiao gets the stoppage in the 8th.

Fight Insight - Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito Prediction

Ja Dawson...  For Manny Pacquiao’s legion of fans, this late stoppage victory (yes, that’s my official prediction) will be the latest scalp on his mantle. For Antonio Margarito, it will likely signal the end of a career (in big fights at least) that many fans feel never should have been allowed to resume after the hand-wrap controversy.

In the end, ring justice will be served, with Pacquiao’s speedy fists serving as the judge and jury.

Max Boxing - The Big Saturday PPV Preview

Marty Mulcahy... Fists win fights but the feet set up the win and that is where Pacquiao has a distinct advantage against Margarito. Pacquiao has a superior set of wheels to get to the point of impact first and because of his stature and quick movements Margarito will overshoot punches leaving him open to even more counterpunches. Unless Pacquiao gets caught early and remains buzzed for ensuing rounds, I don’t see how Margarito finds a mobile artillery unit like Pacquiao. As fantastic as Margarito looks physically (better than ever!), to win, he needs to stay close and smother "Pac-Man" since his jab is not unerring or stinging. I am uncertain on how the fight ends but Pacquiao will be the victor. I would not be surprised if Robert Garcia pulls Margarito out while on his feet but badly cut up and stunned, hopelessly outgunned somewhere around the tenth round.

411mania.com: Boxing - 411 Boxing Roundtable Preview: Pacquiao vs. Margarito

Jamie Mitchell - Pacquiao UD. I don't think Freddie Roach will want Manny to stay still long enough to plant his feet with his punches, and I believe Margarito's chin will withstand everything Pacquiao hits him with. He'll do well to win a round.

Patrick Cassidy - Manny Pacquiao is still one of the quickest fighters on the planet who possesses a surreal control of his body in the ring. He can fight Margarito from a variety of ways while Margarito is more limited. Manny's speed and footwork will frustrate Marquez to the point that I see him getting sloppy and we're going to see some big shots landed in the middle to late rounds. Margarito looks like he's in great shape but he's going to try to win, he's not Josh Clottey and because of that he's going to get hurt. 10th round TKO for Manny Pacquiao.

Jonathan Yaghoubi - It's going to be a tough fight but I feel that Pacman is too good and fast to lose to Margarito. The size advantage for Margarito is a real concern but I don't think he is going to be quick enough to catch Pacquiao. I think he is going to in and out on Margarito and will wear him down like he did to Cotto. I am going with an 11th round TKO win for Pacquiao.

Moses Vered - Forget the killer who (with probably loaded gloves) that beat Cintron and Cotto to bloody pulps. Picture the fighter who fought against Daniel Santos, Clottey, Williams, and Mosley. Not so impressive huh? That being said here is my prediction…

Pacquiao takes some rounds to find his groove then (around the 4th round) begins to slice up a slow plodding Margarito. Pac-Man will have him walking into vicious straight punches all night long. Pacquiao TKO 10.

Ramon Aranda - Manny, in my opinion is just too gifted for a slow, prodding fighter such as Antonio Margarito. Unless Manny completely under-trained (which I doubt), he'll be too quick-fisted and agile to allow Margarito a significant opportunity to land his shots. To his credit, Margarito is a big, strong guy that can cut off the ring and lay heavy fire, if he's able to trap you. I just don't see Manny being in front of Margarito long enough to take too much punishment.

That being said, I'm picking Pacquiao to win via decision or late stoppage.

Inside Fights - Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito Preview & Picks

Trent Pusey: Manny has made me, as well as others in the boxing world, wrong time and time again. Despite moving up in weight yet again to face a bigger opponent, Manny Pacquiao is now the clear favorite. Margarito may have lost his pop, but he still can throw a seemingly endless barrage of punches. Manny Pacquiao, however, need not go any further than the fight video of Shane Mosley’s win over Margarito in 2009. It won’t be a question of "if" with Manny but "when." The when will be in the 8th round.

FIGHTHYPE - FIGHTHYPE PREDICTIONS: PACQUIAO VS. MARGARITO

Ben "The Hype" Thompson... Margarito's slow, methodical, right-in-your-face style is the perfect showcase for Pacquiao's dazzling hand speed, his amazing foot work, and his flashy combinations. Freddie told you that De la hoya couldn't pull the trigger, he told you that Hatton wasn't skilled enough, he told you that Clottey covered up too much, and he told you that Cotto wasn't the same fighter. Guess what? He was right every time! If he says this fight with Margarito will be easy, which he did, then best believe Manny will have an easy night come November 13. Expect Pacquiao to jump in and out and boom, boom, boom all night long en route to an easy unanimous decision victory.