HOLLYWOOD?Surrounded by his adoring countrymen in familiar territory, Juan Manuel Marquez played the part of a conquering hero on Monday.
At the press conference for the Pacquiao-Marquez II held at the predominantly Mexican enclave of Plaza Olvera in downtown Los Angeles, the World Boxing Council super featherweight champ gave Manny Pacquiao a menacing look when they faced off.
Pacquiao, for his part, acted like a visitor in hostile territory.
Though he made eye contact with the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, Pacquiao gave him a blank stare.
Marquez in his territory
?Pinadadama ko lang (I want him to feel confident),? Pacquiao later explained. ?S?yempre nandoon siya sa kanyang teritoryo, magyayabang siya (He?s cocky because he?s in his territory.)
?We?ll see later. Ang sarap, bakbakan na (I feel good, I want the fight to be held right away),? added Paquiao, who earlier ended his training at the Wild Card Gym here by sparring four rounds with unbeaten super featherweight Juanito Guzman.
He also hit the mitts, skipped rope, did abdominal exercises and again let assistant trainer Eric Brown hit his body repeatedly with the conditioning stick before he took a shower and ate lunch at an adjacent Thai restaurant.
Mexicans living in the area dotted by native stalls and eateries came in droves, easily outnumbering the Filipinos, 10 to 1, to give their underdog ring hope a big morale boost.
They unfurled banners and waved miniature flags, just like the Filipinos who brought along banners proclaiming ?Pacquiao rules? and ?Just Pac It.?
Hawkers made a killing, selling caps and T-shirts embroidered with the names of Pacquiao and Marquez for $20 each.
?Viva Mexico!?
Between intermittent shouts of ?Viva Mexico!? and ?Viva Marquez!? mariachis provided entertainment during the event jointly hosted by Top Rank president and CEO Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions, through Richard Schaefer.
Also present were renowned trainer Freddie Roach and his legendary Mexican counterpart Ignacio Beristain.
Arum expectedly made a pitch for his prized fighter Pacquiao, which drew jeers from the crowd, drowning the cheers of the Filipinos.
Marquez, donning a sombrero and toting his WBC championship belt, also promised his countrymen he would end Pacquiao?s domination of Mexican boxers.
Choosing to be humble
Again, Pacquiao chose to be humble, just promising a very good fight and inviting the crowd to watch the March 15 showdown, dubbed ?Unfinished Business? at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After the conference, Pacquiao and his party left in a 12-vehicle convoy for the four-hour trip to Las Vegas, arriving there at 8:45 p.m.
Though the trip was unannounced, several Filipino fans were around when Pacquiao and his group checked in at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
They all proceeded to Pacquiao?s suite?the same room he occupied during his return bout against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last October?where sweet and sour lapu-lapu (grouper), beef steak, fried bangus (milkfish), afritada, chopsuey and chicken adobo and tinola were served with hot rice.
Three pounds off limit
Pacquiao, knowing he?s just three pounds off the weight limit, had supper with wife Jinkee, but avoided the leche flan. Also at the main table was Jinkee?s twin sister Janet and close associates.
Marquez was slated to arrive by plane some 30 minutes after the Filipino had checked in.
Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will jog around the UNLV campus at 7 a.m. He will do mitts work in the afternoon, including his normal exercises, in Euclid district?s Iba gym which is owned by baseball great and close friend Dean Chance. It will be closed to the public.
Another joint press conference will be held for the fight, which will be aired by closed circuit and (PPV) pay-per-view on Wednesday.
