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MARQUEZ-PACQUIAO II FINAL PRESS CON By Rod Mijares PhilBoxing.com Thu, 13 Mar 2008  The final press conference was held today on March 12, 2008 before the mega fight on March 15, 2008 on the elegant Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino?s House of Blues Foundation Room almost atop of the building. This is the press conference to start finish the Unfinished Business Brawl II between the WBC super featherweight champion, Mexican Juan Manual Marquez and the Filipino mega challenger three-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. They are also fighting for the vacant Ring Magazine?s Super Featherweight championship. Although, the Foundation Room was not as spacious as the one at the House of Blues downstairs, the media was treated to an elegance of sorts. First, there was a magnificent chord opposite each stainless steel posts blocking the entrance to the private elevator guarded by a gentleman in suit and a uniform security guard. The man in black presses the button of the elevator going up to a floor known only to him. The elevator opened and a beautiful hostess greeted you with a smile. What a nice time to be in the media where the Golden Boy and the Top Rank Promotions along with the other promoters pampered you by being part of a boxing history in the making. The Pacquiao Team and Marquez Team came right before the scheduled press conference at 12:30 p.m. which started on the dot. Bob Arum was at his jovial self cracking a humor or two to the delight of the crowd and Richard Schaeffer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions was there to represent Oscar de la Hoya who was not able to make it. ?These two boxers epitomize what is boxing all about. Both of them have passionate and loyal basis beyond imagination and these two warriors each carry the load of their nation?s pride. As such, they are considered heavyweights in their own rights,? the promoters said. ?This is a great, great event that people will talk about for a very, very long time. This will be the first time that the weigh-in on March 14 will be streaming on the web on HBO.com, Yahoo.com or even ESPN.com in anticipation of the much awaited fight. HBO 2 will even air the first fight between Marquez and Pacquiao that ended on a controversial draw at 12:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday before the fight to refresh the viewers mind and provide more interest and excitement. The Unfinished Business fight card on Saturday, March 15, 2008 will start at 3:30 p.m. but the televised under card fights will start at 6:00 p.m. before the main event. 28 year-old Diosdado Gabi (30 wins (21 KO), 3 loses, 1 draw) of the Philippines who is now based in Los Angeles, California was introduced first followed by his opponent Mexican 22 year-old Abner Mares (15 wins (9KO), 0 losses, 0 draw). They are fighting for the WBO NABO bantamweight belt. Mares said that the crowd will be treated with a mini version of Marquez-Pacquiao fight as he and Marquez have the same trainer in Ignacio Beristain and Gabi and Pacquiao have the same trainer in Freddie Roach. ?I will not predict a knockdown. It will just come when there is an opportunity. I train hard for this and I will try to win,? Gabi humbly said. It was vintage Manny Pacquiao wishing all the boxers including him and Marquez that nobody will be seriously hurt while providing boxing fans with great fights and entertainment. ?I dedicate this fight to the Filipino people and unity. Not only for myself but for all who loves boxing,? Pacquiao said. ?There is only one fighter who will win and I have trained hard to win.? He thank God, Bob Arum, Oscar de la Hoya, his wife, Jinky and all the boxing fans. ?We should all take pride of his hard work. He has done fantastic preparation and conditioning. We can talk endlessly for his love of the Philippines and how the Filipinos love him. But I don?t know another fighter who has work so hard and has done everything that was asked of him,? Bob Arum said. ?I will defend my WBC championship belt with my blood and at the same time I want to win the vacant Ring Magazine?s vacant title, Juan Manuel Marquez said. ?He carries the load of 100 million Mexicans on his shoulders and as such, he is not fighting for financial reason but to prove to the Mexican fans and to himself that we can win and stop Manny Pacquiao,? Richard Shaefer said of Marquez. With the Vegas odds, Manny Pacquiao is winning almost 2 ? to one. Time can only tell and that time is on March 15, 2008 to settle the Unfinished Business at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.  |
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