MANILA, Philippines ? In between posing for pictures and shaking hands mostly with Filipinos at Los Angeles International Airport, Juan Manuel Marquez opened up about his true feelings about the man he has despised but has grown to respect over the years.
Arriving in Los Angeles from Mexico City Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in the Philippines) in time to catch a Philippine Airlines flight that is expected to touch down in Manila early Thursday, Marquez sounded exuberant on the phone, telling this reporter he couldn?t wait to get to his destination.
Manila is rolling the red carpet for the kick-off leg of a four-city promotional tour that will bring Marquez and Manny Pacquiao to New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City in a span of a week as part of the buildup for their trilogy on Nov. 12.
?I am really excited to go over there and see the Filipino boxing fans,? said Marquez in English even though Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez fired the question in Spanish.
?I have been told that Manny has started training for our third fight so I think we?re going to give the fans a great fight,? said the counter-punching Marquez, who just turned 38 last Aug. 23.
Marquez has no love lost for Pacquiao following two bitter fights that resulted in one draw and a split decision in the Filipino?s favor. The first time in 2004, they battled to a draw and in the rematch in 2008, Pacquiao escaped with the narrow decision.
Both times, Marquez said, he should have won.
But even if Marquez acknowledges that it?s water under the bridge, the hurt and pain remain up to this day.
And this is why Marquez is embarking on something he has never done before as he revs up for what he admits as his last chance to rectify judges? decisions.
?I know this is my last opportunity to meet and beat him so I am getting help from some people to help me prepare hard for this hard fight,? said Marquez, who will link up with a nutritionist and conditioning coach as part of his preparation.
Asked whether he has something special or unsavory in mind to say to Pacquiao the moment they are formally introduced, Marquez said there?s none as he respects him as a fighter.
?No, I won?t say anything to him but tell him to prepare hard as I will be training hard.?
Marquez will be coming in with a stellar group headed by Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who will be preside over all four press conferences that will be spread out in three countries.
In Manila, the press conference will be held at the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park on Saturday.
