I didn’t want to be left out of all the fun going on with Boxing confidential and their full out coverage of the fight that hardcore boxing fans have been waiting years for.
Los Angeles Press Conference
The final press conference was held at the historic Plazita Olvera earlier in the week to promote the pay per view card titled “Unfinished Business.” A few hundred boxing fans showed up to the event. It was definitely a pro Marquez crowd.
The Mariachi started off the festivities. These two very humble fighters both expressed how hard they trained and how much they want to win for their fans and for their country. I did think Manny Pacquiao looked a little heavier then the 133 that was reported at the end of the previous week. That might be something to look out for. The dynamic duo of John Chavez and Ricardo Lois reported that Manny looked very drained at the weigh in for Manny’s last fight against Marco Antonio Barrera.
The person who was very confident was Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, promising the media that his fighter was in the best shape of his life and that he was gonna come out victorious this Saturday night.
May 8 2004
I was fortunate enough to have attended the first fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez almost four years ago. My best friend Cesar and I maxed out our credit cards to go support the fighter who was under the shadow of Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
They say you never forget your first time.
That statement was true because that was the first big boxing event both of us had attended. That night is one of the main reasons why I’m a boxing junkie. Every time we recount the story of that night to our friends we exaggerate a little bit more and more. As of last week, the fight took place in the middle of General Santos and the only Mexicans there that night were Juan Manuel Marquez, his corner and Cesar and I.
That is a big exaggeration, but the fact of the matter is that when Juan Manuel went down three times in the first round and the very pro Manny crowd was going crazy, the fact that he was able to get up and fight on for the next 11 round was truly remarkable. Not only did he fight on, but he adjusted beautifully. He easily out classed and out boxed the very dangerous hard hitting Manny Pacquiao. What Juan Manuel was able to do that night was stuff of legend.
Unfinished Business Under card
WBO Featherweight champion Steven Luevano 34-1-1 (15 KO’s) will be taking on the tough Terdsak Jandaeng 29-2 ( 19 KO’s) whose only two losses came against Juan Manuel Marquez and Joan Guzman.
NABO Bantamweight champion Abner Mares 15-0 (9 KO’s) will be taking on his toughest challenge to date when he faces Diosado Gabi30-3-1 ( 22 KO’s)
David Diaz 33-1-1 ( 17 KO’s) will be taking on Ramon Montano 15-4-2 ( 1 KO) in a 10 round lightweight showdown.
Fight Fans Get What They Want
Many fight fans have complained about the politics in boxing and how the top guys never face each other. We really can’t complain about that as of late. We got to see the best super middleweights go at it late last year when Joe Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler in which was a very entertaining fight. We were all privileged enough to see Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez give their all in the epic third fight to their all ready historic trilogy. Now we will see the best super featherweights when Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez square off this Saturday. Lets cross our fingers and hope that we get to see the two best welterweights in Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto go at it.
Boxing CONFIDENTIAL
Golden Boy is still trying to decide if they’re gonna put Jorge Linares on the under card of Oscar De La Hoya vs. Stevie Forbes on May 3rd. I really think it would be great if they showcased this exciting can’t miss prospect. Edwin Valero will go back to fighting in Asia when he is possibly slated to fight in late April. Marco Antonio Barrera might have found the right opponent to get his swagger back with. He is rumored to be fighting the guy who he almost decapitated back in 2005. That fighter is IBF champion Mzonke Fana. That might happen in the second half of the year.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez Predictions
The only example I can think of as far as veteran savvy is that of the very smart future hall of fame pitcher Greg Maddux. In the latter part of Maddux’s career, he knew that he no longer had his 95 mph fastball. So what he did was use his veteran savvy by throwing change ups and locating his pitches perfectly to keep over aggressive hitters off balance.
I think Juan Manuel will use his veteran savvy to defeat the very dangerous and aggressive Manny Pacquiao in that same matter. He will counter=punch every time Pacquiao comes in with his Tasmanian devil type barrages. I see Marquez picking his spots on when to exchange, which will make for a very exciting fight. Also what comes into play is Juan Manuel’s awkward fighting stance, that at times is similar to that of a javelin thrower. In that position he will be able to land his jab and also avoid Manny’s strong left hand.
I predict Juan Manuel winning by a very close split decision.
