Occasionally criticized for being too much of a gentleman in the ring, Manny Pacquiao is more motivated than ever for his WBO welterweight title defense next month against Mexican Juan Manuel Márquez.
The boxers have met twice before, fighting to a draw in May 2004 before the Mexican lost his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino southpaw in a controversial split decision in March 2008.
However, Márquez has repeatedly claimed he won both contests and Pacquiao felt insulted after his opponent wore a T-shirt bearing the legend: «We Were Robbed» when their November 12 showdown in Las Vegas was promoted in the Philippines.
«I have never been so motivated as I am for this fight,» Pacquiao told reporters before sparring with his trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club. «I almost can’t wait for the fight.
«I want to prove that he (Márquez) was wrong in wearing that T-shirt claiming he won the last two fights.
«So this is kind of a special fight, the most important fight in my boxing career, because I want this fight to be the answer to all the doubts that have been raised.»
Asked if he had taken Márquez’s claims personally, Pacquiao replied: «Right now, outside the ring, there is nothing personal but when I get into the ring on November 12 it’s going to be personal for us.»
Roach, who has worked with 31 world champions in his Wild Card gym on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles, said he had never seen Pacquiao so fired up for a fight.
«He’s motivated but he still won’t talk about it,» Roach told Reuters, referring to the baiting by Márquez. «I say to him: ‘Manny, you don’t like this guy?’ And he just smiles at me. I let him enjoy it.
«When Márquez came out to the Philippines and wore that T-shirt, he embarrassed Manny a little bit. It was a slap in the face and I think Manny will pay him back.»
Roach, a shrewd tactician who has been uncannily accurate with his fight predictions, forecast a Pacquiao victory inside the distance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
«I don’t think the fight’s going to last six rounds,» Roach said. «It’s going to be a helluva fight until it ends because one thing about Márquez is that he will fight.
«They say he (Márquez) has put on a little bit of muscle and he is getting a little bigger upstairs. It looks like he might want to exchange with us and I hope that happens.»
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