Now that the third combat against the Filipino Manny Pacquiao is closer than ever, the mexican Juan Manuel Marquez is pleased that at last, boxing fans will have the opportunity to find out who is better between these two giants of the ropes.
Both fighters are separated by a considerable amount of weight, but the contest of November 12th, was agreed at a limit of 144 pounds, weight that is within welterweight, where Manny Pacquiao is world champion by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
?After all they rule the roost [Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank]. I asked the fight at 143 and they didn?t want to, imagine. Then the limit is going to be at 144 pounds. If I had asked the fight at 140, give for granted that they wouldn?t have done it?. Explained Juan Manuel Marquez in an interview for the program ?A Los Golpes?, of ESPN Radio.
The significance of the Pacquiao-Marquez III is such that not only will clarify the doubts among fans, concerning on the superiority of their favorite one, they will also have the opportunity to see another Mexican in search of the fourth world crown.
We have to add that as Roberto Duran did in the past against ?Sugar? Ray Leonard, or the same Manny Pacquiao against Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez will rise two weight classes to challenge the best fighter of the era, no more, no less than the actual ?Pound for Pound King?.
These and more are the reasons to move up in weight, but differently from the previous occasion, when he challenged the world?s best at that time, Floyd ?Money? Mayweather, and failed in a very lamentable way.
?We will make a special preparation. Now I?ll do it under medical guidance and by people who will support us to gain weight without losing speed. So now it will be different. I think the exercise and care will be through doctors.? Marquez explained.
Prior to the fight against Floyd Mayweather, the older of Marquez made a preparation focused heavily on strength, but during the last weeks, he struggled a lot to find the speed that his manager, Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain, was looking for. But this time, everything will be different, even the development of the fight, because of the type of fighters they are, assuring a great performance.
?That fight was a matter of styles. He [Floyd Mayweather] is someone who does not fight, he does not like to fight and this time it?s different. Here we have two fighters [Marquez and Pacquiao] on the ring who likes to fight and that will be the difference?. He finished.
Photo: Gabriel Bouys, AFP/Getty Images
