LAS VEGAS ? Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao was his usual self during Wednesday?s press conference promoting his third fight with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez this weekend at the MGM Grand.
He spoke humbly about the fight, stressing that both he and Marquez are ready and he can?t wait to get to the ring and put on another great show, while Juan Manuel Marquez did not utter even a word of trash when he took the dais.
The Mexican was all praises for Pacquiao and the strongest words that came out of his lips still oozed with respect toward his celebrated opponent and the event itself.
?A lot of people know that I don?t like talking outside the ring,? said Marquez in English which he later translated to Spanish. ?I do my talking in the ring.?
But when talking with the Hispanic media, Marquez?s words are hot and spicy.
?Apuesten, por mi (Bet for me),? Marquez told the Mexican paper Record, which splashed the bold statement on its front page, a copy of which handed over by its boxing writer Salvador Rodriguez to Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels.
Marquez, 38, is a huge underdog going into the rubber match between the fierce rivals but aficionados believe it shouldn?t be that lopsided.
Marquez said he has trained long and hard and is confident he will come out proud and victorious when the mushroom cloud dissipates at the 16,800-capacity Grand Garden Arena.
The press conference was so dignified and formal ? a far cry from the traditional events that featured trash talking and pushing and lots of shoving ? that even the trainers of the two fighters did not try to upstage one another.
Freddie Roach said Marquez is armed to the teeth, that Pacquiao will be ready for any eventuality and promised fight fans of ?lots of fireworks on Saturday.?
Ignacio Beristain, the Hall of Fame corner man, sounded a bit like Roach, telling everyone that the scheduled 12-rounder ?will be a classic.?
While both were cordial to each other, the staredown ? a rite that is done after a press conference ? showed why Saturday night?s clash is going to be worth watching either live or on television.
In that short span of time, one could see the intensity and the hatred that each man feel about each other.
Unlike in his recent fights, Pacquiao would break out in laughter as soon as he stares at his opponent.
But since there is that genuine feeling of hate in the air, Pacquiao and Marquez won?t be tickling each other and wait who passes out first.
