LAS VEGAS – Whether by knockout or the full 12 rounds, Manny Pacquiao vows to go for a decisive win to finally end the debate surrounding his compelling rivalry with Juan Manuel Marquez.
“If the fight is going the distance, we’re prepared for that. We’ll do our best to make a strategy to attack him and pressure him,” said Pacquiao shortly after the end of his training camp at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
“If I have the chance to finish the fight, I will do that.”
Fight week finally arrived on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) when both Pacquiao and Marquez arrived in this gambling capital of the world one after the other as night fell.
The formal arrival ceremony however, won’t take place until Tuesday afternoon as the two rivals will be welcomed in festive rites at the lobby of the MGM Grand, with Marquez coming in first, followed by Pacquiao.
It was a long day for the `Pacman.’
He sparred for four rounds, did the mitts with trainer Freddie Roach, then worked out some more to cap a six-week camp in Roach's famous sweatshop in Hollywood.
Riding his Navigator together with wife Jinkee, Pacquiao led a long convoy bearing his entourage – numbering 32 vehicles in all including the customized bus that bears his image which Top Rank Promotions provided – that travelled for four hours from Hollywood to this city of eternal lights.
Family members and close associates later proceeded to his cozy suite at the 60th floor of The Hotel, and together they partook of a sumptuous dinner consisting of pansit, inihaw na bangus, sweet and sour pork, and chopsuey, among others.
By 9 p.m., all visitors were finally requested by his security team to leave the room as the boxing star was about to call it a day.
But before resting, Pacquiao said he can’t wait for the fight to finally come and put to rest the controversies that had hounded his first three meetings with Marquez.
“I feel stronger. I’m ready to fight. Ready to rumble,” said the boxing star.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
