MARQUEZ WANTED PACQUIAO BADLY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 03 Dec 2007
WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez ?really wanted the fight (against Pacquiao) and made significant concessions? according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer who sealed the rematch with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum last Friday.
Schaefer praised Marquez and told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today ?this fight is not for money, for him it is for pride.? Schaefer added ?if you would know what kind of sacrifices he made to get the fight it would frankly blow everyone?s mind.? Marquez indicated this fight is ?truly for Mexico, for all his people who had to taste defeat when their heroes (Marco Antonio) Barrera and (Erik) Morales lost against Manny. He wants to show what Mexico is all about and represent the pride of the Mexican people in their beloved sport of boxing.?
The Golden Boy Promotions CEO noted that Marquez is ?the last Mexican legend standing and he vows to all Mexican and Hispanic fight fans that after the fight he still will be the last man standing.? Recalling that Pacquiao has repeatedly said he wants to fight with ?whomever he can make the most money? Marquez responded all along ?I don?t care about the money. I care to restore the pride of Mexico. I want Pacquiao.?
Golden Boy?s astute negotiator who along with Marquez was praised by Arum said Marquez ?made it very clear to me with four words ? Get me the fight!? Schaefer estimated that 150 million Mexican and Mexican-American people will be in Marquez?s corner adding, ?this is what this fight is about.? At the same time Schaefer said ?I do not deserve the credit for getting this fight done. There is only one person who deserves that credit and that is the last Mexican legend standing: Juan Manuel Marquez.?
Pacquiao himself proved he isn?t scared of anybody by picking the dangerous Marquez in the much-awaited rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on March 15 which will settle an old score last May 8, 2004 when Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round but hampered by leg cramps and looking for a one-punch knockout couldn?t finish the job allowing Marquez to come back with some tremendous counter-punching to salvage what to some was a controversial draw.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Arum himself paid tribute to Schaefer saying ?I thought Richard handled the situation very, very well so we could get this done because the Marquez people, Mr. ( Nacho) Beristain is extraordinarily difficult in negotiations but Schaefer was able o handle it.?
Now that the fight?s been done Arum said ?this should be a good one. Everybody is looking forward to it and everybody worked hard to get it done. Right now it?s the biggest fight that Manny could have.? Looking ahead Arum said Pacquiao ?will have plenty of time in June or July for him to go up to fight for the lightweight championship. He disclosed that Diaz would fight on the undercard.
Arum stressed however that a Pacquiao win over Marquez won't come easy. ?This is a very tough fight and he (Pacquiao) knows that and is talking about coming in to start his training in LA in January, none of this Cebu nonsense.? Arum stressed ?it's certainly much better for him to train at Wild Card.?
The Top Rank promoter who is remarkably fit despite being in his mid-seventies said he may take the long flight and visit the Philippines for Pacquiao?s 29th birthday celebrations on December 17 but it would depend on his schedule. At the same time Arum revealed ?I might very well come over if I can get him to go back with me for the press conference on December 20.? We learned earlier in the week that Pacquiao planned to spend Christmas and New Year in the US with his family.
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who had pushed for the Marquez rematch was pleased at Pacquiao?s decision and said ?I think it?s a good fight for us but its going to be a tough fight. It wont be as easy as it looks and it will depend on how he trains. Manny told me he?s gonna be eight weeks here and do our work. He knows.? Roach credited Pacquiao for deciding to fight Marquez saying ?its the right fight for him.?
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman was elated when we called him at his home in Mexico City saying Pacquiao ?made the right decision. I am very happy. He will have a great opportunity. He is much younger (than Marquez), he is very strong. If he doesn?t try to knock out Marquez with one punch like he did in the first fight then it will be a different story.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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