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Pacquiao, foe trade barbs
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Mar 26, 2004
THERE was no shortage of verbal tussles yesterday when Filipino
champion Manny Pacquiao and WBA-IBF featherweight titlist Juan Manuel
Marquez met for the first time during a press conference launching
their 12-round showdown on May 8 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao, dapper in a sky-blue polo and sporting an expensive
wristwatch, was accompanied by promoter Murad Muhammad and trainer
Freddie Roach during the press presentation held at the Westin
Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.
Marquez showed up in a dark suit accompanied by his promoter Bob Arum
of Top Rank and trainer Nacho Beristain.
Marquez, as quoted by Fightnews, opened fire by declaring: "There will
be fire in the ring on May 8th. It took a lot for me to become a World
Champion and only in death will I relinquish my belts! Manny is a
great fighter, but I am fighting not only for myself but my wife, my
children, my parents and all of my country!"
When it was his turn, Pacquiao said: "Marquez is a great fighter and I
respect him as the champ, but I am a champ too! This is a big
important fight and I have to win if I want to fight Erik Morales on
July 31st."
Visibly irked by Pacquiao's subtle disregard of his abilities, Marquez
retorted: "What's he thinking...that I'm going to roll over? Pacquiao
just gave me all the motivation I need. Wait until you see me in
training camp."
After the presscon, Pacquiao immediately buckled down to work at the
Wild Card Gym by hitting the mitts for a good eight rounds and doing
other exercises.
Pacquiao is slated to start his rigid sparring sessions soon against
Mexican Israel Vazquez, Armenian superbantamweight Karen Harutyunyan,
Irish featherweight sensation Bernard Dunne and two other Mexican
fighters who will be brought in to simulate Marquez's fighting
style. Salven L. Lagumbay, Contributor
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Mar 26, 2004
THERE was no shortage of verbal tussles yesterday when Filipino
champion Manny Pacquiao and WBA-IBF featherweight titlist Juan Manuel
Marquez met for the first time during a press conference launching
their 12-round showdown on May 8 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao, dapper in a sky-blue polo and sporting an expensive
wristwatch, was accompanied by promoter Murad Muhammad and trainer
Freddie Roach during the press presentation held at the Westin
Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.
Marquez showed up in a dark suit accompanied by his promoter Bob Arum
of Top Rank and trainer Nacho Beristain.
Marquez, as quoted by Fightnews, opened fire by declaring: "There will
be fire in the ring on May 8th. It took a lot for me to become a World
Champion and only in death will I relinquish my belts! Manny is a
great fighter, but I am fighting not only for myself but my wife, my
children, my parents and all of my country!"
When it was his turn, Pacquiao said: "Marquez is a great fighter and I
respect him as the champ, but I am a champ too! This is a big
important fight and I have to win if I want to fight Erik Morales on
July 31st."
Visibly irked by Pacquiao's subtle disregard of his abilities, Marquez
retorted: "What's he thinking...that I'm going to roll over? Pacquiao
just gave me all the motivation I need. Wait until you see me in
training camp."
After the presscon, Pacquiao immediately buckled down to work at the
Wild Card Gym by hitting the mitts for a good eight rounds and doing
other exercises.
Pacquiao is slated to start his rigid sparring sessions soon against
Mexican Israel Vazquez, Armenian superbantamweight Karen Harutyunyan,
Irish featherweight sensation Bernard Dunne and two other Mexican
fighters who will be brought in to simulate Marquez's fighting
style. Salven L. Lagumbay, Contributor