ONCE a boxer, always a boxer.
This may well be a paraphrased clich? that will describe the attitude of Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao with regards to his boxing career.
In an exclusive telephone interview with the daily morning radio program ?Sports Chat? Monday morning, Pacquiao said it is already instinctive for any boxer to concentrate for an upcoming fight.
Pacquiao added that this is despite the fact that he has already earned oodles of money that guarantees him and his family a life fit for a king.
Pacquiao belied insinuations that his weight is a major indicator about how he is preparing for his next major bout.
Pacquiao, 29, will battle Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion.
In their initial encounter Pacquiao floored Marquez three times in the opening round of their 12-round world featherweight championship held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But a determined Marquez miraculously salvaged a 12-round split draw to keep his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) 126-lb belts.
Judge Burt Clements was unaware that he could score a round 10-6 for the fighter who scored three knockdowns. Clements thought the Nevada Athletic Commission did not want its judges to score a round 10-6.
Judge John Stewart called the fight 115-110 for Pacquiao, Guy Jutras called it 115-110 for Marquez. Clements scored the fight 113-113 making it a draw. The official scorecards showed that had Clements scored the first round 10-6 Pacquiao would have won.
Marquez has been labeled by experts as ?The Avoided Juan? after reports persisted that Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and other noteworthy champions kept away from a clash with the Mexico City-native warrior.
Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KO?s) got the respect he richly deserves when he won the WBC crown by scoring a 12-round unanimous verdict against Barrera March of last year in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs) on the other hand believes his power will be too much to handle for the brave Mexican fighter.
?I have a lot of power. In my heart I don’t believe Marquez can stand up to my power. It will be too much for him to overcome. I am focused on Marquez and my boxing career. When I am in training, that is all that matters to me,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s famed American trainer Freddie Roach expressed his contentment in seeing the Filipino sensation train at the Wild Card Gym.
The best thing Manny did was come to the U.S. and train. He has worked very hard. He’s been very tough on his sparring partners. One got hit on the chin, went down, continued but went home the next day,? said Roach ?Manny is very serious about Marquez, which he should me. It is a difficult fight and Manny understands that. Marquez represents the last line of defense in Manny’s domination of Mexican champions. We know he’s prepared to go down swinging.?
