WHO WOULD believe that Manny Pacquiao has not been training in earnest for his monumental rematch with WBA/IBF featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico?
Not Se?or Marquez, who thought Pacquiao was pulling his leg when told of the Filipino world boxing celebrity’s care-free schedule during the holidays.
In fact, Marquez has suspected that Pacquiao’s refusal to leave and train early at the World Boxing Club of Freddie Roach in California was just a ploy.
This was revealed by James Blears of boxingscene.com to his friend Ronnie Nathanielsz of the Manila Standard and Viva Sports yesterday
Nathanielsz said Blears visited Marquez at his high-altitude training camp and was amazed at the discipline and dedication of the Mexican world champion.
The way Nathanielsz put it, Blears suggested Pacquiao must be out of his mind to take it easy while Marquez, who proved the better boxer in their first fight, has been sustaining a strict regimen since early November.
Pacquiao, told by trainer Freddie Roach to leave for his California training immediately after Christmas, has decided to leave Jan. 8.
The Ring Magazine featherweight boxing champion, now in GenSan, is scheduled to shoot a commercial for Darlington socks on Monday.
“I believed him (Pacquiao) when he said he did not like to leave on Jan. 5 because he wanted a lucky date for his departure,” Nathanielsz told the Inquirer. “It turned out he has this other commitment.”
By a plain count, Nathanielsz said Pacquiao, granting he finally departs for LA on Jan. 8, will have six weeks at most to train in earnest for the Marquez fight scheduled on Feb. 26 possibly in Las Vegas.
Marquez has reportedly said the ideal preparation for such a big fight should be 3 to 4 months.
The Mexican master counter-puncher also bared that Mexican machismo got the better of him, the reason he had jumpstarted with disastrous results when he first fought Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last May.
Marquez, who’s working at his speed and strength, has vowed to stay more focused.
Marquez said he would leave nothing to chance this time, Nathanielsz reported.
The Mexican said he would be ready to rumble for “12 furious rounds.”
Marquez, physically ready for action, starts sparring next week when Pacquiao is expected to start packing for his flight to his California camp.
Pacquiao obviously has his own idea of how to stay in shape and catch up with Marquez, Nathanielsz said.
The only way, however, is to cram again, as he had done in his first meeting with Marquez when he suffered cramps, blisters and contusions.
