By Robert Morales
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum promotes WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao. He was asked if he agreed with trainer Freddie Roach's assessment that Pacquiao's upcoming fight with Juan Manuel Marquez won't go past the sixth round.
"No, because what Freddie doesn't realize is that Marquez is a very intelligent fighter and (trainer Nacho) Beristain is very intelligent and they're going to have to make and will make adjustments for Manny's right hand," Arum said.
It's more than that, Arum said.
"What people aren't focusing on is that Marquez is much stronger now than he was in 2008 when he fought Manny," he said. "He's knocking guys out, which he never was before."
Well, Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) has always been someone who could stop an opponent inside the distance. But he has done rather well since his second fight with Pacquiao. After moving from super featherweight to lightweight and ultimately welterweight, Marquez is 5-1 with four knockouts - the knockouts coming against Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, Michael Katsidis and journeyman Likar Ramos.
Pacquiao-Marquez takes place on November 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.