• Boxing

Atlas tips Margarito to KO Pacquiao

ESPN staff
October 28, 2010
Manny Pacquiao dominated Joshua Clottey © Getty Images
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Respected trainer Teddy Atlas believes that Manny Pacquiao will lose to Antonio Margarito when the pair meet for the vacant WBC light-middleweight strap on November 13.

Pacquiao, who has stormed through the divisions in recent years, will become an eight-weight world champion if he can overcome Margarito in Texas.

But Atlas believes that Margarito will prove too tough an obstacle for the Filipino to overcome - and he is citing March's Joshua Clottey bout as evidence.

Although Clottey was derided for his unambitious tactics as he was outpointed by Pacquiao, the blows he did land caused damage. Atlas insists that the big-punching Margarito has the potential to inflict even greater harm.

"Manny Pacquiao is going to get beaten by Antonio Margarito on November 13," Atlas said in his Boxing News. "I wouldn't be surprised if Margarito knocked him out.

"Clottey, during the whole fight - and of course I'm exaggerating to make a point - during the whole fight if he threw six punches, maybe it was 10 - but if he threw six punches, four of them landed. And they were uppercuts. Pacquaio's eye was almost closed.

"That is Exhibit A as to why I'm picking Margarito to have a hell of a chance to win this fight. He throws a pretty good uppercut. He really is the bigger, stronger guy. All those other guys Manny fought weren't bigger, stronger guys.

"So, in my eyes, Manny wasn't making the leap people thought he was. He is now."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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