Over dinner in a five-star hotel during his visit to Manila last year, Mexican world boxing champ Juan Manuel
?Dinamita? Marquez bragged that his country grew the hottest, spiciest chili peppers in the world. GMA-7 sportscaster Chino Trinidad disputed this claim. ?Perhaps you?ve never tried our siling labuyo,? Chino said as he beckoned one of the waiters to bring some labuyo to their table so the guests can sample them. ?Try one,? he offered Marquez, presenting him a saucer-full of the tiny red and green chili peppers which I believe are indigenous to the Philippines. Marquez, thinking that the labuyo looked so harmless because of its size, popped one into his mouth and chewed on it. By the time he realized how hot it was, it was too late. His face became red as a beet, his eyes and nostrils were so watery he had to beg for a glass of cold fruit juice, pronto. * * * The purpose of Marquez?s visit to Manila was not very clear then. He told some scribes that he had come to challenge Manny Pacquiao to a rematch. Since losing to the world?s pound-for-pound king via a split decision in 2008, Marquez was said to be itching to have another shot at the man who is now known as the world?s greatest boxer. At any rate, Dinamita might have come here also to watch the Gerry Pe?alosa-Ratanachai Sor Vorapin fight at the Araneta Coliseum. He was shown on television with the other celebrity-guests during the event. Marquez lost to Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr. last year, but was able to bounce back nicely with a noteworthy performance over his next opponent, Juan Diaz. To get closer to a third bout with Pacquiao, Marquez is counting on a sterling performance in his upcoming fight with Michael Katsidis for the WBA and WBO lightweight titles on Nov. 28. Like Marquez, Katsidis was also in Manila last year to personally challenge Pacquiao to a fight. He was accompanied by his Australian mana-ger, Brendon Smith. Katsidis will be coming off four straight victories since suffering back-to-back setbacks at the hands of Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz. ?The Australian fighter of Greek descent rose through the ranks in the boxing world with his crowd-pleasing, all-action brand of fighting,? said Tek Major, marketing services manager of Solar TV, which will air the match, aptly dubbed ?Warriors: Marquez versus Katsidis,? via satellite at l p.m. this Sunday. ?He is now boxing?s premier blood-and-guts warrior, an honor that used to belong to the late Arturo Gatti. A win over the aging Mexican warrior will undoubtedly place Katsidis? name on the short list of Pacquiao?s possible opponents.? * * * Frankly, I?ve never heard of Katsidis being mentioned as Pacquiao?s next possible opponent, only the names of Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley and Marquez. In a television interview, the Pacman said a fight with Mayweather would be most ideal. But if negotiations do not materialize, ?puwede na rin si Mosley.? Mosley lost to Mayweather months ago. Despite the close shave with Marquez, Pacquiao is not too keen on having a rematch with the Mexican warrior. ?Walang manonood,? Pacquiao had said. But the fight between warriors Marquez and Katsidis is another story. ?Given the styles of both fighters, Marquez versus Katsidis has ?Fight of the Year? written all over it,? says Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. ?Marquez looked better than ever in his last fight against Juan Diaz, and Katsidis is in top form coming off a big knockout win over Kevin Mitchell, so boxing fans will be in for a treat.?
