On November 12th, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will defend his title against Juan Manuel Marquez inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It?s the third meeting between the two fighters in what has become one of the sport?s better rivalries and with Pacquiao?s career seeming to be winding down, every opportunity to witness him is a little more cherished.
Oxnard, Calif.-based trainer Robert Garcia had the assignment of attempting to derail Pacquiao last November when he led Antonio Margarito into battle against him but he was unsuccessful, as his charge absorbed a terrible beating of the course of twelve rounds. Nearly a year later and there are no hard feelings from Garcia though, who is quick to give praise to the Filipino icon.
?I?ve said it many times, he?s somebody that people should admire,? Garcia said in a recent interview with Elie Seckbach at ESNewsReporting.com. ?I know his whole country is behind him and there?s a lot of fighters who are world champions and great champions, but not everybody loves them. He?s the one that everybody loves. The things that he does for his country and his people, you don?t have to be Filipino to love him.?
Rios also trains WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios, who may be looked at as a future foe for Pacquiao in a year or so. It would be a difficult challenge but Garcia thinks it?s a logical step for his ambitious and outspoken fighter.
?It makes sense. They?re talking about maybe a year from now, two years from now. Just like I said about Mayweather, one day it?s going to come a day when somebody is young and hungry and your reflexes, your speed, your power is not there anymore. So, hopefully that fight happens and it doesn?t take that long. At least we could say we fought the great Pacquiao. Hopefully we could make that happen sometime next year.?
Rios is slated for an appearance on the undercard of Margarito’s rematch with Miguel Cotto on December 3rd and will then likely be eyeing a move up in weight sometime next year. Who knows if Pacquiao will even be around in a year’s time given his duties in Congress in his native Philippines but it would be an entertaining fight if anything else.
