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MUCH NATIONAL PRIDE AT STAKE IN PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ II By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Wed, 23 Jan 2008  ?After four years of waiting for this fight, it?s finally happening,? declared Jaime Quintana, advisor to Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao?s remaining arch-rival from Mexico. ?Marquez is the last Mexican standing,? said promoter Bob Arum. Pacquiao has beaten successively six Mexican fighters, including Erik Morales twice, Hector Velasquez, Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis, and Marco Antonio Barrera. Marquez said he bears so much pressure from his countrymen with a huge amount of nationalistic honor at stake during the fight. ?There is so much pride,? Marquez said. ?There is so much feeling in me. I want to beat Manny so badly.? Both fighters claimed victory during their May 2004 encounter. ?He?s no Mexican killer, he didn?t beat me,? said Marquez. ?Yes, I won,? Pacquiao said of the first encounter they had which ended in a draw even if Marquez was floored three times in the first round. Once and for all, the controversy which hounded both renowned global boxing celebrities will be decided come March 15 rematch at the famous Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Nevada, Nevada. ?Manny?s not the same fighter and neither is Marquez,? said trainer Freddie Roach. ?This rivalry between a Mexican and a Filipino is good for boxing,? Roach added. ?This is going to be a huge fight.? Pacquiao had eight fights since facing Marquez with a single loss, a 12-round decision to Erik Morales. Pacquiao knocked Morales out in two successive rematches. If Pacquiao beats Marquez, he would capture his third world championship in three weight classes, previously holding the WBC flyweight and IBF junior featherweight titles. He was once the Ring Magazine featherweight champion. His record now is 45-3-2 (34 KOs). Since their last fight, Marquez has fought seven times with one loss, a 12-round decision to Indonesia's Chris John. If Marquez wins, he would seize something even bigger, an international legacy, Pacquiao now being one of the top fighters of the world pound for pound. The 34-year-old Marquez is a former champion at IBF, WBA and WBO featherweight division. Last March 17, 2007, Marquez became the WBC superfeatherweight champion by defeating Barrera in Las Vegas by unanimous decision. His record now stands at 48-3-1 (35 KO?s). ?He may be easier to beat this time,? said Marquez referring to Pacquiao. ?Who knows?? Pacquiao just smiled having known that during the past three years, his knowledge through the guidance of Roach has made him a vastly improved warrior. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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