PACQUIAO WATCH: If I Were a Betting Man
By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Jan 2008
WITH not much from Team Pacquiao from Los Angeles, most articles posted in Pacland (mannypacquiao.ph) lately were about Z Gorres' quest for glory when he trades leather with Nonito Donaire knockout victim Vic Darchinyan in Cebu on Saturday.
Gorres is in for the fight of his career. I wish he can hurdle past the Raging Bull from Australia.
In the meantime, we have less than six weeks before Manny Pacquiao goes up against Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico for the latter's championship belt in the super featherweight division of the World Boxing Council (WBC).
While Manny Pacquiao is a slight favorite to win in his rematch with Marquez, many believed the March 15 rematch could go either way.
Pacquiao lawyer Franklin 'Jeng' Gacal admitted Marquez is a difficult opponent, style-wise. He nevertheless believed Manny will come out victorious and erase all doubts about the outcome (a controversial draw) of their first fight held some four years ago.
But he also cautioned against betting for an early Pacquiao knockout win over Marquez.
"Go for a decision," Gacal said during our libel case hearing early in January.(This writer is a co-defendant of Gacal in a libel case filed by a prominent businessman here in General Santos City)
That is a safe bet, he added.
Of course, you don't take him seriously given that Jeng has always been coy about giving us inside tracks on Manny's professional and personal activities in and outside the ring.
But if you were a betting man, will you heed Jeng's advice?
I won't, even if he is my lawyer. No offense meant.
I'd say Manny will give Marquez a lesson in humility. And he will humble Marquez like he humbled two other Mexican boxing greats before, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Just consider this. Many has never lost to a boxer he met the second time around (Morales and Barrera).
Here's my tip. Although I am no betting man, Manny will go for a knockout win during the middle rounds.
So bet on it but on even terms. And, good luck!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.
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