CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR FOR JUANMA

Newark, Ca. -- It was odd then that media was hesitant in lending credence to reports of strange happenings at Juan Marquez's training camp while preping for Manny Pacquiao for their World Boxing Organization rubber bout at Vegas' MGM Grand Arena.

Stranger still that a week after the Filipino idol retained his welterweight crown against his bulked-up challenger, the decibel count on the noise meter grew ultra loud with claims of illegal use of banned substance by Team Marquez.

Recall that a doper's name came to light when JuanMa himself admitted the services offered by one named Angel Heredia Memo

Hernandez, a trainer advising Jamaican sprinter Osain Bolt.

Speaking of track stars, who could forget Marion Jones' fall from grace after a brilliant Olympic showing that netted for her several golden trinkets after a tragic association with the accused dope peddler.

At every turn he gets, Marquez was crediting the trainer of disgraced Jones and advisor of track phenom Bolt of his super

form.

And what may I ask is an admitted PED proponent doing in a boxing camp?

Testing the heat of the more rewarding financial waters of pro boxing after being unmasked for past malfeasance?

In his failed attempts to unseat Manny, Juan Manuel went down four times. After Heredia/Hernandez was done administering his whammy elixir, the transmogrification of his ward was instant thus accounting for a credible challenge posed by the Mexican star for the Sarangani boxing congressman once ring hostilities erupted in their third war at Da Grand.

What a brawl won without a doubt by the Filipino super star.

At some point however, Pacquiao's camp must do away with covert moves resorted to by the opposition notably by those without compunction in utilizing guiles of established proponents of power enhancing drugs.

Marquez's handlers did succeed in turning their ward into a midi-monster alright but still came up short in beating the pound for pound champ.

Close but no cigar Juan Manuel Marquez to borrow once more the oft used cliche.