Pacquiao pinili si Juan Ma dahil sa malaking premyo

MANILA, Philippines - Ang malaking premyong makukuha ang siyang nagpabigat sa desisyon ni Man­ny Pacquiao para piliin si Juan Manuel Marquez kesa sa rematch kay Timothy Bradley, Jr.

Ito ang pahayag ni trainer Freddie Roach kaugnay sa pagkakaplantsa ng pang-apat na paghaharap ng 33-anyos na si Pacquiao at ng 39-anyos na si Marquez sa Disyembre 8 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Let’s be honest, it was a huge factor. Bradley doesn’t bring the people that Marquez does,” wika ni Roach sa panayam ng The Ring. “Marquez has the pay per view following, and I think that at their last fight, the Mexican’s outdrew the Filipinos by a large, large margin.”

Sa pangatlong laban nina Pacquiao at Marquez noong Nobyembre 12, 2011, umiskor ang Filipino world eight-division champion ng isang majority decision win na mariing iprinotesta ng Mexican four-division titlist.

Kasunod nito ay ang isang kontro­bersyal na split decision loss ni Pacquiao at Timothy Bradley, Jr. na nagtanggal sa kanya ng suot na WBO welterweight crown noong Hunyo 9.

Tumanggap si Pacquiao kina judges Glenn Trowbridge at Dave Moretti ng 116-112 at 115-113 iskor, ayon sa pagkaka­sunod, habang 114-114 naman ang ibi­nigay ni Robert Hoyle.

“I think that we start out this fight down three rounds, because a lot of people thought Marquez won the last fight, and judges are human. They’re going to favor the other guy early,” wika ni Roach.

Sinabi pa ng five-time Trainer of the Year awardee na kailangan nang ma­pa­bagsak ni Pacquiao si Marquez sa kanilang ikaapat na paghaharap.

“Manny is going to really have to beat this guy convincingly or knock him out. I told Manny that it’s about time and that we’re due for a good knockout any way, and I’ve been pushing for that for a little while. To be considered the best fighter, pound-for-pound, he needs that,” ani Roach. 

Itinakda na ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions ang isang press conference para sa laban nina Pacquiao at Marquez sa Setyembre 18 sa Beverly Hills Hotel sa California.