LAS VEGAS ? In the final days leading to the fight, Mexican maestro Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain will treat his fighter Juan Manuel Marquez like an expensive figurine.
Since breaking camp last Friday in Mexico City, Beristain has been looking after Marquez as though he was some kind of girl being taken on a date by the campus hearthrob.
“This is a crucial part of training because (this time) I will take care of him like a little girl and put attention to even the smallest details,” said Beristain on Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay, site of Saturday night?s rematch between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.
“What we are going to do now is watch his weight,” said Beristain, who is credited for steering 16 Mexicans to the world championships, including Ricardo Lopez, Daniel Zaragoza, Gilberto Roman, Humberto Gonzalez and Juan Manuel?s younger brother, Rafael.
But weight should be of less concern since Marquez had been weighed at 131 lbs at around the same time Pacquiao tipped the scales at 133 over the weekend. Both fighters should not weigh more than 130 lbs during Friday afternoon?s official weighin.
“We are aware that this is going to be a great fight and we respect Pacquiao but we are confident that we are going to come out victorious. This is the best training Juan Manuel ever had,” said Beristain, who once was named the head coach of the Mexican Olympic boxing team a few times.
Beristain is different from most trainers since he seldom allows his fighters to go out or relax outside of their hotel rooms when the fight is near.
Beristain?s fighters are sheltered according to one Mexican publicist.
“These boxers are told to focus and strengthen their mental state while other boxers are advised to leave their rooms, relax a bit and go to the malls (to ease the tension),” said the same publicist. “But with Beristain, it?s different. They?re taught to mentally condition themselves since they no longer do anything heavy in the last few days going into the bout.”
While Marquez is already chilling out, that?s not the case with Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, who will work out until Thursday afternoon.
Despite insinuations that there is a rivalry between Roach and Beristain, the Mexican cornerman insists there is none and that he has nothing but utmost respect for the Hollywood-based strategist.
“I respect Freddie Roach, his work and there?s no rivalry between us trainers,” said Beristain, who claims that one time he asked for Roach?s autograph but the American declined to give one.
But it doesn?t seem like the rivalry angle will not be played out most specially that Beristain has been in many corners of Mexican champions who battled and defeated Filipino aspirants.
“Majority I won fights (between Mexicans) versus Filipino fighters,” said Beristain, whose last great champion before the advent of the Marquez brothers was the 105-pound terror Lopez.
Beristain called the shots when Lopez retained his WBC crown against Pretty Boy Lucas, Andy Tabanas, and Ala Villamor and he is nursing hopes of continuing the tradition when Marquez faces Pacquiao this weekend.
