Pacquiao goes for his eighth title tonight

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas

Freddie Roach has a game plan to make life in the ring easier for Manny Pacquiao. If Roach had his way, it would be in place tonight when Pacquiao moves up in weight once again to take on Antonio Margarito.

The problem is Roach will never get Pacquiao to follow it.

“He could box more and be a little smarter,” said Roach. “But he likes to exchange punches and that’s what sells tickets. That’s what makes him exciting, and that’s what makes him who he is.”

Pacquiao doesn’t figure to change his style against Margarito, even though other things have changed since he last stepped into the ring at Cowboys Stadium in March. An explosive puncher at any weight, Pacquiao will fight in his usual frenzied fury as he tries to win an eighth title against a bigger but slower opponent.

Once again, he will carry the weight of an entire country on his shoulders in the scheduled 12-round bout. But this time he will do so both as the biggest sports hero the Philippines has ever seen and as the congressman representing Sarangani Province in his native land.

“The focus is always there,” Pacquiao said. “I’m always hungry for a fight. There is no distraction.”

Pacquiao, who began fighting at 107 pounds, plans to enter the ring at his heaviest ever to take on the rugged Margarito, who is attempting to rebound from a hand-wrapping scandal that almost cost him his career. But Pacquiao will still be the much smaller fighter, giving up both weight and height in a fight that is for a 154-pound title even though the contract weight is 150 pounds.

Margarito weighed in at the 150-pound limit Friday, while Pacquiao was a surprisingly light 144.6.

That doesn’t concern Roach, who believes Margarito’s style is perfect for his fighter.

“Margarito’s defense is terrible, and he can’t throw a straight punch,” Roach said. “Manny will be down the middle all night. We’ve got a great, great game plan for him.”

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) is guaranteed $15 million, his biggest payday ever, and could make up to $25 million if the fight sells as well on television ($55, HBO PPV) as promoters expect. A crowd of more than 50,000 is expected.