BOXING MAN Rod Nazario likens the March 15 rematch between Filipino pride Manny Pacquiao and Mexican hopeful Juan Manuel Marquez to a cockfight and he won’t be surprised if Marquez ends up winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight title tiff.
“I am not saying that Manny will not win. All I am saying is that Marquez’s style could pose big problems for Manny,” said Nazario.
Marquez is so adept in warding off aggressors that Pacquiao’s devil-may-care attitude could be more beneficial to the Mexico City native than it will be to the 29-year-old southpaw from General Santos City.
“Kumbaga sa sabong, angat itong si Marquez at kung merong unang makapagpapatama, si Marquez ‘yun. Pasok si Manny sa style in Marquez at aabangan lamang ni Marquez ang bawat pasok ni Manny.”
Although he knows what Pacquiao can do on top of the ring, Nazario said Pacquiao is the type of fighter who is perfect for Marquez’s counter-punching style.
“Marquez is very good in counter-punching and Manny is in for a very tough outing,” said Nazario, who gave Pacquiao his big break in the US in June 2001.
Nazario was Pacquiao’s business manager from 1995 until 2005.
Nazario was present when Pacquiao sent Marquez down three times in the first round of their May 2004 encounter at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and he remains convinced that Marquez has what it takes to bring out the worse in Pacquiao.
Pacquiao handlers insist the Filipino fireball has improved tremendously since that eventful evening as evidenced by the development of his right hand.
Freddie Roach said that Marquez is virtually the same fighter Pacquiao faced four years ago, while Pacquiao has done improvements on defense and offense as well.
Nazario said Pacquiao’s finest performance came in the first fight in Nov. 2003 against Marco Antonio Barrera, who Pacquiao dealt a devastating 11th round stoppage, and if he reaches the same level of conditioning, Marquez will follow the path of fellow Mexicans Erik Morales, Jorge Solis, Hector Velazquez and Barrera.
“If Manny will fight the same way when he fought Barrera, walang panalo si Marquez,” added Nazario.
