BOXING: Pacquiao a 7-5 pick vs Marquez

By Joaquin HensonThe Philippine Star 01/04/2005

Consensus world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has been installed a 7-5 pick by Las Vegas oddsmakers to beat Juan Manuel Marquez in their Feb. 26 rematch. Art Manteris Station Casinos set the betting line in the widely-circulated Boxing Update/Flash newsletter published by Virgil Thrasher in Capitola, California, thrice a month. The same odds were quoted in the first fight last May when Pacquiao settled for a split draw despite flooring Marquez thrice in the opening round. Pacquiao would’ve won the initial encounter by a split decision if only judge Burt Clements scored 10-6 in the first round as he should have. Clements later admitted he made a mistake by scoring 10-7. Boxing rules do not allow a change in the scorecards after the fight unless there is a mathematical or mechanical error in computation or proof of a breach of integrity. Pacquiao would’ve also won by an automatic first round knockout under the World Boxing Council (WBC) three-knockdown rule. But since Marquez staked his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles in a unification fight, the three-knockdown rule was waived. Clements scored it 113-all while John Stewart saw it 115-110 for Pacquiao and Guy Jutras 115-110 for Marquez. Punch stats showed that Pacquiao landed 148 of 639 punches for a 23 percent connection rate and Marquez, 158 of 547 for 28 percent. As expected, both fighters claimed victory. The rematch is inevitable. Since their May duel, Marquez scored a lackluster 12-round decision over Orlando Salido last September and Pacquiao stopped Fahsan 3-K Battery last month. Marquez, 31, was far from impressive against Salido. Boxing News editor Claude Abrams said "it was a performance which ought to give the Filipino, who was at ringside, considerable belief he can finish the Mexican as he failed to do when dropping him three times during a remarkable opening round (last May)." Abrams added, "I have no doubt Marquez will lift his performance when he meets Pacquiao again but something was definitely amiss during this display." The speculation is Marquez will never be the same after taking a brutal beating from Pacquiao and his showing against Salido could be proof. But Marquez is determined to beat Pacquiao next month. It has become a consuming obsession. Last Christmas Day, Marquez took no time off and trained like a workhorse at the Gilberto Roman gym in Mexico City. He’s been training since November although he starts sparring only this week. Marquez has begun high-altitude training at the snow-capped Nevado de Toluca mountains 4,500 meters above sea level to build his stamina and is preparing to go the full route against Pacquiao. "This time, I’m going to be faster, stronger and more focused," said Marquez, quoted by James Blears in the website BoxingScene.com. "I’m engrossed in gym work and physical strength routines. I’m absolutely determined to leave nothing to chance. I’m concentrating on more speed and honing my reflexes. Our strategy is for Manny not to connect cleanly with his left." Marquez said the rematch will be a war and "it’s going to be even better than our first fight." The Mexican was convinced of the outcome. "My message for Manny is exactly the same as last time–prepare well because I’m coming into this fight mentally and physically ready for a better fight than the first and I’m going to win," he said. But in a bizarre twist, Marquez’ manager Ignacio Beristain recently threatened to cancel the fight unless more money is put on the table. Marquez has been offered a $750,000 purse compared to Pacquiao’s $900,000. Beristain said he will not settle for anything less than $1.5 Million. "We want more because Juan Manuel is the champion," Beristain told Blears. "I consider this to be an abuse. We want money, not peanuts."