Is Juan Manuel Marquez Making Manny Pacquiao Nervous?

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are set to do battle for the third -- and hopefully, final -- time on November 12. Even though Bob Arum and the powers that be involved with marketing the bout have tried to sell it as an “anything’s possible” type of showdown, fans and pundits seem to agree that Pacquiao will handily beat his opponent.

Naturally, the assumption was that Pacquiao was just as confident as the fans and pundits going in and that, even if he couldn’t publicly say it, he realized that he’d destroy Marquez. His conditioning coach Alex Ariza, after all, not too long ago explicitly stated that Pacquiao would wreck his opponent.

Over the last few days, however, certain things have happened or come to light that throw into question just how confident Pacquiao and his camp really are. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Pacquiao and his advisors requested a rematch clause prior to this fight being agreed to – albeit, one that they have deemed as just a precaution. Then, on Monday, Pacquiao arrived at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and, in the words of The Philippine Star, “broke tradition.”

According to the report, usually when Pacquiao arrives in L.A. he spends the first Monday “breaking sweat and loosening up” as he prepares for the more grueling aspects of training. This time around, though, the Filipino champion was all business. Instead of taking it slow, he opted to spar – something that in the past he has traditionally only done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

And, on top of all that, Pacquiao has also been earily quiet over the last few weeks. Granted, he did peak his head out of the shadows a few days ago to say that he was “80 percent" ready for Pacquiao – but that’s as far as it’s gone. Nothing on Sergio Martinez. Nothing on Floyd Mayweather Jr. Nothing on Amir Khan. Nothing on Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao, of course, has already met Marquez twice before to mixed results. The first time around the pair fought to a draw, even though it was later revealed that the Filipino champion was robbed of a victory by a judge’s error. The second time around, he beat Marquez via a decision even though many skeptics questioned the validity of the win, noting that Marquez had better stats throughout the bout.

“Yes. I feel that, you know, there’s an extra motivation for this training camp I think because of what happened in our last fight,” Pacquiao recently said.

“This fight, this will be the answer to all of the doubters about whether or not I lost to my opponent.”

Should Manny be nervous heading into November 12? Absolutely not.

Is he? It sure looks that way.

Source: opposingviews.com

Pacquiao picks Hawaii for next title bout

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Manny Pacquiao's next fight may not be against Floyd Mayweather, but local fans of the WBO Welterweight Champion and Filipino congressman may still have cause for celebration.

According to local defense attorney Michael Green, Pacquiao wants his next title bout to be staged in Hawaii. The islands are one of seven potential sites worldwide Team Pacquiao is considering, with the fight taking place in either 2012 or 2013. An opponent has not yet been discussed.

Green says that Pacquiao is more than familiar with his loyal following in Hawaii, and has sought the attorney's help in planning a fight in the islands, possibly at Aloha Stadium. Green says he plans to do research and crunch the numbers, but thinks a Pacquiao fight would sell out the venue.

Pacquiao is slated to visit the islands between November 19 and 21, ahead of a potential Hawaii fight and just a week after his highly anticipated November 12 bout with Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

During that trip, Green is hopeful that several local high-profile officials, including Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, will help solidify the deal with such shows of support as offering the boxer a key to the city.

Pacquiao is also scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the Hilton Hawaiian Village during his visit.

Source: hawaiinewsnow.com

24/7 Pacquiao-Marquez Music Video & Fight Preview

It's still about a month until the third installment in the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez series takes place, on November 12th, live on HBO PPV. Debuting much sooner than that, on October 22nd, will be the Pacquiao vs. Marquez 24/7 series. Right here, you can get an early look at the 24/7 show and the fight itself, with this HBO 24/7 Pacquiao-Marquez music video and fight preview.



Basically this is just a short, fun little video clip doing what 24/7 does best... get you nice and hyped up for an upcoming bout. Set to some heavy guitar riffs, we see previous fight footage in the Pacquiao vs. Marquez series, and some glimpses of the two guys training and going about their business, as well as some voiceovers from Jim Lampley as he has called some of their best moments in the past.

Enjoy the 24/7 Pacquiao vs. Marquez music video and fight preview video here, and keep on coming back for more updates on Pacquiao-Marquez III all the way until fight night on November 12th.

Source: proboxing-fans.com

The Pacman is back!

The wait is over, Manny Pacquiao touched down last night in Los Angeles. The Wild Card Gym will once again go through it's seasonal change as it always does when the 8 division world champion arrives. Manny Pacquiao will wrap up the 2nd leg of his training camp in Los Angeles and will take on Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time in his career.

There hasn't been a fighter that generates such electricity in a long time. With the arrival of Pacquiao comes the arrival of hundreds of fans, all of which will be standing in the parking lot outside of the gym. Each fan will hope that they can get a photo taken with their idol, and perhaps even an autograph. Folks come from all around the country, and in some cases from around the world. I remember when I was out there last year, I ran into a fan from Australia who made the trip just to get a glimpse of the Pacman.

The fans get excited when Pacquiao arrives because it usually means that his fight is oh so much closer. It's been common in his last few fights that he trains in The Philippines for the 1st half of camp, and in Los Angeles for the 2nd half of camp. When Pacquiao touches down at LAX it means the fight is rapidly approaching.

From all reports, Pacquiao had a great training camp in The Philippines. The team looks to pick up where they left off and march right into Vegas with a primed and ready champion. November will be upon on his before we know it. Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 is just around the corner.

Most insiders are predicting a Pacquiao victory, and this writer agrees. Former light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson said it best, "It's a tale of two fighters. One is going in one direction and the other is going in a different direction." Pacquiao is primed and ready, and some say Marquez has declined a touch. If this is true, this will not bode well for JMM.

More and more folks are predicting that Pacquiao will not only win, but he will knockout Marquez. Time will certainly tell.

Source: Examiner.com

Why Pacquiao – Marquez III will be the best fight of the the trilogy?

Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 will be the best fight of the trilogy because both fighters will be coming out guns blazing. Both fighters know exactly what this third bout final chapter clash is all about. Pacman and Marquez agree that the first 2 fights could have gone either way so they will both come out to make one final statement that will draw the line of separation. At the very end of it all, one man shall remain standing with his hand held high, victorious. And this time, there will be no question about it. No need for debate. Both warriors are coming fully armed prepared for intense combat. A classic war from beginning to end. -Albert Alvarez

With the previous two fights being so excessively exciting and action packed, it is truly hard to imagine their trilogy ending bout being any better. To be completely honest with you, I don’t think it will be. Having said that, the reason is important to note. I believe that this fight is unlikely to last more than 6-8 rounds, with Manny Pacquiao knocking Marquez out. I am aware that Marquez is the very definition of a warrior, and has gotten up and recovered from mind shattering blows before. I am also fully aware that he gave Pacquiao a run for his money in their bouts, leaving many people convinced that he beat Pacquiao at least once. Since then, Freddie Roach has used Manny’s natural abilities and learned skills to mold a relentless powerhouse of out him. At 144lbs, the fight will not beat the excitement of the previous two as far as it’s long dragged out war, but with a likely knockout, this fight will raise all from their seats to witness history take place. – Vitali Shaposhnikov

Boxing news www.diamondboxing.com

Marquez will pay for disrespect - Roach

MANILA, Philippines - Celebrated boxing trainer Freddie Roach predicted the other day Manny Pacquiao will stop Juan Manuel Marquez inside six rounds in their WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 12 and said the spark in the Filipino icon’s eye in training camp indicates he’s going all out for a decisive victory in their third encounter.

While Marquez has been uncharacteristically polite to Pacquiao during the recent world media tour, Roach said he’ll never forget the Mexican’s whining after the draw in 2004 and losing by split decision in 2008. Marquez even flew to Manila in 2009 with an entourage to taunt Pacquiao and goad him into agreeing to another face-off. Marquez caused a mild commotion at the Araneta Coliseum ringside when he gate-crashed a boxing card to confront Pacquiao.

Last November, Marquez showed up at a press conference in Las Vegas after defeating Michael Katsidis wearing a T-shirt with the words, in capital letters, emblazoned on the front – “MARQUEZ BEAT PACQUIAO TWICE.”

“No doubt in my mind, Manny beat Marquez in both fights,” Roach told The STAR at the Pan Pacific Hotel last Saturday morning. “They were close fights but Manny won both. Manny finished strong in the two fights, taking the last round, and Marquez went down four times in all. The first fight was a draw but it should’ve been a win for Manny by split decision if only one judge (Burt Clements) didn’t make a mistake in his scorecard. I think Marquez showed disrespect to Manny by coming to the Philippines with his followers and claiming he was robbed in both fights. It was like a slap on Manny’s face. It wasn’t right to do that and what made it worse was Marquez did it in the Philippines.”

Roach left Manila with Pacquiao for Los Angeles last Saturday night.

Roach said Marquez will pay for his disrespect. “Manny will win by knockout,” said Roach. “It’ll be over by the sixth round. That should clear the air once and for all. I’ve wanted this fight to happen for a long time to shut Marquez up for good. Manny knows it’s not going to be easy. I’ve told Manny he can’t afford to be Mr. Nice Guy in this fight because Marquez will do whatever it takes to try to win.”

Roach said he even broached the idea of Pacquiao going for an early knockout – as early as the first round. “Marquez is a slow starter and Manny likes to start fast,” said Roach. “So we talked about starting strong and going for a first round knockout. But on second thought, maybe, we’ll just see how the fight progresses because if Marquez survives our attempt for a knockout in the first round, he might gain confidence. This is going to be a mental, not just a physical fight. I was a little worried at the start that Manny might think Marquez will give him problems because their first two fights were close. Sometimes, you think there’s a guy out there who’s your nemesis like in high school, you might have someone on the other side whom you find difficult to beat whether in boxing or basketball or whatever. But talking to Manny and seeing how he’s been in camp, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. That spark in Manny’s eye tells me everything. He’s very focused.”

Roach said after three weeks of training in Baguio City, Pacquiao is 70 percent ready for Marquez and there’s still a month left to work out at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

“Baguio was excellent,” said Roach. “I couldn’t ask more from Manny. No distractions, no politics. He’d get up early every morning for his run, rest, then in the afternoon, go eight rounds of sparring with Jorge (Linares), then 10 rounds of mitts with me, then work the speedball, heavy bag and do drills, rest, then play pool and basketball. He brought pool players and two basketball teams to Baguio. I never watch him play basketball. I’m against Manny playing basketball while training for a fight and we have an agreement that four weeks before a fight, no more playing basketball.”

Roach said writing a third chapter to the Pacquiao-Marquez story will put a closure to the trilogy. “It’s good for boxing,” he went on. “I think the third fight will be really exciting. I have a lot of respect for Marquez’ trainer (Nacho Beristain). It’s always a challenge for me to go up against Nacho. We were together on a TV show with Max Kellerman for HBO recently and I explained what Marquez and Manny are expected to do when they fight a third time. Nacho felt I shared too much information but I told him, c’mon, I know what he’ll do and he knows what I’ll do so we’ll just mix it up a little and see what happens.”

Last Saturday morning, Roach was touched when a nine-year-old boy came up to him after breakfast at the Pan Pacific Hotel to thank him for giving pride to the Filipino people. The boy posed with Roach for a photo then asked how he met Pacquiao. “He came to my gym one day,” recounted Roach. “We did the mitts and I knew right then, he was good. We hit it off from the start. There won’t be a greater fighter than Manny. He’s an eight-division world champion. He raised the bar and nobody can ever do what he has done.”

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao looks to close book on Marquez despite rematch clause

Despite having floored Juan Manuel Marquez four times over the course of two meetings, Manny Pacquiao never was able to put him away.

The 32-year-old Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) is looking to change that when he makes an HBO Pay Per View televised defense of his WBO welterweight belt opposite the 38-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight titleholder Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao battled Marquez through a draw and a split-decision in May of 2004 and March of 2008, respectively, when they competed first for Marquez's WBA and IBF featherweight titles and then his WBC junior lightweight belt.

"I would say that this one is much more personal. Manny Pacquiao will never say that he dislikes Juan Manuel Marquez, but the message that I'm getting, looking at Manny and so forth, he wants to make a statement," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.

"When Juan Marquez came to the Philippines and campaigned that he felt that he won both fights, and he wore a shirt that read that he beat Manny Pacquiao twice, that was a real slap in the face for Manny Pacquiao."

Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, denied that the fighter has derived any further motivation from the T-shirt.

"Manny doesn't need any motivation from a f--king petty T-shirt or anything like that," said Koncz. "Manny just wants to put it out of everybody's mind that he's not the best fighter out of the two of them."

Pacquiao floored Marquez three times during the first round of their initial meeting, and once again in their second bout. Still, some point out that the knockdowns were the difference on some of the scorecards, and without them Marquez might have at least one victory over Pacquiao, possibly two.

In the first fight, judge John Steward had it for Pacquiao, 115-110, while Guy Jutras had it 115-110 for Marquez, and Burt A. Clemens had it 113-113.

In the second bout, Judges Duane Ford and Tom Miller had it for Pacquiao, 115-112 and 114-113, respectively, while Jerry Roth had it for Marquez, 115-112.

"I thought Manny won both fights. One judge made a mistake in the first fight. How could that happen? They were close fights, with one point separated the two," said Roach.

"Depending on what style you like, that's who you're going to think won those fights. I think we won both fights. But that's life."

"They were two, very good close fights. Manny will never say anything, but when I mention those things to him, Manny gets this sparkle in his eye and he gets that little grin that he gives me," said Roach.

"This time, he really means business. So I don't think that we have to worry about Manny hurting Marquez this time and pulling up and watching him go the distance."

Source: ringtv.craveonline.com