Margarito's trainer predicts 11th rd KO win

Finally, Robert Garcia, Antonio Margarito’s soft-spoken trainer, is now also into the business of predicting. Initially shunning the question of when he expects his fighter to take out Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight title bout this Saturday, Garcia boldly announced he expects the knockout to come later in the fight. Specifically in the 11th round. “I like it in the later rounds. I’m picking 11," said Garcia moments after stepping down from the ring following the open workout the 32-year-old Margarito did Tuesday afternoon at the Longhorn Exhibit Hall of the Gaylord Texan Hotel. Freddie Roach, his counterpart in Pacquiao’s corner, has been consistent in his forecast of Margarito going down in either the eight or ninth round. But Garcia, 39, a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-featherweight champion, believes their chances of pulling off one of boxing’s biggest upsets would depend on the fight stretching into the late rounds. “The longer the fight goes, the better our chances. That’s guaranteed," he said. And there’s no other way for them to win this one than by stopping the world’s pound-for-pound king on his tracks. “Knockout, knockout. No doubt about it,," Garcia added. “But it’s going to be a tough fight." Asked about why he’s confident Margarito can knock out the Filipino ring superstar, Garcia stressed, “I know my fighter. I know the condition he is in, the heart that he’s got. And I’ve been watching those Pacquiao fights over and over again the past three months." After repeatedly viewing Pacquiao’s previous fights, Garcia says he has seen a lot of flaws in the seven-time world champion’s fighting style, but would rather not bare them in public. “You guys will see that on the day of the fight. Margarito’s height and reach will be a big advantage, but we’re gonna push him to fight," Garcia said. Margarito’s trainer also addressed the issue surrounding the Mexican’s weight problem, pointing out he has no trouble meeting the catchweight of 150 pounds set for the fight. As of Tuesday, Garcia said Margarito is on weight already. “He’ll be coming in at 150 during the weigh-in," he said. "And come fight night, 160, 162 maybe. But no, we won’t go up to 165." - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV