MARQUEZ OPEN TO DRUG TESTING TO SILENCE CRITICS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Nov 2012
Mexican Dynamite Juan Manuel Marquez said that he would be ready to go through random drug testing to suppress rumors that he was probably taking steroids in preparation for his fourth encounter with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Marquez was put to controversy when a lot of observers noticed that his body has ballooned and has put on more muscle that he was suspected of using steroids or performance enhancing drugs.
"First of all, I would like to tell you that I have never done this type of work before in 18 years," Marquez told USA Today. "That's why my body has changed. I've been working very hard. And, specifically, it has helped me to gain a lot more strength."
Marquez also fuelled more argument after he retained his controversial strength expert Angel Hernandez who had been extensively identified to have a record of being involved in banned substances. He was found to change his real name from Angel Guillermo Heredia in May 2008 when he bore witness in a court that he furnished former track stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery with performance enhancing drugs.
Marquez always thought of Hernandez as a professional and has the expertise to put on more weight every time he worked out. He completely trusted his trainer on improving his strength. ?As for the steroids, I'm willing to give myself to any anti-doping tests. Why don't Manny Pacquiao and I both do it? I don't care. To shut everybody up. And, of course, my exams have always been clear," said Marquez in a report by Lem Satterfield of The Ring.
A graduate of Texas A&M's exercise science program, Hernandez was never convicted of any crimes. He was hired by Marquez in order to improve his performance as a welterweight because in his first fight in that division, he lost a lopsided decision to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in September 2009. Later, Marquez admitted that his conditioning guru?s advanced techniques helped him increase weight and strength at the same time in preparation for the fight with Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach has stirred up some controversy by accusing Marquez of using performance-enhanced drugs. He voiced his suspicion that Marquez, at age 39, has gained from using banned substances. "If (his body) is natural, I will kiss his ass,'' Roach told USA Today. But Roach just belittled the Mexican?s putting on more muscle, thinking that it makes him slower and they will take advantage of it.
Trainer Nacho Beristain thought that his fighter will be better than ever. Pacquiao?s conditioning coach Alex Ariza didn?t have any suspicions and believed Hernandez just used science and nutrition on Marquez?s body. Roach did not consider a bigger and muscular body makes a stronger chin. But Marquez warned that Pacquiao will get a surprise come fight night on December 8.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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