It has never been this exciting.
One fighter who is a byword already in the world of boxing wants a tryst with history, while the other is just as ardent in his desire to prove a point.
Upon these backdrops and a number of motivations more, scintillating actions ? a brawl indeed ? can be expected in this highly-anticipated rematch that?s four years in the making and fits two no-nonsense men who give their all each time they set foot on the ropes.
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez finally climb into the ring Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila), both looking to put an end to their ?unfinished business,? at the posh Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
???
Pacquiao?s younger brother, Bobby, absorbed a stinging defeat at the hands of Urbano Antillon, Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bobby appeared quite complacent as he seemed to have taken his Mexican opponent for granted. A report by Eastsideboxing.com revealed that Bobby was not doing too badly in the beginning, and was in fact dishing out as much as he was receiving.
But a crushing left hook by the Mexican found its mark on the kidneys of Bobby, who fell right there and then on the canvas. Although he was able to get up, he was given mandatory count by referee Jose Cortez at 2:49 of the first round.
????
Much have been said about the Filipino ring idol?s religiously-followed bout with the weighing machine, but with him nearing the 130 pound limit, odds have suddenly tilted much on the Filipino fighter?s side.
In an on-line votation being conducted by mannypacquiao.ph, the Filipino fighter was given as of yesterday (March 14 in the USA) a 48.4-percent chance of finishing Marquez by knockout in the late rounds, while getting 35.1-percent chance of doing the same in the early rounds.
A Pacquiao victory by decision was very slim at 6.7 percent. Marquez was given a 3.8-percent chance of winning by decision. Very slim, though, is the chance for Marquez to win it by knockdown in late rounds, for which he was given only 2.7 percent. Marquez also got 2.2-percent chance of winning it via knockdown in early rounds.
A total of 41,375 turned in their votes on-line, and a small 1.3 percent of which believes the likeliness of the fighters ending the same way they had the first time they met in May 8, 2004 which was a draw.
At stake is the WBC world super fethearweight championship belt, with Pacquiao earning a shot becoming the only Filipino fighter to win the world title in three weight categories.
Pacquiao wore his customary silver sweat jacket as he spent the final day of training for this rematch, but unlike before when he tried to lose the excess weight prior to fight day, he didn?t need to cover his head with the jacket hood as he lightly jogs around the University of Nevada Las Vegas oval this time.
Does that mean that Pacquiao is now ready for the rumble? Perhaps.
The two fighters perform the last act that will bring them to another 12-round grudge fight as they undergo the official weigh-in that will determine whether they make the 130-pound limit as required.
