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By Eddie G. Alinea, Contributor
WORLD Boxing Council champion Juan Manuel
Marquez and challenger Manny Pacquiao will perform the last act that
will bring them to another 12-round grudge fight set on Saturday
(Sunday in Manila) at the posh Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las
Vegas, Nevada.
Both protagonists undergo the official weigh-in
on Friday (Saturday in Manila) that will determine whether they make
the 130-pound limit as required.
Thursday afternoon after a light workout
consisting of a five-mile run on the road with trainer Freddie Roach
in tow, Pacquiao, “PacMan” to his fans, still weighed 131
pounds, one pound over the limit as both he and his American trainer
declared that making the required poundage will be no problem.
Only a month ago, he tipped the scale at a heavy
150-pound that required him to undergo hard training regimen he
never had before along with following a guarded diet to keep his
weight in check.
Last Saturday, the Filipino weighed 133
pounds, the 34-year-old defending champ visited the scale at 133 and
like, Pacquiao, looked to have no problem making the weight.
Making just one pound over made Roach happy to
say that unlike in his ward’s previous outings, including the last
against another Mexican hero Marco Antonio Barrera when he struggled
to make the grade, the 24-year-old Filipino icon is right on target.
“I don’t think it’s in the body. He’s
always training hard, but it’s the mental aspect of this fight,”
Roach told newsmen who trailed them in their roadwork. “Solis and
even Barrera didn’t challenge him much as this fight.”
“When they fought last, you had the three
knockdowns and Marquez come backing [to salvage a controversial
draw]. Looking at this fight, it will decide who is the best
130-pounder in the world,” he added.
Roach just could not hide his admiration to the
way Pacquiao had conducted himself in the two months that he stayed
at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, saying “I really love my guy.
He’s a lot more excited than I’ve seen in the long, long time
because she’s up for it.”
“He’s in a good place right now. All around,
he had a better camp. I even had to force him to slow down,” he
added. “This morning [for example], we were running laps. We ran
one mile and I told him that’s it. Then we went one more lap. I
had to get five guys to tackle him. So, then he said let’s just
walk.”
Pacquiao himself was so confident, he even told
his fans, including his countrymen back home not to worry because
he’s in tiptop shape.
“I was told that Marquez has trained very
hard and doesn’t want to let his countrymen down. But I don’t
either as I need to win this fight for my people as this is the key
to the Filipino unity,” Pacquiao said during the final press
conference Wednesday.
“I want this fight not only for myself but all
the people who love boxing. I want them to be satisfied with my
performance and not disappoint them on Saturday. I will do my best
to make them happy,” Pacquiao said.
Marquez, for his part, said he did not prepare
for three months to lose, calling everyone to watch the fight, which
he added “is gonna be a war.”
“I have prepared very hard for three months. I
don’t really like to talk in the ring. I do it in the ring. This
fight is for my country, my people and I will win it with my
heart.”
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