Pacquiao to maintain 150-lb weight for Margarito bout

Expect Manny Pacquiao to climb the ring at not more than 150 pounds when he faces Antonio Margarito next week at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Admitting he's more comfortable as a welterweight, the 31-year-old southpaw said the additional load might make him sluggish and lessen his quickness inside the ring, something he can’t compromise as he seeks a record eighth world title in eight different weight classes. Pacquiao moved up to junior middleweight for a shot at another world crown at the expense of the 5-foot-11 Margarito, the catch weight being set at 151 pounds, easily the highest the Filipino will be fighting in since turning professional 15 years ago. But the fighting pride of the Philippines said he didn't feel comfortable moving in the ring weighing at 151 or 152 pounds the way he was while in training camp in Baguio City. "Ang bagal ko pag nag-dagdag ako ng timbang," said Pacquiao in between sparring at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood. "147 (welterweight) talaga ako." Pacquiao fought as a welterweight in his last two bouts with Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, with the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound title at stake. The decade's Best Fighter both won both fights in convincing fashion, and didn't have a hard time meeting the weight limit as he had in the past. But standing just above 5-foot-6, Pacquiao needed to bulk up in order to pass as a junior middleweight. Now that's become a no-no for a boxer like Pacquiao, who relies more on speed for his main weapon as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter. "Kapag umakyat kasi siya ng 150, nahihirapan siyang mag-maintain ng bilis," said Filipino assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's childhood buddy. With his disadvantage in height, it would be Pacquiao's guts and penchant for not backing off a fight as the two major traits that continue to carry him to boxing greatness. "Actually, sa height niya talagang 135 lang siya (lightweight). Pero matapang talaga," Fernandez stressed. "Sinubukan niya lang naman `yung 147, e, lumusot. "Sa kanya naman kahit mataas ka o malaki ka, basta parehas kayo ng timbang, walang problema." At the moment, Pacquiao weighs 147.5, with barely a week before the Margarito fight. Most likely, he'll be coming into the fight at 148 or 150 pounds max. "He will weigh 147 or 148," said trainer Freddie Roach. "He feels sluggish when he weighs 152 and it slows him down. We know his best fighting weight." And with no weight problem to think about, Pacquiao said he's more than ready to take on the "Tijuana Tornado." "Ganado na tayo dahil nakuha ko na `yung 100 percent form natin," said the boxing champion. “Hinihintay ko na lang `yung laban." – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV