MARQUEZ CHALLENGES PACQUIAO TO A REMATCH FACE-TO-FACE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Apr 2008
Former WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez continued his campaign to get Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao who won the title from him by a split decision last March 15 to agree to one more showdown.
Marquez who planed in a few hours before the big ?Invasion ? Philippines vs The World? fight card at the Araneta Coliseum walked up to Pacquiao who arrived at the venue with WBO champion Gerry Penalosa, shook his hands and then told him ?I want a rematch because you know I won the fight.? Pacquiao responded by saying ?it depends on how the negotiations are going. There is no problem for me about a rematch, anytime.?
Marquez went on in their ringside exchange. ?Many people think I won the fight. Not only in Mexico but in Japan, around the world and even here in the Philippines? to which Pacquiao retorted, ?that?s part of the game you know, there?s a loser and there?s a winner and I think I am lucky that night.?
Taking the offensive like he does in the ring Pacquiao said ?I want the rematch, anytime.? Marquez got back ?I am asking him for a rematch anytime, wherever.?
Despite the pressure being put on him by Marquez, Pacquiao kept his composure and his decency in treating a guest like Marquez who earlier received a big ovation from fight fans even as scores posed for pictures with the Mexican legend.
When ABS-CBN?s Dyan Castillejo, who moderated the exchange, asked Pacquiao for his response, the boxing icon said ?there is no problem but it depends on how the negotiations are going and it depends on my promoter (Top Rank?s Bob Arum).?
Pacquiao went on. ?To me, I am a fighter and my job is to get in shape and fight in the ring.? Asked once again whether he would like to take on Marquez again Pacquiao reiterated ?no problem, anytime? to which Marquez seized the opportunity, asked his adviser Jaime Quintana ?give me the paper. Sign here. It's for the people. Let's do it again for the people. September, October, give me that paper for Pacquiao to sign.?
Pacquiao ended the exchange like a true Filipino gentleman saying ?welcome to the Philippines.? to which Marquez said ?anytime you want to go to Mexico you are welcome too.?
Golden Boy Promotions and the giant Philippine broadcast network pulled off a sensational coup by getting Marquez to come to the fights as a special guest. The Mexican told us later he was very happy that he accepted the invitation and was overwhelmed by the welcome from Filipinos because he never expected such warmth and friendship.
Top photo: Mexican boxing star Juan Manuel Marquez, flanked by Golden Boy COO David Itzkowitch to his right and his manager Jaime Quintana to his left, reiterated his desire to have a rematch with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao during a press conference that was held at the Gazebo of the Araneta Coliseum after the 'Invasion: Philippines vs the World' boxing event. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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