The Pacman is preparing for his third bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, to be held on November 12 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who many consider to be boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter, fought Marquez to a draw in 2004 and then edged him by split decision in 2008.
“You have to understand, the first two fights were so close and so controversial as far as who the winner was – one was a draw, one Pacquiao won by a point – that this fight has been building up for about four years with the fighters and they are both at this stage in unbelievable condition,” Top Rank supremo Bob Arum told ESPNSTAR.com from Manila as part of an international tour to ramp up the excitement for the third fight.
“I know we did a photoshoot with [Marquez], before he left, he is ripped and Pacquiao looks like he’s never left the gym.”
Pacquiao stepped into the Planet Jupiter gym on Monday a full 10 weeks before the November 12 clash which is two weeks more intensive training than he usually does before a fight. Marquez too has been training for almost a month now.
There’s enough animosity between the two fighters to make the upcoming bout a promoter’s dream, with Marquez happy to tell anyone who will listen that he was the man who won both fights against Pacquiao despite what the judges thought.
The showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena certainly has a winner-takes-all feeling about it. Bragging rights, a piece of boxing history, you name it. Both men know full well what’s at stake here.
“Everybody knows that Marquez is the biggest puzzle that Pacquiao has ever faced because of his style,” Arum said.
“Pacquiao is an attack fighter, Marquez is the best counter-puncher that we’ve had in years so that is not good for Pacquiao’s style.
“Pacquiao on the other hand has improved since they fought last, he has a very good right hand which he didn’t have before.”
