FILIPINO boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao admitted that for his last two fights, he lost the hunger that made him the most feared fighter inside the ring.
In an interview with Sports Radio?s ?The Scene Around? hosted by tri-media practitioner Ed Picson Monday morning, Pacquiao said he just went through the motion when he fought both Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch and Mexican upstart Jorge Solis last year.
April of last year, Pacquiao dealt Solis an 8th round knockout beating but not after struggling with the lanky Mexican fighter?s elongated arms and adequate footwork.
October of 2007, Pacquiao decisioned Barrera in their 12-round rematch, a bout that jaded observers believe the Mexican would have won had he fought toe-to-toe with the Filipino warrior in the last few rounds.
Rod Nazario, Pacquiao?s former business manager echoed the same remark when he said that what he saw was a totally different Pacquiao during the Barrera rematch.
This time however, Pacquiao is giving his guarantee that what fight fans will see is the same old Pacquiao that mesmerized the sport with his brutal single-punch weapon.
?I will do my best not to let down my countrymen. I am dedicating this fight to all Filipinos for our unity. Especially now na magulo sa atin kaya siskapin ko na manalo sa laban,?said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, 29, will vie for the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight crown being worn by Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday evening (Sunday morning, Manila time) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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 also 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.
Local boxing analyst Moy Lainez once admitted to BusinessMirror that Pacquiao trained for only three weeks for his first fight with Marquez.
Nazario meanwhile told BusinessMirror that Pacquiao needs to prepare the way he did for his first fight against Barrera for the Filipino fighter to win convincingly against Marquez.
?Gusto ko yung kondisyon ni Manny nung nakalaban niya si Barrera. Kung ganun ang kundisyon niya, tingin ko hindi lalampas ng six rounds si Marquez,? added Nazario.
Pacquiao started training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood since middle of January.
Nazario also said he’s been constantly telling Pacquiao to avoid Marquez while the Mexican is still at his peak.
?Kaya naman ni Manny na kumita ng malaking premyo kung iba ang kakalabanin niya,? said Nazario ?Hangga’t maari, sa huli na niya siguro kalabanin si Marquez.?
Pacquiao?s famed American trainer Freddie Roach expressed his contentment in seeing the Filipino sensation train at the Wild Card Gym.
?Manny is very serious about Marquez, which he should be. 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,? Roach once told BusinessMirror.
Last weekend, the weights of both Pacquiao and Marquez were monitored by the WBC for the mandated seven-day weigh-in. Pacquiao tallied 133lbs while Marquez weighed-in at 132lbs. The super featherweight limit I pegged at 130.
For the 30-day weigh-in, Pacquiao registered a heavy 140lbs while Marquez came in at an already fit 133.
