MANILA, Philippines - He won’t be at ringside but Manny Pacquiao has a hint of things to come when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez lock horns on Sept. 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Magandang laban ‘yan (That’ll be a good fight),” said Pacquiao of the upcoming clash where the winner might end up facing the Filipino pound-for-pound champion sometime next year.
Mayweather, the ex-pound-for-pound champion, is coming out of retirement to face Marquez at a catchweight of 144 lbs, and try to re-establish himself as the best fighter out there.
Mayweather, who hasn’t fought since he knocked out Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8, 2007, will rely on his speed and his great ability to run away from trouble against the counter-punching Mexican.
Pacquiao agrees that Mayweather has the upperhand.
“Lamang siya (He has the edge),” said Pacquiao who should be back home from a whirlwind press tour in the US and Puerto Rico by the time Mayweather and Marquez trade blows.
Mayweather, undefeated in 39 fights when he decided to retire almost 20 months ago, is favored in a way that Marquez is trying do everything or anything as he trains for the fight.
Boxing websites were plastered with reports yesterday that Marquez, whose draw with Pacquiao in 2004 was as controversial as his loss to the Pinoy icon last year, has admitted to drinking his own urine.
“I think that this has helped me a lot. I’ve done it for the last five or six fights with good results. I also drink my own urine because that’s where a lot of proteins and vitamins are,” he told HBO’s 24/7.
“(They’re) part of your vitamin intake, and why not drink them again instead of wasting them,” said Marquez, whose already on a “constant diet” of 25 raw quail eggs a day.
Pacquiao should begin his eight-week training for the Nov. 14 showdown with Miguel Cotto on Sept. 21, up in chilly Baguio City and under the watchful eyes of his trainer, Freddie Roach.