TWO DAYS after scoring a savage knockout win, Manny Pacquiao was already back in his hometown of General Santos City visiting his gamecock farm, drooling over the prospects of facing Juan Manuel Marquez on Feb. 26 and taking the time out as well to say a little prayer for Fernando Poe Jr.
“Napapanaginipan ko na nga si Marquez eh,” Pacquiao told the Bulletin yesterday, a few hours after arriving from Manila. “Base sa panaginip ko ay maganda ang mangyayari. Talagang excited na ako na labanan ulit siya.”
Pacquiao, who flattened overmatched Thai fighter Fahsan 3K Battery in the fourth round with a left uppercut to the jaw at The Fort in Taguig late Saturday night, reveals that he is scheduled to re-unite with trainer Freddie Roach in Hollywood, California, in the first week of January to begin honing up for Marquez.
“Tama lang iyan,” said Pacquiao when asked if his decision to hook up with the revered cornerman is late considering that by the time he arrives in the US, there would only be over six weeks left before the rematch with Marquez.
Being eyed to stage the rematch are the Lawlor Events Center in Reno and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Knowing that a loss against Marquez will jeopardize his chances of securing more megabuck fights in 2005, Pacquiao insists he will watch over his diet during the holidays.
“Hindi ako magpapabaya. Malaki ang mawawala sa atin pag natalo kay Marquez. Kahit paano ay tatakbo ako para pagdating ko sa Amerika ay medyo kundisyon.”
Roach wants Pacquiao to report to the Wild Card after Christmas so “they could start working on the strategy for the Marquez rematch.”
Marquez held Pacquiao to a 12-round split draw when the two slugged it out on May 8 at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Marquez was down thrice in the first round, but managed to survive and frustrate the hyper-active Filipino with his excellent counter-punching skills.
Pacquiao, who turns 26 on Friday, also revealed that he received a call from Poe, now fighting for his life at the St. Luke?s Medical Center, moments after scoring a devastating victory over Fahsan.
“Kasalukuyang nasa dressing room ako nang tumawag siya. Ang sabi lang niya ay congratulations at good luck sa mga susunod na laban ko,” said Pacquiao. “Ipagdasal na lang natin na sana ay makaligtas siya.”
