Pacquiao, Marquez Meet The Press

Here is an article that I found on www.eastsideboxing.com that I felt was worth it's entirety

Author: Mathew Hurley

Manny Pacquiao, 45-3-2 with 34 KOs and Juan Manuel Marquez, 48-3-1 with 35 KOs met at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California with their respective promotional firms in tow to formally announce their March 15th rematch for Marquez’s WBC super featherweight title. The two fighters are finally coming together again after their memorable first encounter back in 2004 that was judged a draw. The bout will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s career defining victories over Mexican icons Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera have earned him the nickname ‘The Mexican Killer’. The sobriquet has had a disquieting affect on Marquez who bristles at the notion that he is being lined up as the third pelt in Pacquiao’s trophy case.

“There is so much pride,” Marquez said at the press conference. “There is so much feeling in me. I want so badly to beat Manny..”

Marquez then went on to say that Pacquiao is no ‘Mexican Killer’ because he has yet to claim victory over him. “I don’t know why everyone says Manny Pacquiao is a Mexican killer because he has not beaten me. This fight is for all the people in Mexico.”

The somewhat unruly fighter can be forgiven any embittered feelings because for years he has toiled in the shadows of his more celebrated Mexican counterparts Morales and Barrera. There are many in the boxing community who have maintained that Marquez was the best of the three all along but the fighter known as ‘Dinamita’ was never given the opportunity to prove his worth in the ring until recently. Instead he moved slowly through the featherweight division, coming up short in 1999 with an uninspiring effort against Freddie Norwood for the WBA title. It was that fight that stalled Marquez’s career and put him third in line in the Mexican pecking order. While Morales and Barrera achieved lofty status and eventual pay-per-view billings when they enraptured the boxing public in their scintillating trilogy, Marquez plied his craft quietly, regaining his momentum and methodically working his way into the pound for pound elite. The Pacquiao fight put all those who had slept on the prideful fighter on notice.

But it has taken four years and a few stumbles along the way to get the rematch finalized. After the return match fell by the wayside due to money squabbles Marquez again found himself on the outside looking in. He lost a controversial decision to Chris John in Indonesia for short money but bounced back with four straight victories including a Mexican showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera in March of 2007.

Now he plans to cement his legacy with a victory over his longtime nemesis Pacquiao.

“There isn’t another fight I have wanted as much as this one,” he said. “I won our first fight. He won the first round and I won the next eleven. He’s avoided me for four years. I’m going to finish the job I started in 2004 and show everyone why I am a champion today.”

Pacquiao, always demure and understated in front of the media, spoke of his nationalistic pride and his respect for his opponent.

“Here we go again,” he said. “I thought it was over when I knocked him down three times in the first round (of their first bout). I was surprised he was still standing and fought all twelve rounds. That’s why I don’t want to take this fight easy. That’s why I want to prepare hard. It is not about the belt, it’s about the honor of my country. I have a lot of respect for Juan Manuel Marquez and his professional accomplishments.”

Perhaps a bit put off that Marquez claims victory in their initial encounter Pacquiao was quick to add that had the first round been scored 10-6 because of the three knockdowns he would have been declared the winner.

“He should also remember that it was a judge’s scoring error in the first round that allowed him to keep his titles that night.”

Pacquiao is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision victory over Marco Antonio Barrera. It was their second time in the ring together. Four years earlier Pacquiao battered Barrera into an eleventh round technical knockout. The Filipino icon also went 2-1 against Erik Morales in their thrilling trilogy.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach acknowledged that having Manny conduct a full time training camp at his Wild Card Gym is a relief. With fewer distractions to contend with in California, as opposed to the Philippines, Roach feels Manny will be completely focused by fight night.

Bob Arum, who is co-promoting the bout with Golden Boy Promotions, is also pleased that Pacquiao will be available for promotional duties, an aspect of hyping an event that recently Manny has been somewhat reluctant to do. Arum and Roach sat Manny down over the holidays and reiterated to the sometimes publicly overwhelmed fighter that he needs to be both in the gym, sequestered from his rabid fans, and media friendly. Pacquiao agreed, packed up his bags and arrived in California on Monday night, ready to do whatever his trainer and promoter ask of him.

“There is something very special and unique about Manny Pacquiao,” Arum said. “He really is the pride of the Philippines. He’s a very exciting and charismatic athlete. However, Manny is going into the fight of his career, taking on champion Juan Manuel Marquez who is driven by the fact that he is fighting for the entire country of Mexico.”

Tickets for Marquez – Pacquiao II ‘Unfinished Business’ are priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100 and are now on sale and can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office or through Ticketmaster. There is a limit to eight tickets per person.

The fight will be broadcast on HBO pay-per-view.