Sunday, March 02, 2008 Marquez will be Manny’s last 130-lb. fight
THE 15th of March will be a significant day for Pacman fans worldwide because it will be the day when Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will trade leathers with his Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez for the World Boxing Council super featherweight title and it will be his final fight as a 130-pounder.
Coach Freddie Roach, trainer of the Filipino superstar, disclosed that Pacquiao will be waving goodbye to the 130-pound weight division whether he wins or loses against the Mexican champ.
“It’ll definitely be his last fight at 130,” said Roach in a report posted at boxingscene.com.
Pacquiao started his professional career in the 106-pound weight category, but now he will move up to another weight division and that is the light weight division in which the Filipino icon has in his sights the WBC title holder David Diaz.
Diaz (33-1-1, 17 KO’s) is set to battle Pacquiao’s sparring partner Ramon Montano (14-3-2) as an undercard in the Pacquiao-Marquez II card at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Included in Pacquaio’s fight plan is a bout with the British warrior Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (43-1, 31 KO’s) who currently holds the International Boxing Organization light welterweight title.
Meanwhile, Roach expects the best Pacquiao to be fighting on March 15 based on what he has witnessed in their daily sessions.
“One thing about this fight, I’ve never seen Manny as focused for a fight as this one...I expect in this fight to see the best Pacquiao yet,” said Roach. (EKA)
