Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao promises he will attack Juan Manuel Marquez non-stop when they clash on December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao, who lost in a controversial decision to Timothy Bradley last June 9, hinted he will be the aggressor on the night of his fourth encounter with the Mexican counter-puncher.
The fighting congressman from the Philippines told Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire he will be very active in the ring to put more pressure on Marquez.
“In and out, in and out, side by side,” Pacquiao said. “Speed, hip movement. We have a Plan A and Plan B. The plans are to pressure and counter him. Move my head. A lot of work.”
During their third fight last year in Las Vegas, Marquez successfully landed clear punches on targets, which had visibly shaken Pacquiao a number of times. Observers say that Pacquiao was barely moving his head as he usually does during his previous fights. Obviously, Marquez took advantage of Pacquiao's lax defense.
Now, Pacquiao says he will have lots of head and lateral movements, which are typical of his fights with Oscar De la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
“I have to prove they’re wrong,” Pacquiao told the Times. "My last two or three fights have not been impressive, but guys are running and running from me after I hit them. I thought Marquez ran all night, and (Timothy) Bradley backed off.
“I’m still young and strong,” Pacquiao added.
But Pacquiao said he has learned to keep pace with the rigors of training and physical conditioning as part of preparation for every fight.
“Before, it was always heavy training for me every day—morning and afternoon,” Pacquiao told GMA-7’s Chino Trinidad on Sunday (Monday in Manila) in Hollywood. “Now, I’ve learned to pace myself.”
Barely three weeks before his fourth date with Marquez in Las Vegas, Pacquiao is confident he will be in top condition like he was when he fought Hatton in 2009 and De la Hoya almost three years ago.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is likewise confident Pacquiao will knock out Marquez on December 8. He feels that Pacquiao has to win big against Marquez in order to put an end to Marquez' claims that he was robbed of victory in all three of their fights.
“It has to be a knockout,” Roach told mb.com.ph via phone from his Wild Card Gym..
Pacquiao and Marquez fought for the first time in 2004 at the MGM Grand, where Pacquiao knocked down Marquez three times in the first round, but the Mexican stood his ground in the later rounds to get a draw verdict. In 2008, Pacquiao won via a split decision, and in 2011, the Filipino boxing star won via a majority decision.
Marquez, however, continues to tell the boxing world he was robbed of victory in all three fights, blaming the judges for flawed fight scoring. And both fighters are now hoping for a definitive conclusion come December.
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