I'm ready for Margarito, says Pacquiao

Dispelling notions that he has yet to prime up for his scheduled showdown with Mexican Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao declared himself fit and raring to go for their November 13 title bout at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. "Ready na tayo. Sana ipagdasal ninyo ako, dahil karangalan natin lahat ito," said Pacquiao, still dripping in sweat shortly after his morning workout on a rainy Friday at the Rizal Memorial track oval in Vito Cruz, Manila. Pacquiao and Margarito will slug it out in a 12-round duel for the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight crown. Asked by GMA News TV reporter Chino Trinidad on where his condition is right now on a scale of 1 to 10, the 31-year-old boxing champion replied "nine-and-a-half" without batting an eyelash. Pacquiao however shared the opinion of his famed trainer Freddie Roach that he still needs to improve his speed after climbing again to a higher weight division. "Kumportable naman ako (sa timbang ko). Hindi naman tayo mabagal. Mabilis na rin tayo pero gusto ko pang i-develop talaga yung speed ko," he added. And so certain is Pacquiao about his present condition that he isn't discounting the possibility of bringing the fight early to the towering 5-foot-11 Mexican. "Depende," replied the Pacman when asked what the first few rounds of the title fight will be like. "Siguro aatake kami first or second round." Pacquiao, Roach, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and the rest of Team Pacquiao arrived in Manila Thursday night following a six-hour trip from Baguio City, where the group set up a four-week training camp in the country's summer capital. Barely getting rest, the world's top pound-for-pound fighter returned to training Friday morning, doing sprint and speed drills supervised by Ariza at the Rizal Memorial track oval despite the bad weather. Later in the day, the Filipino southpaw trained at the Elorde Gym. He is scheduled to hold his last sparring session in the country on Saturday before departing for Los Angeles later in the night for the final phase of his preparation at the famed Wild Card Gym. Already waiting for Pacquiao in L.A. is rising junior middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan, who said that he already got a call to serve as one of Pacquiao's sparring partners upon the seven-time world division champion's arrival in the U.S. "I just got the phone call and I can’t wait to get in there with Manny," said Martirosyan, owner of a 28-0 record with 17 knockouts. Martirosyan is among the names mentioned by Roach as Pacquiao's possible additional sparmates in the U.S. along with Peter `Chocolate Kid’ Quillin. Pacquiao has already sparred for a total of 57 rounds, spending equal time each with Michael Medina, Glen Tapia and current World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight title holder Amir Khan. "At least, I get to spar with the best fighter out there. I will give him all he can handle," said the Glendale, California-based Martirosyan. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV