THERE was no shortage of verbal tussles Thursday when Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao and WBA-IBF featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Marquez met for the first time during a press conference launching their 12-round showdown on May 8 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao, dapper in a sky-blue polo and sporting an expensive wristwatch, was accompanied by promoter Murad Muhammad and trainer Freddie Roach during the press presentation held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.
Marquez showed up in a dark suit accompanied by his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and trainer Nacho Beristain.
Marquez, as quoted by Fightnews, opened fire by declaring: “There will be fire in the ring on May 8th. It took a lot for me to become a World Champion and only in death will I relinquish my belts! Manny is a great fighter, but I am fighting not only for myself but my wife, my children, my parents and all of my country!”
