HAS SUCCESS gone into Manny Pacquiao?s head? That seems to be the case especially when you hear him disparage his Mexican rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, whose training regimen has made many Pacquiao fans worry about the Filipino?s chances when the two collide in an all important bout six weeks from now.
Told that Marquez has been training for their Feb. 26 rematch as early as late-November 2004, Pacquiao responded as though he would be just going up against a nightclub bouncer, and not against a fighter regarded as one of the most fundamentally sound today.
“Pabayaan mo siyang (Marquez) mag-ensayo ng mag-ensayo para pag harap niya sa akin ay handing-handa siya,” Pacquiao said yesterday during a break in his shooting for a television commercial for Darlington socks at the Wild Card Gym on Presidents Ave. in BF Homes, Paranaque.
“Talagang kailangan niyang mag-ensayo ng husto,” said Pacquiao, who knocked down Marquez three times in round one when they met on May 8 last year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Marquez, his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation featherweight titles on the line, got up each time and managed to salvage a 12-round split draw.
Although he has yet to start training in earnest, Pacquiao wants the entire country to know that he won?t go down without a fight.
“Sa laban na ito hindi lang ako ang aakyat ng ring kundi ang buong Pilipinas. Kasama (tayo) sa labang ito. Dadalhin ko kayo sa ibabaw ng ring kaya?t hindi ako basta-basta susuko hanggang sa matapos,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao said that he might fly to Los Angeles two days earlier than the proposed Jan. 8 date. Pacquiao has been asked to report to Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Boxing Club on Vine St. in Hollywood, a day after his arrival.
Rod Nazario, the fighter?s business manager, said he is waiting for the tickets that will be sent in by promoter Murad Muhammad from the US. Pacquiao will be given a business class seat, while training assistant Buboy Fernandez will be in economy.
Meanwhile, Lito Mondejar, one of Pacquiao?s cornermen, expressed confidence Marquez will fall in the rematch which is tentatively set for Las Vegas.
“Ang mga buntal ni Manny ay mabilis at malakas ang tama kaya?t oras na tamaan nito si Marquez masisira na ang diskarte nito,” said Mondejar, who has opted to remain until the second week of February.
“Magiging defensive si Marquez oras na taaman. Alam kasi niyang mas malakas sa kanya si Manny.”
Mondejar pointed to the lackadaisical showing of Marquez against Orlando Salido in September last year.
“Ni hindi nga napatay ni Marquez yung si Salido. Kung kay Manny mo sinabak si Salido siguradong laglag yon,” added Mondejar, referring to Marquez winning the fight on a lopsided 12-round decision.
Pacquiao said he has been able to keep his weight under control despite the many temptations during the holiday season.
“Hindi naman siguro lalampas ng 138 (lbs) ang timbang ko ngayon,” Pacquiao said yesterday afternoon. “Kabisado ko ang katawan ko kaya sa tingin ko hindi naman ako bumigat ng husto.”
Pacquiao fights in the 126-lb category and his current weight is not at all alarming considering that his next fight is several weeks away.
The fighter?s wife, Jinkee, said the 26-year-old banger looks fine and appears ready to fly to Los Angeles to begin training under Freddie Roach.
“Mukhang okay naman at sa tingin ko hindi naman tumaba,” said Jinkee.
