However, Rupert Murdoch's marketing machine did not allow much attention to be thrown towards the WBC Super Welterweight Championship fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao won the thrilling contest on a landslide points decision, in the process collecting an eighth world title, keeping himself in the pantheon of the all time great peudralists.
Margarito for his part, fought incredibly bravely despite severe bruising and must reap some redemption after winning over the crowd on his return from suspension. But this night was all about the Filipino fighter.
Pacquiao will now continue his quest to 'get it on' with Floyd Mayweather, the last man to try and claim the title of best pound for pound boxer on the planet. Any other fight would be an anti-climax but the American continues to dodge and weave the fight more successfully than Pacquiao was doing with Margarito's gloves.
Pacquiao, moving up a division for the sixth time, also has many distractions outside of the ring. Having launched a successful sideline career in politics, he is an elected member of congress in his native islands.
Margarito rose to prominence after demolishing Miguel Cotto in 2008. And was fighting for the first time since incurring a 12 month ban when officials discovered he was wearing wraps on his hands that included hardening agents.
The Pacquiao camp had been criticised for allowing the Mexican a direct route back to the big time. The traditional west coast boxing houses of California and Nevada would not grant a license to the fight.
Luckily for us, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have a beautiful Billion dollar stadium to pay for. Their state officials didn't have to be asked twice to host a world title fight with an attendance of 41,734.
The 31 year old multi-champion's genius trainer Freddy Roach, had stepped into the Margarito dressing room to ensure there was no unfair advantage hiding underneath the gloves.
When the bell rang, however, the Mexican's advantage was clearly underneath his robe. Along with his greater weight and height the returning fighter also had a five inch reach advantage over the crowd favourite.
At five foot seven, the politician is no stranger to fighting bigger men. His speed and precision in punching more than makes up for his physical deficiencies (if they can even be called such.)
At first glance this contest may have looked like man against boy. But Margarito from early on, was the one looking out of his depth. Labouring in the first round, he was made to look like more of a lazy summer humid breeze, than his chosen moniker of El Tornado de Tijuana.
The Tornado did become more offensive in round's two and three, temporarily looking like he might catch the Filipino with a solid left jab. Pacquiao was only too happy to counter attack and rained four consecutive combinations in retaliation in round four, giving Margarito a golf ball sized swelling below the right eye, which was the result of a fractured orbital bone (eye socket).
Tijuana's finest would need a considerable gust of momentum to survive the 12 rounds from that point. Pacquiao danced majestically in and out of his reach. Taking an uppercut on the chin, he applauded his opponent in encouragement, the sportsmanship of the man is unparalleled.
Margarito staggered on bravely. Pacquiao took his intensity down a gear, and got himself backed into a corner as the tattooed brawler whipped up a frenzy amongst the Spanish speaking contingent in Cowboy Stadium. But that eye was still a hinderance, and it was not getting any better.
By round eight Pacquiao had become slightly less evasive, no longer able to skip in and out to deliver those precision SAS style attacks. Instead, with his back on the ropes the champ got caught in a toe to toe battle. A lesser man would have wilted, Margarito caught him with a rock solid upper cut and some serious right hooks.
The holder of seven world titles was certainly delivering on his promise of putting on a show for the fans. But he was in danger falling short on his destiny of holding that eighth belt.
He boxed slightly cleverer in round nine, undoubtedly under orders from Roach to regain his elusiveness. Margarito's right eye, was by now, all but shut, he again managed to corner the favourite, but Pacquiao masterfully ducked out and around the brave behemoth.
Referee, Laurence Cole, checked the swelling around his sockets before round ten and allowed the contest to go on. The crowd urged Margarito to throw in the towel for his own good but he continued, walking into yet more rapid fire strikes.
The shots were relentless, as quick in round 11 as they were in the first three minute period. The Filipino now had time to glance toward the referee pleading for his opponent to be put out of his misery. Margarito again passed a quick check up and was allowed to trundle on to the final round, now, with two mounds of skin blocking his eye-line. Pacquiao had won long before the final bell, but boxed out the final round of this masterclass with Margarito still standing.
Could even Mayweather have survived this? A better defensive fighter and may have suffered fewer blows to the face. But this was Pacquiao after what Roach had called (in terms of focus) 'the worst training camp we've ever done' in reference to his fighters political commitments.
Manny was devastating, who knows what he's capable of if he put his mind to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment