By Abac Cordero
Philippine Star
Saturday, February 23, 2008

As he enters the most crucial phase of his training, Manny Pacquiao has quashed any concern regarding his weight for the March 15 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.

“We will make the weight. No problem,” said Pacquiao as quoted by Hermie Rivera, one of his constant companions in Los Angeles.

Reports coming out of LA last week, barely a month before the fight, placed Pacquiao at 139 lbs compared to Marquez’ 133 lbs, which is just a little over the super-featherweight limit of 130.

Pacquiao is in the peak of his two-month training, and after three more heavy workouts next week, should begin tapering off before he travels to Las Vegas less than a week before the fight.

Pacquiao spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Wild Card Gym. Last Tuesday he did 10 rounds against Ramon Montano, Juanito Garcia and Raymundo Beltran.

Pacquiao, according to Rivera, a respected Pinoy boxing analyst, is expected to top the 100 rounds of sparring prepared by trainer Freddie Roach.

“At the rate he’s reaching peak form, Pacquiao is executing with ease the drills being imparted by his excellent crew. A well-conditioned challenger will answer the call of Marquez,” he said.

While Pacquiao is in LA, Marquez is doing his thing in Mexico, and based on the calendar is almost a month ahead of Pacquiao in training, saying he normally trains three months for a big fight.

“In the ring there is no such thing as a easy fight or a small challenge, and I keep that in mind and base my philosophy on that when I am preparing for a fight,” Marquez told the Mexican press.

For the last two months now, Marquez has done nothing but train.

His day starts at 4 a.m. with a one-hour run at the snow-covered mountains of Toluca, a few hours of sleep in his home, nutritious breakfast by 9 a.m., gym work at 1 p.m., and back home at 5 p.m. to rest with his family, and dinner of chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits. Lights are out at 9 p.m.

‘Offensive thrust will stun Mexican’

By Hermie Rivera
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–THERE’S still a month left before the big fight but Team Pacquiao has sprung a surprise by baring the weapon with which the Pacman hopes to  conquer WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s head trainer, says his ward is having an action-filled outing with his sparmates, hitting them solidly and not betraying any signs of fatigue after backbreaking workouts.

“This is where you’ll kill him,” advised Roach, as Manny cut loose with a three-punch combination they have been perfecting behind closed doors.

“This no-name offensive thrust will surprise the Mexican,” added Roach.

Marquez himself is into a taxing regimen at his Romanza gym in Mexico city.

The sheer consistency of Pacquiao’s victories over Mexican hotshots places Marquez in a hellish spot, and the defending world 130-pound king will have to surpass himself in order to retain his crown at the Mandalay Casino-Hotel on March 15.

Their first encounter in 2004 ended inconclusively, but based on the animosity bred by the drawn bout, the rematch will definitely produce a vastly superior winner.

Marquez says he is fighting Pacquiao to redeem Mexico’s honor. (And Manny is fighting for a slot at Comedy Central?)

Pacquiao himself knows that, more than the purses, the next fight will be for the honor of his country and his countless admirers all over the world.

Two titles are at stake–Ring’s coveted junior lightweight belt and the WBC super-featheweight crown, a concession granted to the Mexican champ for staying unbeaten since his controversial loss to the Indonesian Chris John.

The bar has been raised for the sensational battlers with the Pinoy slugger favored over the smart-boxing Mexican.

But why is the defending champion the underdog in this duel with his mandated challenger?

Pacquiao is younger, stronger and decidedly faster.

And in boxing, as pundits often intone, “there is no substitute for speed.”

The 34-year-old Marquez is a master craftsman, a terrific defender and counter-puncher who has displayed the rare ability to spring back from near-impossible situations.

It will be a war, one that is exciting and infused with the distinctive elements of a great fight.