IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday Manny Pacquiao can?t afford to take Juan Manuel Marquez lightly because the Mexican veteran has the style that can break down the Filipino icon?s offense.
Pacquiao, 29, faces Marquez, 34, in a battle for the WBC superfeatherweight title at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15.
What prompted Donaire?s comment was his assessment of how Pacquiao bores in to pressure his opponent and how Marquez, a masterful counterpuncher, uses his boxing skills to avoid getting pinned down.
?If you examine Manny?s tendencies, you?ll notice he lunges in, takes a hop and throws the left hand with full force,? said Donaire who was in Cebu for the Sinulog festival last weekend. ?He needs some distance to start his attack. The problem is when he charges in and misses, he gets stuck. Before he can move out, he?s wide open for a counter. Marquez will just wait for the opportunity. He can hit back with a hook, uppercut or cross.?
Donaire said Marquez is more effective fighting an opponent who likes to initiate.
?Marquez is a classic counterpuncher,? continued Donaire. ?He?s a fighter who can throw punches backing out. That?s something neither (Marco Antonio) Barrera nor (Erik) Morales could do. So that when Manny attacked, Barrera and Morales would retreat getting hit and not be able to hit back. Morales went down backing out in his third fight against Manny. It won?t be the same with Marquez who?ll counter when Manny comes in. I think he?ll stay close to Manny so Manny doesn?t get his distance to punch.?
Although Marquez failed to stop his last opponent Rocky Juarez last November, Donaire said he was impressive in dominating the rugged challenger who lost twice to Barrera on points.
?Marquez is a technical fighter who doesn?t look for a quick knockout,? said Donaire. ?He?s got one of the world?s best trainers, Nacho Beristain, in his corner so he fights smart. Against Juarez, he totally dominated. He just didn?t knock him out. Marquez isn?t as exciting as Manny but he gets the job done. That?s what Manny should keep in mind.?
In beating Juarez, Marquez displayed impeccable form, using his rapid-fire combinations and a rapier-like jab to pile up points round after round. The decision was unanimous as Chris Wilson scored it a shutout, 120-108, Robin Dolpierre, 118-110, and Burt Clements, 117-111.
Curiously, it was Clements who robbed Pacquiao of a win by split decision in the first Marquez bout in Las Vegas in May 2004. Clements had it 113-113 but later admitted he made a mistake in scoring the first round 10-8 for Pacquiao when it should have been 10-7 since Marquez was floored thrice. The two other judges had opposing views ? Guy Jutras scored it, 115-110 for Marquez and John Stewart, 115-110 for Pacquiao, resulting in a split draw.
Donaire said in the rematch, he expects Marquez to stand his ground.
?Marquez has a lot of that Mexican pride,? he added. ?I don?t think he?ll run and move away from Manny like Barrera. He?ll be aggressive. Marquez? drawback is the age factor. Mexican fighters grow old in boxing a lot faster than others because they spar too hard. There?s a lot of wear and tear in the body because of too much hard sparring. And Marquez gets hurt. I thought Barrera knocked him down but the referee ruled it a slip. I don?t think Marquez can take Manny?s power. If he engages, Manny will knock him out.?
Ring Magazine writer William Dettloff said Marquez isn?t as quick on his feet as before.
?Marquez, either by choice or by age, has grown a little feistier and a bit more stationary in the four years that have passed since he rose from three first-round knockdowns to more or less outbox Pacquiao over the distance, thereby earning the draw,? said Dettloff. ?Even if a subtle change in Marquez? style is due to his age ? he?s 34 which history tells us is a bit gray for the little guys ? it hasn?t reduced his effectiveness. With his embarrassing loss to Chris John behind him and wins over Barrera and Juarez, Marquez provided evidence that he might give Pacquiao a harder time this time than last. And clearly, he wants the opportunity to try.?
Donaire said Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach wouldn?t have agreed to the Marquez fight if he thought the Mexican could win.
?Freddie?s real smart,? said Donaire. ?He waited four years for Marquez to get older. Marquez was probably at his peak when he fought Manny the first time. But he?s not as dangerous now. Freddie knows it. And Manny just keeps getting better.?
