| |
|
MARQUEZ RECRUITS JAPANESE SPARRING PARTNER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Wed, 06 Feb 2008

WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has recruited Japanese super lightweight Norio Kimura as one of his sparring partners in preparation his March 15 rematch with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Well-known journalist James Blears who resides in Mexico City told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Kimura also ?happens to be a southpaw? like Pacquiao and is ranked No. 7 by the WBC.
Kimura who won the Japanese light welterweight title with a unanimous ten round decision over Shingo Eguchi on April 3, 2004 has successfully defebded the title eleven times and sports a ring record of 33-5-2 with 17 knockouts. He is 29 years old and stands 5?7 ?? tall.
Blears said the Marquez camp had brought in Kimura who once served as a sparring partner for Erik ?El Terrible? Morales because the plan to bring in ageing Freddie Norwood ?hasn?t yet seem to have been developed.?
Blears had earlier reported that Marquez was training hard and looked in great shape and that Pacquiao would have to stay focused in training if he wished to erase the memory of a controversial draw in their first encounter in May 2004.
In that fight Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the very first round but couldn?t put the Mexican away enabling Marquez to counter-punch his way to salvage a draw.
Pacquiao has said he believes the judges made a mistake and planned to settle some ?Unfinished Business? with Marquez on March 15.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES FROM TODAY’S OFFICIAL WEIGH-INS AND PRESS CONFERENCE FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S. DEBUT TOMORROW, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , Sat, 29 Nov 2025Tagaytay Hosts 3rd Asian Chess Championship for Disabled 2025 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 29 Nov 2025WEIGHTS FROM PROBOXTV’S ‘THE CONTENDER SERIES’ AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, SAT., NOVEMBER 29 , Sat, 29 Nov 2025BIRMINGHAM WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS BEN WHITTAKER PREPARES FOR MATCHROOM DEBUT , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Coach Marvin Somodio: Full of Life and Punch at 42 By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Boston Ends Detroit's Winning Streak at 12; Celtics Trip Pistons, 117-114 at the Garden By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 28 Nov 20257-Eleven Run 2026 set on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Carlos Cañizales Forced to Cancel Flight to Thailand for WBC World Title Defense By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Boxing Champions Promotions to Present Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach with Inaugural “Centurion Awards” During Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event on November 29 , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Atif Oberlton Takes on Vaughn Alexander on Saturday, December 6th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Iligan tops in PEKAF Mindanao qualifying tourney By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2026 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th , Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Renowned Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Launches Private Boxing Camp in Las Vegas , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Eight Boxers Remain in WBC Grand Prix Finals On December 20 , Wed, 26 Nov 2025WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Petecio in, Paalam out By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|