JACA HOPES TO FOLLOW IN PACQUIAO?S FOOTSTEPS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 25 Nov 2006
Philippine super featherweight champion Jimrex Jaca hopes to follow in the footsteps of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao when he battles WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas on Sunday, Manila Time.
Jaca will attempt to overcome the odds which are clearly in favor of Marquez who, in May 2004 came back to earn a draw against Pacquiao after being dropped three times in the opening round, when he takes on the tremendous counter-puncher in another of the celebrated Philippine-Mexican wars in the ring.
Jaca left his manager Rex ?Wakee? Salud who wanted him to fight for Bob Arum on the Pacquiao-Morales Grand Finale last unday for a mere $7,500 instead of taking the title shot against Marquez for a comparatively big purse of $50,000 is another
of the Filipino fighters caught in the bitter struggle between the great Oscar De La Hoya and Arum. But De La Hoya told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Jaca was unconcerned about the controversy and was ?very excited about fighting Marquez
because this is a tremendous opportunity.? De La Hoya said that Jaca who initially trained in his Los Angeles Gym was ?looking really good.?
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez said Jaca had a legitimate chance of winning ?because he has a good punch and Pacquiao was able to drop Marquez three times in the first round.?
After a recent two-hour workout for the Rio Grande Valley media, Jaca vowed to bring back the title to the Philippines. He said ?to me it is just not about winning my first world title. Anytime a fighter from my home country is challenging for a world title, he is fighting for the entire country, not just himself. I want this title first for me, but also for my country.? Jaca added, ?I am very much aware of the many great fights between Mexican and Filipino fighters, especially the fights Manny Pacquiao has had? his latest being a third round annihilation of Erik ?El Terrible? Morales.
Saying that he expects to win against Marquez, the hard-hitting southpaw said a victory will ?in no way prove that I am a better fighter than Pacquiao who is a great fighter and has proven over and over again what a great fighter he is.? The 23 year old Jaca has a record of 27-2-1 with 12 knockouts while Marquez who is ten years older has a record is 45-3-1 with 34 KO?s.
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