Beristain: Marquez can handle Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - Not even a much-improved version of Manny Pacquiao can convincingly defeat Juan Manuel Marquez.

Thus declared Marquez’s trainer Nacho Beristain, perhaps the only corner man in the world who has the blueprint on beating the Filipino ring icon.

Pacquiao had gone life and death with Marquez for two fights, earning a controversial draw in 2004 and narrowly escaping with a contentious split-decision victory in 2008.

In those two bouts, Beristain worked Marquez’s corner, and he’s convinced his fighter got the short end of the stick.

Those two bouts were held at 126 and 130 pounds.

“We fought 24 hard rounds with a man who has been made into a mythical figure,” Beristain said in a report posted on examiner.com. “After both fights, I feel my fighter beat Pacquiao, but the politics of boxing took over.”

Pacquiao has since breezed through one weight class to another – blowing out the likes of David Diaz, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, and racking up several titles in the process before settling in the welterweight division (147 pounds).

He became the first fighter to win eight titles in different weight divisions.

Marquez, on the other hand, has stuck to the lightweight division (135 pounds).

The two fighters will meet again this November for a deciding fight, this time at a catchweight of 144 pounds.

Beristain still believes Marquez’s technical superiority will spell the difference, even as he acknowledged Pacquiao’s remarkable speed.

“Pacquiao jumps in and out like a wild cat. His speed and agility is amazing, but Marquez’s own speed and boxing intelligence allows him to control Pacquiao inside punching range,” said the Mexican trainer, who has honed several world champions.

The trainer said that not even the Filipino’s improved boxing skills will be enough to hurdle Marquez, one of the finest counter-punchers in the sport.

“Pacquiao’s improvements from a technical perspective have been incredible. But, with Pacquiao being a more refined fighter, and jumping in and out less – Marquez will be able to handle the Filipino’s offense even better,” Beristain said.