HOURS AFTER returning from Las Vegas, boxing star Manny Pacquiao showed up at the Wild Card in Para?aque City yesterday afternoon and held a light workout to formally kick off his preparation for the much-awaited rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 in Sin City.
“He?s doing exercises right now,” said Pacquiao confidant Wakee Salud. “I was told that Manny?s not doing anything heavy but this is still a good sign because it only means Manny?s not taking Marquez lightly.”
Pacquiao spent the New Year with his family in Las Vegas and is scheduled to report for training at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, on Jan. 15.
Salud said “if I were Manny, I would really train hard because Marquez is determined to redeem himself.”
The rematch will be held at the 12,000-seat Events Center inside Mandalay Bay and while it is given that the fight will be a sell-out, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum wants to cash in heavily on the payper-view buys as the 76year-old Harvard-educated lawyer wants Pacquiao to break the 500,000 barrier.
Pacquiao, 29, had done 350,000 to 400,000 in his last few fights mainly against Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao?s decision to initiate training should make his fans and followers happy since Marquez, 34, had started his training in Mexico City even before the Christmas holidays.
Pacquiao and Marquez had battled to a thrilling 12-round split draw the first time they rumbled in May 2004 with Pacquiao sending Marquez down thrice in the first round and Marquez rallying back with skillful counterpunching.
