Manny Pacquiao has kept his weight under control and will be ready to face Juan Manuel Marquez contrary to fears of some quarters that the Christmas holidays and weeks of inactivity have made him ? to exaggerate a bit ? a heavyweight.
“Hindi naman ako nagpapabaya dito,” Pacquiao said as he headed for the airport on his way to Davao from General Santos City the other day, the first of two stops on the way to Manila.
Asked whether he has gained weight after his fight with Fashan 3K Battery, Pacquiao said not to worry because he watches his diet and doesn?t overeat then added ? in jest ? that to make up for this, he drinks (alcohol) a lot.
“Hindi naman ako palakain. Pala-inom lang.”
You know this was a joke because immediately after this one-liner, he let out a laugh so loud you?d think he thought he was Dolphy who just executed a punch line that brought the house down.
But back to business, Pacquiao said he is aching to rumble with the man whom he brought down thrice in the first round but miraculously went on to salvage a draw before over 10,000 boisterous fans at the MGM Grand.
The fight has been set on Feb. 26 probably in Las Vegas.
“Mabigat na kalaban si Marquez, alam ko yan,” he said. “Kailangang manalo ng impressive para makaharap ko rin sina Erik Morales (in July) and Marco Antonio Barrera (in Novemver).”
Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles on Jan. 5 or Jan. 13, but the 26-year-old knockout specialist said he will go there on Jan. 8.
“May suwerte kasi ang numero otso kaya sa (Jan.) 8 ako aalis,” said Pacquiao, who took the power out of 3K Battery in four rounds some two weeks ago at The Fort in Taguig.
Because he would be away starting on that date, Pacquiao apologized for not being around when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) holds its awards night on Jan. 13 where he is to receive the top accolade.
“Sayang nga rin kasi hindi ako makaka-attend sa PSA awards at sana naman ay maintindihan nila ako.”
Pacquiao, who has won the award twice already, will share the limelight with LPGA golfer Jennifer Rosales who will reeive the Sportswomen of the Year award.
In preparation for his departure, Pacquiao is arriving in Manila on Jan. 3. He will be accompanied by training assistants Buboy Fernandez and Lito Mondejar who will join him when he begins training at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card gym in Holywood.
Meanwhile, the boxing website maxboxing.com listed Pacquiao as its No. 6 on its season-ending pound-for-pound list.
Ranked No. 1 was middleweight terror Bernard Hopkins. Interestingly, those ahead of Pacquiao are Barrera (No. 4) and Erik Morales (No. 5). Marquez also made it to the top 10 at No. 9.
The writer of the article predicts that should Pacquiao beat Marquez, the Filipino could get the No. 2 spot being occupied by super-lightweight Floyd Mayweather.
