By Jake Donovan

During a media conference call on Wednesday afternoon to promote his November 12 fight with familiar foe Manny Pacquiao, former three-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez addressed the issue of hiring controversial strength and conditioning coach Angel Hernandez.

“When we met him, I knew of his background with the work he’s done with athletes and were pleased with the results. I didn’t know about the stuff he’s done until a few days ago,” Marquez comments, claiming that his knowledge of Hernandez’ tarnished past came in the same manner as everyone else – reading about it.

The news began to circulate shortly after the first airing of the second episode for 24/7 Pacquiao/Marquez, when Hernandez was introduced as the newest member of Team Marquez. The results were immediately noticeable, as Marquez added a considerable amount of muscle to his frame in efforts to properly make the 144 lb. catchweight in place for next weekend’s welterweight title fight.

The change in training strategies came after his failed effort against Floyd Mayweather two years ago, where Marquez was visibly fleshy for a fight that came nine pounds above his maximum effective fighting weight at the time. Mayweather wound up dominating the fight, a lopsided 12-round decision in what served as a one-and-done trip outside of lightweight for Marquez, who has since twice defended his lineal lightweight crown.

Marquez was – and is still – pleased with the results from this camp, as his Hall-of-Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain. However, their joy feels compromised by recent comments from Victor Conte (whose Twitter comments ID’ing Hernandez as former steroid dealer-turned-government witness Angel Heredia) and Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach.

Still, it won’t stop them from moving forward with the present plan in place.

“These things that Conte and Ariza are saying, Angel Hernandez will have to deal with,” Marquez insists. “I’m just preparing myself to fight. We needed to do things differently, which is why we went in the direction we did. I think we made the right changes and I’m ready for this third fight with Manny Pacquiao.”

His thoughts were echoed by Beristain, the only man to ever train Marquez from the moment he entered the sport as a 13-year old amateur.

“I have the utmost respect for the work he has done with us,” Beristain states. “I believe we are going to have a good chance (against Pacquiao). I have more respect for what he’s done, and how Juan has responded to the work he has provided in this camp.”

For the moment, Marquez treats such talks as unnecessary distractions and is still trying to decipher what is true and what is just the opinion of others.

He does offer one solution, though, to anyone who insists that his current camp isn’t on the up-and-up – one that in fact has proved to serve as a roadblock for the most lucrative fight in boxing history to be made.

“I worked very hard and will not stop training. Whatever doping (Team Pacquiao) wants me to do – random blood testing or whatever, I’m willing to do it, as they are willing to do it too.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.