By Matthew Hurley: In an interview with Viva Sports Standard Today trainer Freddie Roach said that his charge Manny Pacquiao is training with renewed vigor for his March 15th rematch with current WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao, who agreed to train for the fight exclusively at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in California, is currently working on strategic plans to offset Marquez’s counter-punching style, which so troubled the Filipino fighter after Marquez rose from three knockdowns in the first stanza. Marquez battled his way back into the fight securing a draw after twelve scintillating rounds..
Roach also said that Pacquiao would begin sparring on Monday and that issues regarding his weight, he is currently eight or nine pounds over the 130-pound limit, are easily dismissed. “That’s no problem (with) the way he’s running up the mountains,” the trainer said.
A former foe who lost to both fighters, Marco Antonio Barrera, is picking Marquez to retain his title.
“Definitely I am with Marquez,” Barrera told the Mexican paper Esto. “I believe that he is going to win. I do not say this because we are both Mexicans. I say it because boxing-wise I believe that this is going to be.”
Barrera added that he feels that despite the first round near catastrophe that Marquez suffered through in the first bout his rally and subsequent control of the majority of the remaining rounds proved Marquez to be the superior fighter.
“Marquez returned to the fight (after the knockdowns) and I believe he deserved to win. This tiebreak is going to be the hardest for both. But I feel Marquez is going to impose his boxing skills (on Pacquiao).”
Marquez – Pacquiao II will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on HBO pay-per-view.