Many in boxing are calling it a mismatch. And, yes, there probably are other more worthy foes out there for Manny Pacquiao.
One pretty famous one springs to mind. But Floyd Mayweather Jr., the pound-for-pound king of excuses, has made it clear he wants no part of the fight the world has been waiting anxiously to see.
A word to the wise: Don’t write off Juan Manuel Marquez.
The great Mexican champion (53-5-1, 39 KOs) meets Pacquiao in a pay-per-view matchup Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) is the overwhelming favorite. But at 9-1 odds, Marquez is a live dog.
This will be the third time the two have squared off. Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round when they met seven years ago at 125 pounds, yet barely escaped with a controversial draw.
In their rematch at 130 pounds in 2008, Pacquiao won a narrow split decision.
?The third fight will answer all the doubts and questions,? Pacquiao said.
There are reasons to believe that will be the case.
The rubber match will be fought at a catch weight of 144 pounds, which should favor Pacquiao because the Filipino congressman has been campaigning as a welterweight in his previous four fights.
Marquez, on the other hand, has fought only once above 140 in a losing effort against Mayweather, a fight Marquez never was in.
But Pacquiao says he’ll answer all the doubts himself.
?This (fight) is a lot different because the last few years, I’ve improved a lot,? he said.
Once a one-handed warrior, Pacquiao now is a double-fisted dynamo. His right hand has become a weapon to go along with his lethal left.
