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Philippines, 26 Apr 2024 |
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PACQUIAO SAYS HE'S BORED OF FIGHTING MARQUEZ BUT INTENT ON SILENCING THE VOCAL MEXICAN By Eddie Alinea PhilBoxing.com Sun, 04 Sep 2011  Three years after their last fight in 2008, reigning lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has been claiming to have won that fight against pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, as well as their first meeting four years earlier. Pacquiao, six years Marquez' junior at 32, no longer wants to hear that claim and vowed to end the garbage talk when they meet for the third time on November 12 in Las Vegas, the same site of their draw decision in 2008 and the split verdict four years later. ?Sawang-sawa na ako. Pangatlo na ang laban na ito at dapat tapusin na ang issue kung sino talaga ang nanalo sa dalawang laban namin (I?m already tired of this talk that has been going on for three years. This third fight should end the doubts as to who really won in those two fights),? Pacquiao said during Saturday?s first of a two-part opening leg of the Pacquiao-Marquez III press tour at the historic Manila Hotel. Only half of the hotel?s Rigodon room was occupied though as several print media outfits boycotted the event after receiving letters purportedly coming from Solar Sports refraining them from covering and coming out stories of the press conference, which, actually, is held to promote the fight. Visibly irked by insinuations he cheated, Pacquiao remained his usual humble self though in not predicting a knockout but his words betrayed his feeling: ?I?m not mad at him (Marquez) but results of this coming fight will, once and for all, end the question as who the better fighter between us is.? Marquez, who turned 38 last August 23, agreed as he also promised to win the end of his trilogy with the Filipino ring hero although adding that should he succeed, a fourth match is not that remote as a clause providing for a rematch is in the contract they both signed. At one time though Marquez sounded as if he himself doubted what he was saying: ?I don?t know what will happen Nov. 12, but I will prepare and be ready for victory. There is nothing in the future, nothing in the past. November 12 will only be the present. ? Outside of those exchange though, and unlike most of such promotional media conferences, there was no animosity between the gentleman fighters as both heaped praises to each other. Marquez even deviated from his earlier statements favoring Floyd Mayweather Jr. over the eight-division champ should the two pound-for-pound best finally confront each other. ?Pacquiao fights with his heart and we will fight each other. Mayweather did not want to fight. He runs,? he said in reference to his fight with the undefeated American, his first bout outside the lightweight limit, which he lost badly. ?That is why this fight will be a great fight we both want to fight,? he said admitting that he will be facing a man who has improved a lot, not only in weight but in acquiring new weapon. ?When we met before, Pacquiao only had a strong left. Now he also has developed a powerful right. But I?ll be coming prepared for that,? he promised. To which Pacquiao countered: ?Marquez is still a strong fighter even at age 37. I saw his last fight. I forgot the name of his opponent (Likar Ramos), but he showed his best there; he knocked him out in the first round. He is still a good fighter.? Pacquiao dismissed the notion of a fourth fight, commenting in jest on Marquez?s statement to that effect: If there is a fourth rematch, we will not fight. Instead I?ll challenge him to a basketball game. I won't let that happen, And I?ll train hard for this fight and to give my best and to give a good show. This is the fight that will answer all the questions." Fight promoter Bob Arum, top man of Top Rank, who joined Pacquiao and Marquez in both the Manila Hoterl and Quirino Grandstand jousts, said only less than 50 percent of the 16,000-seat at the MGM Grand remain unsold, adding he expectes the pay-per-view to reach 2 million buys and break 1.4 million record of Pacquiao's last fight against Sugar Shane Mosley in May. From the Manila Hotel, the show proceeded to the other Manila landmark at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Luneta where thousands witnessed an episode of Pacquiao?s regular television show. (This is the author's translation from his original Filipino language column SALA SA INIT, SALA SA LAMIG) Photo: Pacquiao (L) and Marquez pose during Saturday's Manila leg of the Pacquiao-Marquez III World Tour press conference held at the Manila Hotel in Manila. Photo by Carlos Costa. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.  |
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