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
