Juan Manuel Marquez fought a one-dimensional fi ghter in Manny Pacquiao in 2004 and 2008. In 2011, trainer Freddie Roach said Marquez will be in for a shock.
MANILA, Philippines ? Roach said Pacquiao has metamorpohosed into a complete fi ghter that the Mexican will be surprised to see a different fi ghter when they get it on for the third time on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
?Manny could only move in one direction (when they fought),? Roach told ace fi ght scribe Ron Borges of the Sweet Science.
Marquez drew with Pacquiao the fi rst time and narrowly lost a decision in the rematch, both results Marquez said were controversial.
In November, Marquez and Pacquiao are fi ghting at a catchweight of 144 lbs (welterweights) after fi ghting as feathers (126 lbs) and super-feathers (130 lbs).
Ringsiders believe the weight will be a huge factor in determining the winner considering that while Pacquiao has gotten better and better through the years, Marquez has been slipping a bit.
In fact, in Marquez?s one and only stint at welterweight, he fared miserably against Floyd Mayweather. (Nick Giongco)
FOOTBALL MESS The Philippine Football Federation should be more decisive inimplimenting tournament rules to avoid future controversies, an offi cial of Suzuki Philippines, the title sponsor for the recently held PFF Under-23 tournament said Wednesday.
Suzuki spent P3.2 million for the fi rst ever national age group football competition to help discover talents for the Southeast Asian Games later this year.
But the three-month tourney descended into chaos after protests and counter-protests by the opposing teams in the home-andaway fi nals almost scrapped the second game.
Negros threatened to walkout of the second game fi nals when offi cials restored the 1-1 tie on regulation during the fi rst game in Iloilo which it won 3-1 on extra time. The team only agreed to play the second game when football offi cials bowed to pressure and gave Negros the victory. Negros then routed Iloilo, 9-0, for a 12-2 victory on aggregate.
But the aftermath left the sponsors disheartened if not disgusted.
