Manny Pacquiao Bulks Up For November Tiff With Margarito

11:51 AM // 0 comments // Ian Purugganan // Category: Margarito , Pacquiao //

Manny Pacquiao knows that size matters.

That’s why seven-and-a-half weeks before the Fighter of the Decade takes on Antonio Margarito of Mexico on November 13, Pacquiao has already begun an extensive calorie-loading routine.

Supervised no less by his brilliant conditioning trainer in Alex Ariza, the Filipino ring champion will be packing 7,000 calories a day until the day comes when Pacquiao possesses enough weight to withstand Margarito’s power but not heavy enough to affect his legendary speed.

“He has to eat 7,000 calories more a day,” said Ariza in an interview with a giant television network. “We have to build a stronger and denser body to be able to withstand Margarito’s strength.”

To the common individual, consuming 7,000 calories a day could turn into 10 pounds a week without heavy workload. It also nearly equates to 33 hamburgers, 26 caramel coffee cups, and 34 milk chocolate bars.

This is perhaps the first time in his boxing career that Pacquiao has added this kind of massive consumption course in his training.

Against Margarito, he just needs to.

Pacquiao, who stands 5-foot-6 ½, was simply dwarfed when he came face-to-face with the5-foot-11 Mexican slugger during the fight’s media conference last Aug. 31 in New York.

But the thing that concerns Team Pacquiao now is how big will Margarito become on fight night. Many observers think that the three-time world welterweight champion will hover in between the 160-170 pound range.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, is not expected to go far beyond the catch weight of 151 pounds. As much as possible, Freddie Roach wants his prized fighter to maintain the quickness that has made Pacquiao the No. 1 pound-for-pound king in the world today.

“Manny’s speed is still his biggest asset,” said the four-time Trainer of the Year.

For the second straight day, Roach and Pacquiao settled to work out at the Elorde Gym in Del Monte, Quezon City. Roach said the other day that the former cigarette vendor-turned world champion and now lawmaker is ’50 percent fit’ for the fight that is set at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

“His size is a bit of a problem,” said Roach of Margarito’s height advantage. “But as long as he stays on the ropes, we’re in good shape.”

If Pacquiao succeeds in beating Margarito, he will be the first in boxing history to win eight world titles in as many divisions. Pacquiao already holds the most number of championship belts with seven.

Pacquiao (51-3-2) and Margarito (38-6-0) will fight for the vacant WBC super welterweight crown.

Margarito, for his part, is already at mid-point of his phase one training in San Bernardino, California. The 32-year-old is working to develop leg power, according to his trainer Robert ‘Grandpa’ Garcia.

“We need strong legs to beat Pacquiao,” said Garcia, a former super featherweight title holder.

Garcia revealed that the boxer likewise known as the ‘Tijuana Tornado’ is working out much harder that he used to. These days, Garcia said, Margarito is into running up the mountains before he goes into the gym.

“Antonio runs up the mountain for an hour, returns and then we’re off right away to the El Monte Gym which is nearby. There, Antonio goes into a hard workout - mitts, then heavy bag, jump rope, speed bag, It’s a long, hard workout. No sparring - at least, not yet.”

Garcia said that Margarito will spar for six weeks beginning next week in Oxnard, California.

Pacquiao, meantime, is scheduled to spar for 150 rounds against four tall boxers – Michel Medina, Glen Tapia, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Vanes Martirosyan.

[Boxing News Source: Zean Macamay]