MANILA, Philippines ? Two landmark sites in the Philippines and Mexico will play host to the much-awaited promotional tour of the Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez Nov. 12 fi ght, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said Wednesday from Los Angeles.
Arum said that the Luneta or Quirino Grandstand will be the fi rst stop of a four-city press tour on Sept. 3 and that he expects a multitude to attend the event in Manila.
A similar function will be held in Marquez?s lair in Mexico City after stops in New York and Los Angeles, according to Arum, revealing that the main square called The Zocalo, which can hold more than 100,000 people, will be tapped to host it.
After the tour, Pacquiao and Marquez will head to their respective high-altitude training camps: Pacquiao in Baguio and Marquez in Toluca.
There is bad blood in this third meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez with their fi rst two matches ending in controversy.
The fi rst time they fought, the bout ended on a 12-round split draw and the rematch ended on a split decision victory for the Filipino.
Marquez remains bitter up to this day, telling Mexico City-based journalist Tim Johnson of the Mc-Clatchy newspapers in an article that appeared in the Sacramento Bee that ?he (Pacquiao) knows he?s never really beaten me.?
Both fi ghters insist there?ll be no fourth fi ght as the convincing result of the rubber match will prevent one from taking place.
Nacho Beristain, the newlyinducted Hall of Fame trainer of Marquez, said Pacquiao?s metamorphosis from a wild-swinger to a more skillful puncher will make it a lot easier for his fighter to connect. (Nick Giongco)
