LAS VEGAS, Nevada?Manny Pacquiao wants Filipinos to be happy. Juan Manuel Marquez wants to regain Mexican pride.
These two warriors will carry the weight of their respective countries when they dispute the World Boxing Council superfeatherweight crown Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Events Center of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here.
Strictly speaking, Marquez is the champion and Pacquiao the challenger, but billing holds no meaning when the two fighters go on top of the ring for the year?s most hyped and most awaited prize fight.
They will also try to settle an old score that dates back to May 2004, when Marquez escaped with a draw despite being decked three times by Pacquiao in the first round.
Pacquiao says that fight should have gone his way if not for a scoring error by one of the judges, but Marquez insists he was the one who was robbed of victory as he dominated the later rounds.
Now, they can leave their grumbling behind and let their fists do the talking. Come fight time, those fists will be very busy, and oddsmakers believe it?s very likely that the fight will not go the full 12 rounds.
And if betting pundits are to be believed, Pacquiao will be the main reason that the fight won?t go the full route. While the betting trend predicts a knockout, the odds are against Marquez scoring one.
In fact, as of Friday evening, a $100 bet on Marquez scoring a knockout would return a hefty $4,200.
The favorite
Pacquiao is listed a minus 235 favorite for the fight. Marquez is at plus 195. Simply put, a $235 bet on Pacquiao would net only $100 if he wins, while a $100 wager on Marquez would return $195 if Marquez triumphs.
Both fighters have taken great pains to whip themselves into shape. The 29-year-old Pacquiao trained daily for two hours non-stop for two months in Hollywood while Marquez, 34, built up his stamina with high-altitude training in the chilly mountains of Toluca, Mexico.
They easily made the weight on their first try on the scales with Pacquiao checking in at 129 pounds?a pound under the limit?and Marquez registering exactly 130 during the official weigh-in on Friday.
Both are ready to rumble. It will be a worldwide blockbuster, if only for the drama that both fighters bring into the ring.
Executioner of Mexico?s best
Marquez is underrated as the world champion mainly because the untitled Pacquiao has proven to be a bigger draw in boxing because of his reputation as the executioner of Mexico?s best prizefighters.
Transforming himself into a two-handed power puncher, Pacquiao bulldozed his way past such notables as Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Jorge Solis, Erik Morales (twice in three fights), Oscar Larios and Hector Velasquez to earn the tag ?Mexican Assassin? and ?Republica Enemy No. 1.?
Marquez feels that he has all the tools to stop the Filipino ring icon, promising to use his technical skills and to fight smartly to counter Pacquiao?s vaunted speed and power?a combination that has knocked out 35 of his 45 victims.
Pacquiao has lost only three times and has two draws, including the one against Marquez.
Marquez, on the other hand, holds a 48-3-1 card with 35 knockouts.
American Freddie Roach, a two-time Trainer of the Year, will be working Pacquiao?s corner while legendary Mexican trainer and boxing Hall of Famer Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain will man Marquez?s corner.
Like their wards, Roach and Beristain sounded sure of victory in the fight dubbed ?Unfinished Business? in reference to their 2004 draw.
Roach said they will bring the fight to Marquez like in Pacquiao-Marquez I, while Beristain said they have the answer to everything Pacquiao can offer.
Full house
So strong was the response for Pacquiao-Marquez II that co-promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions have announced a full house for the 12,000-seater Events Center.
The megabucks bout, which this early is being touted as the biggest earner for Pacquiao ever, will be aired by HBO on pay-per-view (PPV) in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and closed circuit television.
Though he didn?t promise a knockout, Pacquiao guarantees that he?ll emerge victorious, citing his long preparation, hard work, focus and dedication during training.
Pacquiao said the knockout will come if the opportunity presents itself.
Roach was more explicit: ?Once he (Marquez) goes down, we?ll make sure he stays down.?
