LAS VEGAS ? He said it a few times before, and he?d say it again and again.
Juan Manuel Marquez is going for the knockout, a big one, when he locks horns with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday in the great rematch of their classic, controversial draw in May 2004.
?Pacquiao is fast and strong. Maybe to knock him out is ?gonna be hard. But I?m ready. I?m in the condition to do it,? Marquez, through an interpreter, said Monday of his fight plans.
Still, he?d settle for something less.
?I?m gonna win. Maybe by decision or maybe by knockout. But I?m gonna win,? vowed the Mexican champion. ?I?m coming to fight. I?m coming to box. I?m gonna be different.?
Unmindful of Marquez? pronouncements, Pacquiao pushed through with his schedule for the day.
He sparred for the last time at the Wild Card Gym, doing four rounds against Juanito Garcia, and closing the book with a total of 140 in a full eight-week training that should serve him in good stead.
Pacquiao then pushed for Las Vegas, in his Lincoln Navigator with wife Jinkee, her twin sister Jeannete, close friend Joaquin Hagedorn, trainer Buboy Fernandez and Edward Lura at the wheel.
A convoy of 12 cars made up the Team Pacquiao entourage which needed a little over four hours to get to Sin City, at the Mandalay Bay which also served as home to Pacquiao in his last fight.
There was no fanfare as Pacquiao arrived, and he went straight to his spacious suite, the very same one he occupied when he fought and defeated Marco Antonio Barrera last October.
?Why would we change address? I like it here. That?s why they gave me this same suite,? said Pacquiao still in a very jolly mood despite the 300-mile journey along the great Nevada desert.
He treated more than 20 guests to dinner prepared in advance by close Pinoy friends based here in Vegas.
Little did Pacquiao know that when he stepped into the hotel, the fight odds had even grown bigger in his favor. From -210, he?s now at -230 (a $230 bet only wins $100) while Marquez is at +190 from +180 ($100 wins $190).
The days before the fight will be quite slow but busy, consisting of morning runs at UNLV and limited gym work until Thursday. Tuesday is the formal welcome ceremony for both fighters, Wednesday another press conference, and Friday the weigh-in.
Marquez, who sparred 120 rounds during training that started on Dec. 15 (a month ahead of Pacquiao), flew in from Los Angeles Monday evening, too.
They?re both here now. And they?re both ready to fight.
