EXPECT A WAR
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 06 Dec 2012
LOS ANGELES(PNA via PCSO)- The fourth installment of the bitter rivalry between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Manuel Marquez promises to be a highly emotional confrontation with both combatants vowing to be at their best.
Both the Filipino icon and the Mexican legend pronounced themselves ready for what is perceived to be their biggest fight during Tuesday?s Grand Arrival ceremony held at the lobby of MGM Grand, site of this Saturday?s (Sunday in Manila) showdown.
?We had a great camp and I?m 100 percent ready to do war,?
Pacquiao told media men in a round table conference held at one of the hotel?s function room following the traditional ritual. ?I was 100 percent focused in my preparation and would be in the same state of mind on fight day to once again give boxing fans the best fight they deserve.?
?You?ll see the best of Manny on Saturday (Sunday in Manila),? chief trainer Freddie Roach, the guy who transformed Pacquiao from a one dimensional fighter to a complete campaigner in their 12-year partnership, promised in Tuesday?s ?Grand Arrival? ceremony at the MGM Grand, site of 12-round non-title bout.
?The first three fights were close, but now we we?ll do everything that the results will be as decisive as it should be,? the Hall of Fame trainer said.
?If Marquez has been very emotional disputing the results of the three previous fight, he has a chance now to prove he?s right in his pronouncement that he won all three bouts,? Roach said.
Pacquiao, actually did not mind Marquez?s one-man revolt, but it was Roach himself who came to his favorite pupil?s rescue by denouncing, at one time or another, the Mexican and his team?s traveling to the Philippines after the second fight wearing T-Shirts that said he won those two fights.
?You don?t go to the Philippines wearing wear T-shirts like that to win people to turn their backs against Manny,? Roach bewailed then. ?Manny sees that as a slap in his face.?
Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain, Roach?s counterpart in Marquez?s corner expect the fight to be a ?war? owing to the animosity that has been existing between the two camps since Pacquiao and Marquez fought first nine years ago.
That initial encounter resulted in a draw but the ?Pacman? managed a split decision win four years later and a majority verdict a year ago, reasons for Marquez to wage war on both the opposite camp and all the nine judges that were assigned to work on those fights.
?I will no longer allow the judges to settle the issue this time,? Marquez vowed, meaning, like the eight-division world champion, he intends to fight to the finish and win via knockout. ?I have been preparing for four months and I think we have covered everything to achieve our goal.?
?For the entire 18 years of my boxing career, I have been doing the same thing. But now I changed everything, thanks to angel (trainer Angel Hernandez),? Marquez, otherwise known as ?El Dinamita? disclosed.
Marquez confirmed his camp?s announcement made earlier that he will turn aggressive in this fight,?but I will fight with intelligence because Pacquiao is dangerous. ?
Marquez said he had grown bigger and stronger, but gave Hernandez for seeing to it that he did not lose his speed. ?I feel great for the changes that we?ve made.
Pacquiao looked unfazed though for the changes that he saw in Marquez?s physical appearance, saying he is used to fighting big men.
?I?ve been fighting bigger guys for years and I?m ready for whatever he will bring to the table,? Pacquiao said by way of refuting his rival?s claim.
Top photo: Manny Pacquiao waves to a throng of Filipino fans upon his arrival at the lobby of MGM Grand Tuesday.
PHOTO below: Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach answer questions from media men during the subsequent round table conference held at nearby hotel function room. Photos by WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA via PCSO.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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