LAS VEGAS ? If there was some slippage in Manny Pacquiao?s last two fights because of distractions, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said he?s now back on track, more focused than ever and ready to show the world what he?s got left for Juan Manuel Marquez in their epic fourth duel at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here this morning (Manila time).
Arum referred to Pacquiao?s inconclusive win by majority decision over Marquez last November and his loss by split verdict to Timothy Bradley last June ? fights that displayed the Filipino ring icon far from peak form. ?The slippage was because of distractions,? Arum told The Star. ?There was the marital dispute then he went to the extreme in his religiosity, sometimes staying up until 2 in the morning doing Bible study. But Manny is now more balanced in his approach to his faith. His family life is in order. He?s at peace. He?s in great condition for this fight.?
Still, Arum said he?s not sure if Pacquiao will revert to his swashbuckling days in his late 20s as he insists he will. ?It?s up to Manny and I?m interested to find out if he?ll be as aggressive as he was before,? said Arum. ?I hope he?ll be like the old Manny because Marquez is coming to fight. Tickets are sold out. The interest for this fight is tremendous and I expect the gate to exceed $10.5 Million. This isn?t just about Manny against Marquez, this is about the great rivalry between Filipino and Mexican fighters. And I?m excited to watch this quadrilogy play out.?
Arum declined to predict the outcome and Sugar Ray Leonard, who?s in town to witness the showdown in the division where he was once king, couldn?t pick a winner either. But Leonard said it won?t end in a knockout. ?I?ve talked to both Pacquiao and Marquez,? he said. ?They?re very confident of winning. (The outcome) will depend on who lands more and better punches. Marquez is a smart fighter, a technician. Fans don?t give him enough credit for his style, what he does in the ring. He?s gone down but doesn?t go crazy, he gets up, is very composed and fights right back. He?s been knocked down four times by Pacquiao and Pacquiao has never gone down so that tells you who?s got the power. This is a huge, important fight for both guys.?
Roy Jones Jr., another ring legend like Leonard, said Pacquiao will stop Marquez inside six rounds. ?Marquez has bulked up and it will slow him down,? said Jones. ?Pacquiao hasn?t changed but Marquez has, with that added muscle mass.?
Undefeated former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios chose Pacquiao to win by a split decision. ?It?s going to be another close fight,? he said. ?I don?t see anything different from what they showed in their first three fights. This will go the distance with Pacquiao to win by split decision.? Robert Garcia, who trains Rios and Nonito Donaire, agreed. ?Styles make fights and they?re made for each other,? said Garcia. ?I?m going with Manny but it?ll be another close one and that?s how it?ll be if they fight a fifth or sixth time.?Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Argentinian cutman Miguel Diaz, who has worked the corners of over 30 world champions, said there?s no way Pacquiao will lose. ?It will either be a late stoppage or a one-sided decision,? said the 75-year-old Boxing Writers Association of America 1999 Trainer of the Year. ?Manny?s in excellent shape. His mind is clear and his legs are strong. We?ll see a different Manny out there from what he showed against Bradley. Marquez will fight like Marquez but Manny will fight differently ? he?ll be more aggressive, more assertive.?
Diaz will be busy working as cutman for Pacquiao and three Filipinos in the undercard, Michael Fare?as against Cuba?s Yuriorkis Gamboa, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa Jr. against Mexico?s Jesus Lule and Ernie Sanchez against Philadelphia?s Coy Evans. The only Filipino in the program without Diaz in his corner is Mercito Gesta who battles Mexico?s Miguel Vazquez for the IBF lightweight crown.
