Garcia titiyakin ang panalo kina Pacquiao at Roach

MANILA, Philippines - Sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay muling pipilitin ni Mexican chief trainer Robert Garcia na talunin sina Manny Pacquiao at five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.

Noong Nobyembre 13, 2010 ay binugbog ni Pacquiao si Antonio Margarito via unanimous decision para angkinin ang bakanteng World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight crown.

Inamin ni Garcia na hindi niya naihanda nang husto ang 5-foot-11 na si Margarito laban sa 5’6 na si Pacquiao.

“Three years ago, we had a big opportunity with Antonio Margarito,” wika ni Garcia. “I hate to say it, maybe I wasn’t as prepared as I am now.”

Sa Nobyembre 24 ay lalabanan ng 27-anyos na si Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs) ang 34-anyos na si Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) sa The Venetian sa Macau, China.

Ayon kay Garcia, may pagkakapareho ng istilo sina Rios at Margarito, ngunit  ina­asahan niyang mana­nalo si Rios kay Pacquiao.

“Margarito is close to 10 years older than Brandon. Three years ago, Pacquiao was knocking out and bea­ting everyone up,” wika ni Garcia. “Brandon is younger, hungry to get to that level.”

Sinabi naman ni Rios na may mga natutunan siya sa laban ni Margarito kay Pacquiao.

“I respect him, love him like a brother, but me and Margarito are different,” ani Rios. “He did things to hurt Pacquiao, and I saw things we’re going to counter off.”

Idinagdag pa ni Rios na wala siyang balak na iganti si Margarito kay Pacquiao.

“But I’m not thinking about revenge, this being a grudge, or that I’m mad. If I went in there mad, I’d get knocked out,” sabi ni Rios.

Sa naturang Pacquiao-Margarito fight sa Texas Stadium ay lumaban si Rios sa undercard kung saan niya tinalo si Omri Lowther via technical knockout.