By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao arrived one day late for a scheduled shooting of a Darlington socks TV commercial but assured his countrymen “not to worry” because he will be ready for his February 26 rematch with WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, Nevada even as he stressed “I have no problems with my condition and you will see this on fight night.” Pacquiao lifted his long-sleeved t shirt to display his rippling abdominal muscles which quieted those who felt he was taking his preparation for the Marquez rematch too easily.
Pacquiao welcomed reports that Marquez had begun training as early as November and went through a rigorous workout even on Christmas Day because he was “going to need it.” Pacquiao boasted “if Marquez wants to go 15 rounds I’ll be ready” stating that “even with 6 to 7 weeks training,he's no problem. I can take him easily." Informed that Marquez was working on a strategy of how to avoid his devastating left
straight with which he decked the Mexican three times in the first round in their controversial title fight last May, Pacquiao said “we have a surprise for him.”
The Philippine Sportswriters Association “Sportsman of the Year” for 2004 revealed in an exclusive interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard “we will use my right hand more than my left” which was what trainer Freddie Roach worked on during Pacquiao’s preparation in Davao City for the showdown with Thailand’s Fahsan 3K Battery last December 11. Roach said that “if Manny pivots correctly as he sometimes does when throwing his right, its far more devastating than his left.”
Pacquiao said he will work very hard as he always does during training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles assuring his countrymen “I will do everything possible to make sure we are blessed with victory for my country, because if I lose the Philippines loses. I will give everything in my heart to make sure we are blessed with victory so that the Philippines will be known around the world. I am proud when I win because my country is a winner.”
Pacquiao downplayed reports about his taking it easy, playing pool and attending cockfighting derbies stating “its not true that I am always at the cockfights betting big. Sometimes I go to the cockfights only once a month and I don’t play billiards often. But I play basketball also, because I love sports.” The day after his birthday last December
17 Pacquiao had an entry in a five-cock derby in Kidapawan. He proudly proclaimed he “won four straight but my fifth which was a bull stag was not that good and we lost the championship but I won P200.000.”
While admitting he overslept and missed his flight from Davao City on Sunday Pacquiao emphasized that he didn’t have a late night and “was asleep by 9:00 p.m.” Pacquiao said that he spent Christmas and New Year with his wife, two sons and “all the members of my family because I will miss them when I leave for America.”