BEVERLY HILLS, Jan. 15 ? When Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez first met in the ring in May of 2004 the two featherweights fought one of the most intense and controversial 126-pound title bouts in recent memory.
Pacquiao, who had just burst onto the elite stage with his upset of Marco Antonio Barrera, nearly scored a shocking first-round stoppage when he dropped Marquez three times in the opening frame of the HBO-televised fight, which took place in the charged atmosphere of the MGM Grand?s Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, the skilled Mexico City technician picked himself off the canvas and climbed his way back into the fight by out-boxing the explosive but one-dimensional Filipino star in the majority of the following the 11 rounds. The resulting spilt-draw verdict of the 12-round bout is still debated by hardcore followers of both fighters.
The good news for boxing fans is that their rematch ? which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on March 15th ? may very well exceed the action and drama of the first fight. Four years later and four pounds heavier, the two ring warriors have only gotten better ? and more proud ? with age.
Since the first bout with Marquez, Pacquiao has evolved from being just another entertaining title holder to the most beloved fighter in the history of the Philippines, a distinction that was earned with his classic trilogy with Erik Morales and his recent repeat victory over Barrera. Marquez, who was only known among West Coast hardcore fans when he first fought Pacquiao (despite holding two major world title belts), scored his own victory over Barrera last year, a career-defining performance that earned him high pound-for-pound ratings by most boxing publications (The Ring, ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports all currently rank him in their top five).
Marquez?s unanimous decision over Barrera last March gave him a fourth world title (the WBC?s 130-pound belt) in a second weight class, unprecedented (for him) exposure, a career-high payday and a victory over a bona fide hall of famer.
Marquez almost has everything he ever desired as a prize fighter. ALMOST.
The only thing Marquez lacks as a fighter is a loyal Mexican fan base, something that has eluded him his entire career. Despite his considerable talent, skill, technique and heart, Marquez won his first world title (the IBF?s featherweight belt from Manuel Medina) in a ballroom inside of the Mandalay Bay in 2003. Five years later, he defended his fourth world title in the small 2,200-seat arena of Tucson, Arizona?s Desert Diamond Casino in his last fight.
In terms of his ability to put butts in the seats, Julio Cesar Chavez, he ain?t. In fact, Chavez?s unproven son has a more loyal following among Mexican fans than Marquez.
But that can change with the March 15th rematch with Pacquiao, which was officially announced at the Beverly Hills Hotel Tuesday afternoon.
Pacquiao?s brutal back-to-back stoppages of Morales and one-sided rematch victory over Barrera, which sandwiched wins over Mexican nationals Oscar Larios and Jorge Solis, have garnered him nicknames such as the Mexican Assassin and the ?Mexecutioner? among his faithful fans and hardcore boxing message boarders.
If Marquez can defeat Pacquiao he will restore the fierce pride of Mexican boxing fans everywhere and finally earn their adulation and support.
This is the story of this rematch, which isn?t lost on Pacquiao?s promoter Bob Arum, who along with Marquez?s promoter Golden Boy Promotions is putting on the event, which will televised live on HBO-Pay-Per-View.
?When this pay per view was first made I wasn?t sure how well it would do [in comparison to Pacquiao?s other major fights],? Arum admitted to the assembled press. ?Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera seemed to be bigger [fighters] ? I?m not talking about ability, I?m talking about name recognition. But then I had the pleasure of spending New Year?s Eve in Cabo [San Lucas, Mexico] and all everyone talked about was this fight.
?The reason this fight will do so well is because it has the cultures of these two countries riding on the shoulders of these two fighters.
?Marquez is the last Mexican standing.?
The 34-year-old veteran agrees with this distinction but he says he doesn?t understand Pacquiao?s many anti-Mexican monikers.
?I don?t know why people call [Pacquiao] the Mexican Killer,? said Marquez. ?I don?t think so because he couldn?t beat me. I was the better boxer that night and for my country, for the Mexican people and my fans, I?m going to prove it again.?
Although a victory over Marquez will earn Pacquiao a major world title in a fourth weight class, an unprecedented achievement for a Filipino (or Mexican) fighter, his motivation is exactly the same as his opponent.
?I want the title, but this fight is not about a belt,? Pacquiao told the media during a round-table interview after the customary podium statements. ?It?s about the honor of Filipinos and our country and the honor of my reputation.?
Speaking of Pacquiao?s reputation, as far as the 29-year-old southpaw?s ring identity is concerned it has changed over the past four years from that of an ultra-aggressive puncher to that of a more-complete boxer.
Marquez acknowledges this evolution in his opponent?s ring generalship but he believes that it benefits him.
?Pacquiao?s become more of a boxer and that?s an advantage for me,? he told the press during his round-table interview. ?Pacquiao was harder to fight when he was wild and unpredictable. Now that he boxes more I can figure him out quicker; I can time and counter him better.?
Pacquiao?s longtime head trainer Freddie Roach admits that Marquez is the most difficult of the elite Mexican champions that his star fighter has faced.
?Style-wise, he gives us a little bit of a problem,? Roach said. ?Manny will have to fight the best fight of his life to win this one.?
To ensure that Pacquiao puts forth his best effort, Roach insisted that the former three-division champ report to camp at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California ? away from the endless distractions from training that come with being a national icon in the Philippines ? two full months prior to the fight.
Pacquiao pretty much called the shots on where, when and how much of his training would take place last year, but realizing the threat Marquez presents he happily obeyed his trainers wishes for this fight.
Pacquiao put in a full training session at the Wild Card as soon as Tuesday?s press conference concluded. He wants to be 100-percent prepared and physically healthy for the rematch, something he says was not possible four years ago because of a foot injury he sustained a few weeks prior to the first bout.
?I had blisters on my foot and my ankle was tight,? he said, ?but I don?t want to make excuses. That?s all in the past.
?Let?s see what happens on March 15th.?
TICKETS & TELEVISION
Tickets for Marquez-Pacquiao II, priced at $100, $200, $300, $400 and $600, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations. (Tickets are limited to eight per person.)
Fans can also charge ticket purchases by phone with a major credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580 , or by visiting www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The HBO Pay-Per-View show begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and has a suggested retail price of $49.95.
