“I was looking forward to my rematch with Juan Manuel M?rquez. Our first fight had been exciting and even though it took a few years for M?rquez to finally accept a rematch with me the fans seemed happy to see it too. The arena was electric. It inspired me.
“After I scored the knockdown, early in the fight, I went back to my corner thinking I would finish him in the next round. Freddie Roach told me, ?We have him right where we want him. Finish it.”
“Well, I couldn’t finish him in the next round and as the fight continued I thought ?Here we go again.’ M?rquez’s superb boxing skills and excellent stamina got him back into the fight.
“After the eighth round Freddie told me the fight was becoming too close and we needed to win the last four rounds to avoid the close decision we had in our first fight.
Photo courtesy HBO
“‘Take it to him Manny. Pick up the pace – double the pace. You’ve got the better speed and power. It’s time to use all your weapons.’
“I stopped counterpunching in those last four and attacked him constantly. Staying away from his right hand helped me to score more too.
“Freddie’s advice was right and I thought it was a clear victory for me that night because I won those last four rounds.
“I was so happy to be a world champion again. It’s a night I’ll never forget.”
