By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Buoyed by the resounding success of Yanig sa Taguig in which Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao scored a fourth-round knockout of International Boxing Federation no. 6-ranked featherweight Fahsan 3K Battery, the supporters of the mega-event are exploring the possibility of staging the Feb. 26 rematch with World Boxing Association/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the same venue in the
Philippines.
Pacquiao told Viva Sports/Manila Standard: "I would love to have the fight against Marquez held here" but expressed his doubts on whether the Mexican would agree to defend his title in the Philippines, where a crowd of a likely 100,000 would give their hero, a huge lift.
However, Pacquiao's business manager Rod Nazario, who is in General Santos City to attend the People's Champion's 26th birthday celebration, said the big-name supporters of the last fight led by Smart and Talk N Text were eager to improve on their classy presentation in Taguig and would do everything possible to try and convince Marquez to agree, even if it cost a tidy sum.
International promoter Murad Muhammad, who has lined up two big fights for Pacquiao against Marquez on Feb. 26 for a purse of $900,000 or about P50 million and a July 30 tentative showdown with Erik "El Terrible" Morales for $1,750,000 or P100 million, told Viva Sports/Manila Standard he would talk to Marquez handlers, led by Top Rank’s Bob Arum, and try to bring the fight to Manila.
If they fail, the rematch against Marquez will be held in Reno or Las Vegas, Nevada.
In a welcome move, Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee said she herself wanted Pacquiao to leave for the US to begin training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym right after Christmas instead of the first or second week of January. Jinkee, who celebrates her birthday on Jan. 12, said: Manny does not have to be here for my birthday. It is more important for him to train because Marquez is a strong opponent and they say he is already training.
Jinkee suggested that Pacquiao leave for Los Angeles on Dec. 28, which is two days later than Roach wished Pacquiao would leave to begin serious preparation for Marquez, who has been training at an altitude of 10,000 feet for the past month.
Pacquiao told a gathering of local officials, led by Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. and hundreds of fans at City Hall: Although people are trying to scare me about Marquez training early, I am not afraid. He was lucky the last time. I believe in myself and with your support and prayers, every punch I throw will have the people of Gen San and my countrymen behind me and that is very powerful.
