Hey, wait a frickin? minute. You mean to tell this reporter that you?re going to have Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao within striking distance of each other Sunday at ringside at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines when Gerry Penalosa fights?
Sounds like a tension convention to me. Somebody, quick alert the Riot Squad, the SWAT teams and the Filipino version of the FBI.
With tensions between these two magnificent fighters still running high after Pacman?s razor thin and debatable decision victory in Las Vegas March 15, bringing them together almost sounds insane…unless you like to see mayhem outside the ring as well as in it.
I mean, do the promoters expect an embittered Marquez and his man, Jaimie Quintana to meekly walk past Megamanny, to bow and say, ?Mabuhay ka Manny??
What a setup, 12,000 Filipinos and two Mexicans. Talk about the Alamo in reverse!
The burden here is on Pacquiao. He is the home team, he is the National Fist, and he is in essence the host of the Mexicans whether he likes it or not.
What Manny should do and what Manny will, I think, do is take the social initiative in his own bruising hands.
I?m betting that Manny will take the lead, walk over to Juan Ma and Quintana, and shake their hands.
Maybe Pacman even gives JMM a quick hug.
I hope there’s no cheek kissing involved. It would be sickening to see any real PDA action between the two warriors. Quick hug and out, Manny, please.
The crowd will see this display of sportsmanship and take the cue. I think the crowd?s reaction will be mixed with some cheers and some boos. (And I hope no booze, meaning no bottles thrown at the special guests.)
I can?t imagine why Golden Boy, the promoter, would bring Marquez, who continues to say he was a robbery victim on March 15, into Megamanny?s House.
Say what, for promotional purposes? Because they want to emotionally charge the situation and put the onus on Pacman to agree to a third fight?
You mean Oscar de la Hoya and his crew would stoop so low? What is it, all about the money, the filthy lucre?
The answers here are yes, for certain and what else is there.
Juan Manuel Marquez will survive this trip. He and Quintana will be surprised, I think, at how genial the vast majority of Pinoys are to them.
Imagine Marquez going through immigrations and customs at the Manila Airport.
?Sir, what is the purpose of your trip?? Marquez is asked as his passport is examined.
?Who me? Oh, I?m here because I was robbed in Las Vegas March 15. I?m looking for Manny Pacquiao because I want to really piss him off and con him into fighting me for a third time.?
“Sir, did you report this robbery to the Las Vegas police?”
“No, only to Bob Arum and he only snickered and he told me that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
I think this Mexican Invasion is going to accomplish its purpose.
Mission: Pacquiao Provocation is underway. Grab your weapons and bullet-proof vests.
The only way to prevent Pacquiao-Marquez III will be if some well-meaning Pinoy takes Marquez hostage.
Mission Pacquiao Provocation. It?s orange level alert time at the Araneta Coliseum.
