SULAIMAN SAYS MARQUEZ WONT BE A PROBLEM IF PACQUIAO TRAINS HARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 Jan 2008
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman says that if Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao ?trains very hard it should not be a problem? in winning over reigning WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
However, in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Sulaiman warned that ?if he (Pacquiao) doesn?t train strenuously he will have a big problem? even as he noted that Marquez has been training very hard even during the Christmas holiday season.
Sulaiman who was pleased that after some delay the rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez is a reality and will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15 said Marquez is ?really very dedicated.?
The WBC president said the best chance for Marquez is to box against Pacquiao pointing to the danger of trying to slug it out with the Filipino southpaw who is a devastating puncher. He cited the fights of Marco Antonio Barrera against Pacquiao to drive home the point saying ?In the first fight he wanted to punch and he was knocked out and demolished. In the second fight he decided to box and lasted the twelve rounds.?
Sulaiman who has been president of the leading world organization for 32 years said he was looking forward to a good year for the WBC and pro boxing and said ?we have some very good fights scheduled? but conceded they had ?a lot of matters to attend to because there?s a lot going on? although he did not elaborate.
He said he was ?very sad? over the fate of former WBC light flyweight champion Yo Sam Choi of South Korea who remains in a coma following brain surgery after winning his WBO Intercontinental title fight against Heri Amol of Indonesia on Christmas day.
Sulaiman said ?its too bad since he won the fight and he was not punched hard until the last round. Too bad. We are praying for him.?
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