Marquez must be at his best vs Manny

MANILA, Philippines - Juan Manuel Marquez insists he has the key to solving the Manny Pacquiao puzzle.

After two close fights – a highly disputable draw in 2004 and a razor-close split decision favoring Pacquiao in 2008 – Marquez is confident of victory this time, when he tangles with his Filipino rival for the third time on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Mexican, though, is wary of the challenge ahead, vowing to be at his best against Pacquiao – who has gone undefeated in 14 fights for almost six years.

“This is a hard fight, but I know how to defeat him (Pacquiao),” he said in a boxingscene.com report the other day.

“We need to get well-prepared mentally and we need to be in better physical condition than we’ve ever been in the past so we can beat Pacquiao,” he said.

But their two previous fights came at 126 and 130 pounds.

This time, Pacquiao will stake his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown at a catchweight of 144 pounds, three below the limit.

Marquez fought Floyd Mayweather at the same weight in May of 2009, more than two years ago, and the result was a disaster for the Mexican counterpuncher.

He failed to carry his punch, much more his technical skills, over 140 pounds, and this early, some experts think that it’s going to be the same thing against Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, has found himself a new home in the welterweight division. He has risen in weight and hasn’t given up anything in terms of power and speed.

Pacquiao has also gotten so used to beating bigger fighters, legitimate welterweights like Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

Interestingly, Marquez is not the only one who thinks he got Pacquiao’s number.

“I think Marquez might have our number. He can do well with certain styles and he seems to do well with our style. I think we’re bigger and better now. But that’s my good solution, that we’re bigger and better now,” Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s chief trainer, said earlier.

Marquez has signed the fight contract as early as last week. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has yet to ink the deal as he awaits the arrival of his adviser, Michael Koncz, from the US.

Over the last three years, Pacquiao has also beaten the hell out of Oscar dela Hoya, Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley, boxers whom Marquez may have no chance at all.

Still, Marquez said it can be done, but only if he shows up in November at his best. – With report from Dino Maragay