CEBU CITY, Philippines?There?s not a single visible fan in this boiling boxing capital who?d dare bet against Manny Pacquiao in his quest for the world super featherweight boxing crown against Mexico?s Juan Manuel Marquez on Sunday.
Why? Well, betting on Marquez, the defending champion who, by the way, is the awful underdog in the title bout, is not only considered a stupidity hereabouts.
Going against Pacquiao, easily a boxing god to Cebuanos, could also be a sacrilege.
No need to use a survey.
This fight town, where it all started for the great Flash Elorde (he took the world 130-lb crown from Harold Gomes on March 16, 1960), is 130 percent for the Pacman.
In fact, the way anxious fight fans itch in their seats, they can?t wait for Pacquiao to formally crown himself world champion on Sunday.
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Credit that upsurge in Pacquiao mania to glowing reports from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
If to a blade, the Pacman has been honed and sharpened to perfection, based on the excited dispatches from the training site.
Pacquiao was reported to have weighed a neat 133 lb in yesterday?s scheduled poundage check by the ruling World Boxing Council, a full week before the championship at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Trainer Freddie Roach has, in fact, confided to a television reporter that all Pacquiao has got to do now is skip (only) one meal and he should breeze through the scales during the official weigh-in.
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To repeat, lively, warm, passionate Cebu can?t wait for Pacquiao to ascend the throne and claim a long overdue world boxing crown.
But wait until you crossed over the bridge to Mandaue City.
Definitely by knockout, sir, exclaimed the short, dusky cab driver as he shifted gears upon taking the new bridge.
Who told you that?
My former boss, sir.
The cabbie, trying to size up his amused passenger through the back mirror, explained that his boss, a former mayor of Mandaue, has insisted it would be Pacquiao by resounding stoppage.
No ifs, no buts.
If Pacquiao wins any other way, say, by points, technicality, whatever, the former mayor pays.
Only by KO, a wholesome taunt, but there?s been no takers, so far.
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Anyway, out at the vast, exquisite seaside Shangri-la Hotel here Saturday night, the Pacquiao-Marquez was predictably top topic during the pre-dinner open-bar cocktails among guests in the Menor-Catoera (Ron and Irene) wedding, where over a hundred guests flew in from the United States to join in the unforgettable celebration.
Renowned boxing writer and international judge Salven Lagumbay, who pulled out of the Pacquiao coverage at the last minute, sounded sure about a victory by the RP boxing idol.
Lagumbay, however, agreed that Pacquiao must go all out and stop Marquez early in the bout.
Why?
With his edge in skills and technique, Lagumbay surmised, Marquez would be hard to beat by mere points.
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Of course, Marquez cannot win by KO, explained Dong Secuya, founder and big boss of the popular website philboxing.com.
Secuya himself had to skip being at ringside for the Pacquiao fight, held down by overriding pre-fight demands at home base.
Look, he added, if Marquez had failed to stop either Rocky Juarez or Marco Antonio Barrera in his two fights last year, how do you expect him to put Pacquiao into trouble this time out?
The Pacman by KO in eight, Secuya said.
Anyway, before all these positive guessing took place, Dennis Principe, television anchor and Business Mirror boxing writer, voiced out a dissension.
Principe said Rod Nazario, the keen-eyed business manager who charted Pacquiao?s path to fame and glory, didn?t want the Marquez fight for his former ward.
Principe said that, despite Pacquiao?s visible edge in speed and power, not to mention age, Marquez has the superior competence that could offset these advantages.
Principe said Nazario told him that, in order for Pacquiao to beat Marquez this time, he must be a lot better than he was in previous fights.
