Salud wary of Marquez

Former World Boxing Council (WBC) secretary-general Rudy Salud said yesterday Juan Manuel Marquez is a more dangerous opponent for Manny Pacquiao than Marco Antonio Barrera and cautioned the Filipino not to take the Mexican lightly in their scheduled 12-round bout for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titles at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on May 8.

Salud described Marquez as "a complete fighter" who can box, punch, counter and attack. He was impressed with Marquez’ performance when the 30-year-old Mexican battered Derrick Gainer black and blue to wrest the WBA crown last November. Salud also said Marquez displayed deadly form in halting Manuel Medina for the IBF title in February last year.

"Manny must be in the best shape of his life to beat Marquez," said Salud. "It may be harder to stop Marquez in the late rounds so Manny might go for an early knockout. If Barrera fought Marquez instead of Manny last November, he would’ve lost, too. Marquez is sharp and has a lot of punches. The big question is whether he can take Manny’s power. I also don’t know how big or small his heart is."

Salud confessed he bet for Pacquiao to knock out Barrera and won over $30,000. But he’s not putting money on Pacquiao against Marquez.

"I’m praying Manny wins but at this stage, I think Marquez has a 55 percent chance of winning," said Salud. "I’m doing my share to motivate Manny. I’ve offered to give him my prized fighting cock and four hens, provided he wins, as an incentive."

Boxing scholar Ramon (Moy) Lainez, who co-owns the fabled L & M gym in Sampaloc with Pacquiao cornerman Lito Mondejar, said he’s confident of a win by knockout.

"Malakas si Marquez, good counterpuncher with a strong right straight," said Lainez. "But medyo mabagal. Hindi magalaw, kulang sa lateral movement at footwork. Sa tingin ko, hindi niya kakayanin ang mga suntok ni Manny, especially sa katawan. Once tamaan ni Manny sa bodega, tapos na ang boksing. I think Barrera is better than Marquez. Kung kaya ni Manny si Barrera, higit na kaya niya si Marquez."

Boxing scholar Hermie Rivera said conditioning is the critical factor that will decide the outcome. He hesitated to predict what will happen.

"I don’t know in what condition Manny is," said Rivera. "He started training late and Marquez is way ahead in his preparations. I heard Manny has been beating up bantamweights and no-name sparmates. If he’s in the same condition as he was against Barrera, Manny should win by knockout. If not, delikado. Remember, Marquez learned a lot from Barrera’s defeat and won’t make the same mistakes Barrera did. The odds are immaterial. Everything depends on Manny’s condition."

Lainez said Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario, who is now in Los Angeles, reported the other day the fighter is besieged by fans wherever he goes. Nazario left Manila last week to join Pacquiao, Mondejar and trainer Buboy Fernandez in Los Angeles where the fighter is under Freddie Roach’s watch.

"Sabi ni Dolfo, perfect ang sparring ni Manny last Saturday," said Lainez. "He knocked down a welterweight and went 10 rounds with three sparmates. But last Sunday, after hearing Mass, pinagbigyan ni Manny ang kanyang mga fans. Napakain at napasarap ang samahan. The next day, hindi maganda ang kinilos ni Manny sa sparring. Mabagal daw. Dapat ipagbawal ng makipagkita si Manny sa mga fans. Malaking distraction kasi sa training."

Pacquiao now weighs 129 pounds, only three over the featherweight limit, but if he doesn’t watch what he eats, he’ll slow down.

Lainez said Pacquiao runs seven days a week—-four days at the hilly Griffith Park about a half-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles and three days on flatland near Roach’s Wild Card gym. Roach’s assistant Justin Fortune fetches Pacquiao for the 45-minute jog on the torturous hills of Griffith Park. Pacquiao spars every other day and should log at least 100 rounds before wrapping up heavy workouts on May 1.

Lainez said Roach is feeding Pacquiao a wide range of sparmates from welterweights to push his power to bantamweights to test his

speed.

Pacquiao will motor to Las Vegas from Los Angeles on May 2 and

set up camp for light training in Filipino trainer Flor Rivera’s gym. He will be joined in the five-hour drive by Nazario.

Lainez, associate Gerry Garcia and Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee leave Manila for Los Angeles next Tuesday. Pacquiao’s two sons, who were issued three-year US visas, will not make the trip. They will join

Pacquiao in his next US fight.

Lainez said he will definitely bet for Pacquiao in Las Vegas and recalled that for the Barrera fight, Roach wagered $2,000 and collected $16,000. He said he hopes Roach’s luck rubs off on him.

Las Vegas oddsmakers installed Pacquiao a 7-5 favorite but the betting line may change as the fight draws near.