Will Manny Pacquiao make the 130-pound super flyweight maximum weigh-in requirement in his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez?
Easily, because Pacquiao has been under the most intense workout of his entire career, doing up to 36 rounds of sparring daily at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he has been training for weeks under long-time coach Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao himself made the assurance on Wednesday via a live phone patch to journalists who attended a media briefing at the Skyline Executive Lounge of the GMA Network Center.
At the moment, Pacquiao is eight pounds over the limit, but he said he could easily burn the extra weight by March 15, the date of the World Boxing Council bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas (or March 16 in the Philippines).
"Mas madali na ngayon (It's easier for me now)," Pacquiao said, referring to his last fight with Marco Antonio Barrera, where he had a hard time making the weigh-in requirement. "Ito na siguro ang pinakamatinding training ko sa career ko (This is probably the most intense training I ever went through in my career)."
He noted that he used to do only around 26 rounds of sparring, compared to the up to 36 that he's doing now.
None of the journalists – moderated by sportscaster Chino Trinidad, who will cover the bout – bothered to ask if Pacquiao thought he could win this time against Marquez, whom he fought in 2004 bout that ended in a controversial draw. Controversial, because Pacquiao knocked down Marquez thrice in the first round alone.
What one journalist did ask was if Pacquiao could knock out Marquez for good this time for a decisive victory.
"Mahirap ng magsalita ng tapos (It's hard to say for sure)," Pacquiao said.
Before the phone-patch interview, GMA Network and Solar Sports announced their deal to broadcast the fight, dubbed as Pacquiao-Marquez 2: Unfinished Business. The deal was signed by Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA chief operating ofificer, and Wilson Tieng, Solar Sports president.
This prompted another writer to ask if there will be as many commercials, as in previous Pacquiao bouts, that would irritate impatient viewers.
Unfortunately, yes, GMA's Duavit said, pointing out that the high cost of broadcasting the fight would need the financial support of advertisers if it is to be aired at all on "free" TV.
That has not, however, kept viewers from watching the broadcast as proved by high ratings, according to Peter Chan Liong, Solar Sports chief operating officer.
Boxing fans, he added, still watch the TV broadcast though they had listened to the radio broadcast, which is usually a blow-by-blow live affair.
As in previous matches, GMA's radio stations – led by Super Radyo dzBB and Barangay LS-FM – will do the blow-by-blow broadcast before the TV broadcast goes on air at 10:30 a.m.
Another journalist wanted the answer to another crucial question : Who's singing the Philippine National Anthem at the rematch?
Solar Sports' Tieng said Pacquiao, who has a say in the matter, already had a short list, but he could not yet reveal the names in it. - Alexander T. Magno, GMANews.TV
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tickets to the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rematch in Las Vegas are almost all sold out, according to fight promoters.
With still four days left before the March 15 bout (March 16 in the Philippines, only a few $400 tickets are left, according to Bob Arum, chief executive officer of Top Rank Promotions.
Tickets range from $600 for a ringside seat to $100.
"There are some $400 tickets, but that's it. Everything else is sold out," Arum told reporter Lala Roque-Galongca in an interview aired on Wednesday over 24 Oras, GMA Network's early evening newscast.
The rematch, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort, have attracted not only ordinary fans but also many professional boxers.
"Some of the best fighters in the world will be there in attendance to see this great showdown," Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions. - GMANews.TV
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Manny Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday (Monday in the US West Coast) without any nervousness about his Unfinished Business rematch with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
Dead set on being in top form, Pacquiao went through his last day of training, doing four rounds of sparring with two Mexican fighters, at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles before driving off to Las Vegas, where the fight is scheduled for March 16 (March 15 in the US) at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez pose in L.A. Monday. They will vie for the WBC Super Featherweight title on March 15 in Las Vegas.
Good Luck to both of YOU!!!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES – After seven weeks of hell – on the road and in the gym – Manny Pacquiao’s weight is, officially, down from 150 to 133 lbs. And with a week left before the official weigh-in for his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, meeting the 130-lbs limit poses no problem. After a two-hour workout that included four rounds of sparring, Pacquiao was weighed before a WBC representative at the Wild Card Gym Saturday. "He’s 133!" yelled Eric Brown, the conditioning coach, as Pacquiao, surrounded by his trainers, fans and media, tipped the scales, only in his boxers, then smiled. Bonie Martinez of the WBC stood beside Pacquiao as he was weighed exactly a week before the awaited super-featherweight championhip at Mandalay Bay. It was a WBC-mandated weigh-in, and it called for both Pacquiao and Marquez, the reigning champion, to weigh no more than 136.5 lbs. Marquez was also weighed before a WBC representative in Mexico City. He came in at 131 lbs, just two pounds lighter than his weight last Feb. 15. The Mexican fighter has never had any problems with his weight. Pacquiao admitted Friday that when he arrived in LA last Jan. 15 for the two-month training, he was at 150 lbs. He was down to 139 lbs a month after. "We’re slowing down the work. Three pounds to go with a week away is no problem," said Roach who said he lost a friendly $20 wager to fellow trainer Buboy Fernandez. Roach had hoped for Pacquiao to weigh in at 132 lbs, Fernandez went for 133 lbs, and Nonoy Neri gambled on 131 lbs. But they all looked happy after the weigh-in. "I ate twice after yesterday’s workout (late afternoon and in the evening) and drank lots of water this morning. That’s why I was 133," he said. "But all the hardships will soon be over," he said. Pacquiao sparred two rounds each with Ramon Montano and Juanito Garcia behind closed doors, and looked far from impressive. Against two Mexicans, he got caught, or allowed himself to get caught, with good punches a number of times. But never did he appear to have been hurt. Montano landed some good punches on Pacquiao, but each time the Filipino would laugh it off by saying "Come on! Come on!" Once he got caught by the undefeated Garcia on the ropes, and was tagged a number of times. Then Pacquiao connected with a nice flurry of punches, and he chased the Mexican. But the bell sounded, ending the session. "I guess he was a little bored boxing Monday. He’s getting used to his sparring partners he’s getting a little friendly. But he’s okay," said Roach. As Pacquiao got off the ring, after a minute of prayer, he shouted "Let’s get ready to rumble!" Maybe he must be getting bored. -via abs-cbn interactive
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Manny Pacquiao is not worried about overtraining as his long-time trainer Freddie Roach has been, according to the Filipino boxing icon himself in a live phone interview aired over GMA's Saksi late Friday night.
"Ako kasi ginagawa ko lahat para 100 percent ang kondisyon ko (I just want to do everything so that I would be 100-percent in condition)," Pacquiao told news anchors Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales.
The training, his most extensive in his entire career, has given him some new techniques that he could use on Juan Manuel Marquez, with whom he has a rematch on March 15 in Las Vegas (March 16 in the Philippines).
Pacquiao, a southpaw, hinted that he has some new techniques involving his right hand.
"Marami pang ibang technique and napaga-aralan namin," Pacquiao added.
With still a week for the much-awaited rematch, Pacquiao said he was very much ready.
"Maganda naman ang kondisyon natin (My condition is good)," he said. "Reding-ready tayo, 100 percent – physically, mentally, spiritually. At si Lord na lang ang bahala sa taas ng ring (I'm very much ready, 100 percent – physically, mentally spiritually. And it's up to the Lord what happens in the ring)." - GMANews.TV
Friday, March 7, 2008
By his own reckoning, Manny Pacquiao has been going through the most strenuous training of his entire career, to prepare himself for his rematch with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. Freddie Roach, his long-time trainer, is impressed but has been warning Pacquiao against overtraining."He makes my job easy,you know. You don't have to motivate Pacquiao," Roach said in an interview at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles with Chino Trinidad of GMA Network. "But the thing is, right now I'm having trouble holding him back. I'm worried he might overtrain."
Pacquiao first faced Marquez back in 2004, knocking out the Mexican no less than three times in the first round alone. But at the end of the 12-round bout, the judges declared it a draw, stirring controvery, especially among Pacquiao's Filipino fans.
In this rematch, dubbed Unfinished Business both fighers are driven to win so they could blow away the cloud of doubt cast over their prowess by their controversial 2004 match.
For Pacquiao, the stake is biggers, since he's going to try to wrest the World Boxing Council super featherweight title from Marquez, who in turn had won the belt from compatriot Marco Antonio Barrera.
"I've never seen him focused," Roach said of Pacquiao in the interview with Trinidad, which was aired over GMA's Saksi on Wednesday night. "We are averaging over 30 rounds a day, sometimes 37. Today we did 20 rounds on the mitts."
The Pacquiao-Marquez rematch – to be aired by GMA Network and Solar Sports – takes place at the Mandalay Bay Casino & Resort in Los Angeles on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines). - GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - "Pacmania" hit the Bay Area on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines) in San Francisco when Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao came to visit the Titanium Training Center for his public workout.
Eastsideboxing.com said that fight fans with their children packed the gym to see the Filipino boxing sensation, who is preparing for his rematch against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines).
"I've never trained harder - never - for a fight," Pacquiao said as quoted by the boxing Web site.
Pacquiao wowed the crowd with his fighting stance and other training regimen like jumping rope and hitting the mitts before signing autographs.
"Two days ago I hit the mitts with Freddie Roach for 17 straight rounds with no timeouts. I run high in the mountains every day, then I go to the Wild Card gym and train 3 hours non-stop. I don't like timeouts while training and do not use them," Pacquiao said.
"I am very serious about this fight as I know Marquez is the last great Mexican to beat. There is no more Morales or Barrera. I have a lot of power. In my heart I don't believe Marquez can stand up to my power. It will be too much for him to overcome. I am focused on Marquez and my boxing career. When I am in training, that is all that matters to me," he added.
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said that Manny made a good decision to train in the United States.
"The best thing Manny did was come to the US and train. He has worked very hard. He's been very tough on his sparring partners," Roach said.
"One got hit on the chin, went down, continued but went home the next day. Manny is very serious about Marquez, which he should. It is a difficult fight and Manny understands that. Marquez represents the last line of defense in Manny's domination of Mexican champions. We
know he's prepared to go down swinging," he added.
On the other hand, an article by John Chavez on boxingconfidential.com revealed that, "Had the open workout taken place on a football field in a city just south of San Francisco named Daly City, there's no doubt in my mind that thousands of fanatics would have shown their faces in support of their hero."
Chavez added that fans were screaming the boxing icon's name like a rock star when he entered the training center.
Chavez said that the sounds generated when Pacquaio hit the mitts is "comparable to that of a Desert Eagle gunshot as Manny pounded Roaches mitts with a ferocity that would make any Juan Manuel Marquez supporter quiver with fear."
Chavez added that "...Maybe not Desert Eagle gunshots but at least .38 caliber-type fireballs are what the southpaw's punches were reminiscent of."
Chavez quoted Pacquaio as saying that "Marquez might be 34 years old but he's still a relatively fresh fighter. He hasn't engaged in too many wars over the course of his career so I feel that he has a lot more left in the tank than many people believe.This will be the most difficult fight of Manny's career Freddie. It's gonna be a tough, tough fight!" - GMANews.TV
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