"Tony is looking real strong. He's progressively gotten better. He's always been tough and persistent, and a real aggressive fighter, but not only that, he's utilizing his jab a little bit better, he's putting his shots together a lot better, and he's not so wild anymore. His shots are a lot sharper and crisper. I don't care what the odds say, I think it has the makings of a great fight...he's not going to out-punch Tony the way he does everyone else. I think it's going to be punch for punch and I honestly don't see how Pacquiao can match Tony's strength for 12 rounds," stated undefeated jr. middleweight contender Austin Trout as he talked about the work he did with Antonio Margarito in helping him prepare for his upcoming showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Check out what he had to say about training camp, his own future plans and much more.
PC: How is everything going man?
AT: I'm blessed, but things aren't going the way I want it to.
PC: You are 21-0 and you haven't fought yet this year. Have you been caught up in the politics of boxing?
AT: Man...I've been caught up bad man. A lot of things are out of my hands and there is nothing that I can do but keep myself ready and put it in Gods hands, but even doing that, it's still very frustrating.
PC: Being that you have been out of the ring all year, what was it like for you to get the call to be in camp with Antonio Margarito as he prepares for Manny Pacquiao?
AT: It was a blessing because it's what I needed to not just keep me busy and restore the faith, but it also gives me an opportunity to gauge where I am in world title contention.
PC: You have the tough task of emulating Manny Pacquiao. What are some of the things that you guys have been working on and how is Margarito looking in training and sparring?
AT: Tony is looking real strong. He's progressively gotten better. He's always been tough and persistent, and a real aggressive fighter, but not only that, he's utilizing his jab a little bit better, he's putting his shots together a lot better, and he's not so wild anymore. His shots are a lot sharper and crisper. I don't care what the odds say, I think it has the makings of a great fight.
PC: I speak with the Mayweathers often and a couple of them feel like Margarito knows that his job is to go in there and lay down. You've been training with him every day. Do you sense anything like that?
AT: No, he's training extremely hard. It's me and 3 other guys sparring with him and we ain't taking nothing lightly. He don't have no bums in there sparring with him either; he has me, Ricardo Williams and Cleotis Pendarvis, who is a very fast and hard-hitting guy. And we ain't in there laying down for him and I wouldn't understand why he is training this hard for the Pacman fight if he was going to lay down.
PC: Of course all of you guys are southpaws, but I'm sure you all serve a different purpose. What do you bring to the table in giving Margarito a look that has some similarities to Pacquiao?
AT: I'm not as fast as the other sparring partners, but I think they got me for my power. I can stand there and hit him with some things that can get his attention. He don't push me around like he does the other guys. I think they use me for my strength more. I have good footwork and good angles, but I think, for the most part, it's for my punching power. They know I can bang with him a little more than the average speed guy.
PC: Pacquiao gives great angles during fights. When you're looking at the Pacquiao puzzle, what do you see in him that makes him so difficult to beat from bigger guys?
AT: Pacquiao has been fighting a lot of guys that's just going to stay in front of him and bang him out. The angles that he gives are eating them up. I think if he fights someone that can turn him just as much as he turns them, then they can outbox Pacquiao. I think that's the key to fighting him.
PC: Margarito is by far the biggest guy Manny has faced. You've been banging with him for a number of weeks now. Do you think Manny can stand the power of Margarito for 12 rounds?
AT: I personally don't think so, but then again, I have said that about other guys that Manny Pacquiao has fought and he proved me wrong. But he's not going to out-punch Tony the way he does everyone else. I think it's going to be punch for punch and I honestly don't see how Pacquiao can match Tony's strength for 12 rounds.
PC: The fight will be held at 150 and not 154. How was Antonio doing with the weight while you were in camp with him?
AT: He was real close to weight last week, so the weights not a problem. I think he should have fought him at 54 since it's for a world title, but that's just my personal opinion.
PC: Is Margarito winding camp down right now? What's going on now?
AT: I came back home to start my own camp for a fight that just got postponed, so I will be back in California tomorrow. I heard he did a few rounds Monday and he's tapering off right now to rebuild all of that muscle.
PC: Are you hoping that being in camp with Margarito for the biggest fight of his career will open up some doors for you as well?
AT: Most definitely. His manager, Sergio, really took a liking to me and they said they would make a phone call for me if need be. I am represented by Empire Promotions, but it's always good to have other people talk about me to other boxing circuits.
PC: I will get you out of here with a prediction. Pacquiao/Margarito on November 13th, who wins and how?
AT: It's going to go to the later rounds and I am going to say Tony by stoppage in the 10th round.
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