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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
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Pacquiao Focused, Ready to Rock! By Ed Picson PhilBoxing.com Tue, 11 Mar 2008  ?I don?t go out anymore, except to go to the gym, then I drive straight back to my apartment?, Manny Pacquiao stressed. ?Ayaw ko nang maulit yong nangyari noon na nilagnat ako on the day of the fight (vs. Erik Morales). In answer to our query on what steps he was taking to avoid getting sick especially with the cold weather prevailing in California, Manny said he wasn?t taking any chances and is totally focused on his coming challenge to reigning WBC Super Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. In a long distance conversation yesterday in our radio program ?The Scene Around? over Sports Radio (918 kHz; Mondays, 10:30 to 12 noon), Manny reassured everyone that he has regained the ?hunger? to achieve more as a boxer. ?Looking back, I was not really satisfied with my last two performances (against Jorge Solis, 8th rd KO win; and vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, unanimous decision win in 12 rounds), even though I won both. I realize now that you can?t afford to take it easy?, said the colorful boxing icon in a mix of Pilipino and English. ?This is why I really gave it my all in training this time. I told myself to feel how it was when Manny Pacquiao was just a struggling and poor fighter who was hungry for a win and determined in every fight?, said Pacquiao who reported for training a full 2 months before the fight, something that he has not done in a very long while. ?Aminado ako na si Marquez is not an easy opponent, he?s a good fighter, he?s strong and he?s tough. In our first fight, I had a blister in my foot and a hand injury and he was able to recover from 3 knockdowns in the first round. I am not making excuses, and that?s all in the past. But this time, I am very focused and prepared. My confidence level is at 100%.? Asked about his coming in at 133 lbs. in the mandatory weigh-in last week-end, Pacquiao blurted out ?Baka mahirapan pa ako dyan, trying to lose 3 lbs. in a week?? then he let out a hearty laugh. He says he feels good and is eating well and there has been no reason to restrict his diet. Hermie Rivera, the long-time journalist and boxing man who facilitated our live interview with the Filipino icon, validated the statements of the pacman. He avers that this is the most focused that Pacquiao has ever been in his training. And for this, he credits the trainers led by Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri. ?They have left no stone unturned in the run-up to the rematch? said the profound former manager of ex-world champions Luisito Espinosa and Morris East, among others. Although Marquez started training even earlier, Rivera points out that the Mexican was 30 years old in the first fight, he is now 34. And if he was only barely able to salvage a draw there, ?how can he beat a faster, stronger and more focused Manny Pacquiao?? That?s a tough point to dispute. Hearing the tone in Manny?s voice yesterday, it was evident that he was in high spirits. Bob Arum was quoted as saying that Manny knows what this fight means and what he needs to do to win it. And you can say anything about Manny, but I know he is someone who hates making the same mistake twice. Manny is 6 years younger than Marquez and has developed into a more complete boxer since that fateful night in 2004. While the Mexican is undoubtedly a skillful boxer, the Gensan Bomber just seems a little too much for him. As I wound up the conversation with Hermie, in the background I could hear Manny belting out a spirited version of Elvis Presley?s ?Jailhouse Rock?. Lets rock, everybody let?s rock. Everybody in the whole cell block, is lookin? at a win by Pac! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed Picson.  |
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