Pacquiao vs. Margarito Results Happened Just the Way we All Thought it Would:
Manny Pacquiao put on a show against Antonio Margarito on Saturday night. He showcased a diverse array of offensive firepower and ring generalship which was a pleasure to watch. It was an exciting, captivating encounter, and another strong showing. Still, as proclamations fly left and right about what this win means, let’s keep things in perspective. This fight played out exactly as it was expected to.
Pacquiao was an overwhelming favorite heading into his showdown with Margarito, and not just in the betting world, either. On ProBoxing-Fans.com, all eight writers polled picked Pacquiao to win the fight, none of them expecting much difficulty along the way. Elsewhere in the media, it seemed like every major boxing writer or pundit sided with Manny. I literally know of one who did not, Teddy Atlas. That’s it. Amongst fans, outside of a stronghold of Mexican diehards backing the Tijuana Tornado, the pick was near unanimous for the pound for pound king as well.
Yet, just days after the fight, none of this is stopping a huge, heaping mess of hyperbole being tossed around. Dan Rafael opens his column asking, “Is there anything Manny Pacquiao can’t do?” Well, he can certainly win the fights he was overwhelmingly favored to win. Kevin Iole asks, “Is Pacquiao the best ever?” The best 150 lb junior middleweight titlist, unquestionably. Dan Wetzel asserts that, “Mayweather should keep dodging Pacquiao.” Agreed, should Mayweather and Pacquiao get in the ring with one another, Mayweather should definitely attempt to dodge Pacquiao’s insatiable assault. Although, I’m not sure what a win over the plodding Margarito means in terms of facing the best defensive fighter and pure boxer of his generation, which is what Pacquiao would see with Floyd Mayweather in the opposing corner.
Of course, in truth, it was a great performance, and he did manage to add a title in an 8th weight class, boosting his own record (although the fight wasn’t fought at the limit of that weight class, or with the gloves used in that weight class). But this win should in no way enhance our view of who Manny Pacquiao is as a fighter. It shouldn’t boost his legend any further amongst the all-time greats, where he already holds a lofty position.
Antonio Margarito was who we thought he was! Not only was he slow, but that 17 pound fight night weight “advantage” he showcased made him seemingly stuck in cement boots. He fought hard, and he showcased a tremendous amount of heart and grit, but he was outclassed. And we all knew that would happen, so why should this win be so highly lauded?
The fact is that in looking at Margarito before the fight, we saw a fighter that had only one meaningful contest in 22 months. We saw a fighter coming off a beating at the hands of Shane Mosley, when he got TKO’d in 9 rounds. A fighter whose hand wrapping scandal left his accomplishments in question. A fighter who, well, happened to be promoted by Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, and was a perfect set up man for Pacquiao to jump to another division and win a title in a PPV showcase while Floyd Mayweather sat idly on the sidelines.
That’s not the kind of opponent, or the kind of win, that cements Pacquiao’s legacy. Not in my mind. I’m not discrediting the performance, which was great. Pacquiao’s attack and his complete control of the encounter were both phenomenal. But it was against Antonio Margarito, and it happened according to the script we all wrote for the bout beforehand.
When Mayweather dismantled the late Arturo Gatti in one of his mainstream breakout performances, the skills he displayed were off the charts. His performance was sensational. But it was against Arturo Gatti, and that’s what he should have done, and that’s what boxing insiders expected to happen.
Similarly, this is what Pacquiao should have done against Margarito, and it’s what we all said would happen. It was a great showcase of his skills and his talents. It was a dominating win against a bigger man. It was an exciting fight. It was also a win over a slow, rusty, recent KO victim and underdog. Let’s, for once, try to keep things in perspective.
