Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are set to do battle for the third -- and hopefully, final -- time on November 12. Even though Bob Arum and the powers that be involved with marketing the bout have tried to sell it as an “anything’s possible” type of showdown, fans and pundits seem to agree that Pacquiao will handily beat his opponent.
Naturally, the assumption was that Pacquiao was just as confident as the fans and pundits going in and that, even if he couldn’t publicly say it, he realized that he’d destroy Marquez. His conditioning coach Alex Ariza, after all, not too long ago explicitly stated that Pacquiao would wreck his opponent.
Over the last few days, however, certain things have happened or come to light that throw into question just how confident Pacquiao and his camp really are. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Pacquiao and his advisors requested a rematch clause prior to this fight being agreed to – albeit, one that they have deemed as just a precaution. Then, on Monday, Pacquiao arrived at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and, in the words of The Philippine Star, “broke tradition.”
According to the report, usually when Pacquiao arrives in L.A. he spends the first Monday “breaking sweat and loosening up” as he prepares for the more grueling aspects of training. This time around, though, the Filipino champion was all business. Instead of taking it slow, he opted to spar – something that in the past he has traditionally only done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
And, on top of all that, Pacquiao has also been earily quiet over the last few weeks. Granted, he did peak his head out of the shadows a few days ago to say that he was “80 percent" ready for Pacquiao – but that’s as far as it’s gone. Nothing on Sergio Martinez. Nothing on Floyd Mayweather Jr. Nothing on Amir Khan. Nothing on Timothy Bradley.
Pacquiao, of course, has already met Marquez twice before to mixed results. The first time around the pair fought to a draw, even though it was later revealed that the Filipino champion was robbed of a victory by a judge’s error. The second time around, he beat Marquez via a decision even though many skeptics questioned the validity of the win, noting that Marquez had better stats throughout the bout.
“Yes. I feel that, you know, there’s an extra motivation for this training camp I think because of what happened in our last fight,” Pacquiao recently said.
“This fight, this will be the answer to all of the doubters about whether or not I lost to my opponent.”
Should Manny be nervous heading into November 12? Absolutely not.
Is he? It sure looks that way.
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Data Recovery
This is an old article but I want to share this to you because until now a lot of writers still fooled a lot of boxing readers that Manny doesn't want a random blood testing...
"Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Now, you’re willing to compromise on the blood testing. You weren’t as flexible earlier this year and walked away to take another fight. Do you regret not compromising during the first negotiations and fighting Joshua Clottey?
Pacquiao: [Pauses] Um, no. I feel like I don’t need Mayweather to make my career. I fought the best and anyone willing to face me. I want it, and feel the fans deserve the [Mayweather] fight. I want to prove to everyone that it wasn’t me who didn’t want the fight. That’s why I made the concession to take anything [blood tests] he wants at any time. Even during the fight before the sixth round if he wanted! What [else] can I do? I hope we get the fight done soon. Let’s get it on."
http://beatsboxingmayhem.com/2010/11/12 .. -as-usual/
I just want to share this thread to this doggyman..
pacquiao nervous over a small guy from lightweight? come on! margarito, cotto, mosley have the bigger capabilities and chances of beating pacquiao.. not marquez.
Marquez makes pacquiao nervous??? What an absurb opinion, A nervous boxer like floyd throws a lot of B/S and demands to his upcoming opponent, those are just some of so many indication that any scared fighter like floyd is scared to anyone like pacquiao, and everytime a scared boxer like floyd would react to any fighter that he's scared of like pacquiao when they knew he's coming.
everytime i see your article a dogshit always comes to my mind!what an ass!..goberman just be a wrestler than a writer!
Can anyone imagine Pacquiao "being Scared" facing Margarito, Cotto, Hatton, Dela Hoya, Clottey? I'd bet each and everyne of them KOs Marquez if Marquez fights them. And now Pacquiao scared of pea-size Marquez? C'mon, if only writers and promoters will tell the truth, who's gonna watch Pacquiao-Marquez? You have to make it exciting, as if Marquez has a chance!