LAS VEGAS – Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao climbs the ring at Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino, vowing to end some unfinished business – complete his execution of Mexico’s three boxing champions – when he fights for the crown of World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).
With the whole world watching, Pacquiao chases his dream of becoming the first boxer from Asia to win three world titles in different weight classes and complete his domination of Mexico’s greatest fighters after crushing Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera in the last three years.
Standing in the way of this dream is Marquez, the same fighter who waged war against the Filipino in 2004 at the MGM Grand.
Pacquiao floored Marquez thrice in the opening round of that first encounter, but the Mexican, one of the great counter-punchers in the business, showed a heart as big as Mexico to earn a draw.
Right after the fight, the majority decision was that a rematch was needed.
But for one reason or another, it almost did not happen. Not until now, almost four years past, that their promoters, Top Rank for Pacquiao and Golden Boy for Marquez, have made it possible.
And the whole world will watch as Pacquiao, at 29 considered the best pound-for-pound fighter today, and Marquez, at 34 probably stretching the years, try to finish their “Unfinished Business.”
Pacquiao is the overwhelming favorite in this fight, scheduled for 12 rounds at the 12,000-seat Events Center. Many believe that he’d win by knockout or at the very least in convincing fashion.
Right after Friday’s weigh-in, where he tipped the scales at 129 lbs (Marquez just right for the super-featherweight limit of 130 lbs) Pacquiao hinted of a knockout, which should come inside nine rounds.
He was asked to flash his nine fingers before the camera, to signify his weight, but he declined. As he walked away, he said, “Baka kasi isipin ng tao may knockout sa ninth round (People might think there’d be a KO in the ninth round).”
Then he looked back, and dropped the bomb.
“Masyado matagal yun (That’d be too long),” he said, laughing and walking away.
Ready for war
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it can be done.
“It’s great,” he said of Pacquiao tipping the scales a pound off the limit.
“He’s in shape. Both guys are ready for the action. Both guys are in shape. And we’re ready for war,” said Roach.
“If he comes forward then we’ll have exchanges. But if he wants to counter-punch and move back, then we’ll make it a war. We’ll go to him. I want Manny to remind him of the last fight.
“We will take it to him. But we will take it to him a little smarter than the last time,” said Roach, adding that he expects Pacquiao to climb the ring at 143 to 144 lbs.
Pacquiao said he’s ready for anything Marquez has got to offer.
“If he wants to go toe to toe, we know what to do. If he plans to run away and counter, we know what to do. It’s up to him,” said Pacquiao.
Marquez said he’s ready for anything, too.
“If I have to adjust to something I will adjust during the fight. I want to see what he does. But I can box him or fight him toe to toe,” he said.
It won’t be easy
Marquez is no pushover.
Because when he walks down the aisle, he will be carrying the hopes of a hundred million Mexicans who had watched as Pacquiao defeated two legendary fighter of their own, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, twice each.
Marquez is the only man standing in Pacquiao’s one-man battle against the best Mexico could offer.
He said it’s not about the money, that he agreed to face Pacquiao in a rematch, but for pride.
“After 2004 I was offered a rematch with Pacquiao for $750,000. Bob Arum was offering me only $100,000 more for the second fight. It was an insult to me and to boxing. So I decided to go to Indonesia to fight for $40,000,” he said.
He went to Indonesia, fought Chris John, and lost. But that’s part of history, and part of it is his victory over Barrera last year, one where he snatched the WBC crown he’d try to keep Saturday.
Marquez said he needed this fight, and agreed to do it despite a big cut on his paycheck.
“I wanted to fight because I wanted to prove that sometimes money is not an issue. I wanted to show that I have pride. Nobody steps on me or my pride with those offers. For this fight as you can see I made a lot of concessions,” he said. “Because they wanted to avoid me and they wanted me to say no.”
Unity, big bucks
For this bout, Pacquiao stands to earn at least $5 million, and while there’s no one confirming it, the Pinoy icon is in for the biggest paycheck of his career, that has earned him world titles in the flyweight and super-bantamweight divisions.
“It’s not for the money, but for our country,” he said. “And I hope that our country unites. This fight is for unity.”
Marquez did not disclose how much he’s getting for this fight.
“It’s not to be disclosed,” said his interpreter, Jaime Quintana. “But it’s a little more than that ($750,000). But as I said it’s not about the money. We want to prove that Juan Manuel is better than Pacquiao.”
Third fight?
As stipulated in the fight contract, a third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez would only happen if the Mexican champion wins this one.
“It’s stipulated in the contract that if I win there’s going be a third fight,” said Marquez. “I think the people deserve that.”
“But if Pacquiao wins there will be no third fight. That’s something that has to be negotiated. Still, if it works that way, why not? People deserve another fight,” he said.
But everything would really depend on the outcome of this one. Again, the whole world will be watching.