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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Boxing expert sees Pacquiao's win over Marquez
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A boxing expert predicted that World Boxing Council Superfeatherweight champ Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez would not last the distance against Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.
Rey Golingan, chair of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) chapter in General Santos City, reasoned out that Pacquiao has metamorphosed from a one-dimensional boxer into a clever and methodical fighter.
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In a mobile phone interview, Golingan, who traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, just to watch the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch live, described Pacman as "stronger, quicker, and intelligent now than before."
"What's more impressive now is that Manny developed power in both hands unlike before when he was relying too much on his left hand," Golingan said.
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He added: "Look what happened in the first Pacquiao-Marquez fight. He was then a one-handed fighter but he decked Marquez thrice in the first round. If he did not sustain a blister in his foot and an injury in his left hand, he could have sent Marquez to the dreamland."
Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KOs) faced Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs) in 2004 where he suffered three first-round knockdowns. Their first encounter resulted in a draw.
On Sunday, the Mexican boxer will defend his crown against Pacquiao.
Their fight, dubbed as Unfinished Business, will be held on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Abap official is expecting General Santos boxing champ to knock Marquez out either in the ninth or 10th round in their rematch.
Trained hard
Golingan, who left for the US on March 8, said he had witnessed how Pacquiao trained hard at the Wild Card Gym.
"One thing good about Manny is he trained for about eight weeks in preparation for this fight. I can say, he's best prepared now more than any of his previous fights," he said.
According to him, the Filipino boxer was cramming while training for his last two fights against Mexicans Jorge Solis and Marco Antonio Barrera. Golingan is very confident that Pacquiao would win, as "I've never seen him as determined, happy, and as relaxed as now."
Golingan claimed that he and about six other colleagues from General Santos City stay at the same hotel where the Pacman team is billeted.
Since their arrival at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Golingan observed that Pacquiao is in the mood to fight.
"He sleeps at the right time in his room together with his wife Jinky. Everybody in his team is cooperating as nobody disturbs him once he entered his own room," Golingan said.
The local Abap chair is expecting Pinoy supporters to outnumber their Mexican counterparts come fight day.
He observed many Filipinos come in droves in Las Vegas to watch live the most-awaited Pacquiao-Marquez rematch.
Bobby's defeat
Pacquiao's mother Dionisia believes that the defeat of his other son Bobby in the hands of a Mexican boxer is enough to motivate Manny to win.
"Kilala ko si Manny. Hindi papayag yon na di niya maiganti ang kanyang kapatid. Umaatikabong bakbakan 'to pero malaki ang kumpiyansa ko na mananalo ang anak ko. (I know Manny. He won't stop until he could take revenge for his brother's defeat. This would be an explosive fight but I am confident that my son will win)," Dionisia said.
Dionisia vowed to convince Bobby to quit from boxing once he arrives home.
Prior to the fight, she claimed there were indications her younger son would suffer defeat.
She said she was not confident about Bobby and the pendant of her necklace was broken when it fell just hours before Bobby's scheduled fight.
"Matagal ko ng sinasabihan yan na tumigil na sa pagboboksing. Nahulog kasi yan nung maliit pa at nagkaroon ng bali sa kanyang tadyang (I have long convinced him to quit boxing. He fell when he was a kid and he suffered a bone fracture)," Dionisia disclosed.
Despite his defeat, Bobby will receive a hero's welcome during his homecoming.
Win or loss, it has been the practice of the City Government to give hero's welcome to its boxer.
Live telecast
The City Government had already prepared for the live telecast of Pacquiao-Marquez rematch via a giant screen at the air-conditioned Lagao Gymnasium.
This is to allow poor residents of the city particularly from remote areas to watch their ring idol fight live.
At the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU), where Pacquiao is taking up business course, the management had installed a giant screen at the basketball-covered court where the Pacquiao-Marquez fight can be watched live.
The Pacquiao-Marquez rematch will also be shown live at the different big restaurants and various cinemas of shopping malls here.
Entrance fee was pegged at P100 to P150 per head. At the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center, price per head was P300 with free lunch. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (March 16, 2008 issue)
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