Manny Pacquiao takes a smart approach in lobbying for a fight at home.
Roy Luarca of the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported the following:
Manny Pacquiao won’t be fighting in April after all, but remains hopeful of waging his next battle in September on home soil.
“What I’m trying to do is arrange the fight here in the Philippines so that our countrymen need not fly abroad to watch it,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN’s Anne Santos recently.
Given that Pacquiao has fallen in his previous two fights, the advantage of hitting the ring at home is quite appealing.
Not to mention, dropping twice in a row is something that had never happened to Pacquiao until his most recent bout, when Juan Marquez knocked him out in December of 2012. Obviously, he has been in a recent funk, so seeking a home boxing match will help in getting back on track.
The loss to Timothy Bradley, regardless of its controversial aftermath, didn't increase Pac-Man's confidence, and it certainly was a factor in the subsequent loss to Marquez.
Consider Pacquiao's interest in fighting at home as a search for lost confidence.
His most recent home fight was winning a unanimous decision over Mexico's Oscar Larios in July of 2006 to retain the WBC international super featherweight title. Clearly, fighting at home hasn't occurred for a while, and performing in that ring could be just what Pacquiao needs, as it would be a convenient way of quickly regaining some momentum.
Furthermore, Pacquiao also wants a fifth fight with Marquez, along with a Bradley rematch. Right after losing to Bradley, Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reported:
Pacquiao said he wants the rematch, too.
"No problem," he said. "I'll be ready for the rematch."
In January, Ryan Songalia in Ring Magazine shared the following:
Zanfer Promotions president Fernando Beltran feels that his client, Juan Manuel Marquez, will return the favor Manny Pacquiao extended to him in making a fourth fight by granting him a chance at vindication in a fifth fight.
"Juan Manuel Marquez is a gentleman and we think Manny gave us the opportunity without needing to give us one and if we need to fight him, we will fight him," said Beltran.
Regardless of whether these rematches occur or not, Pacquiao fighting again at home is simply about preparedness. The opportunity to compete in front of his home crowd will be rejuvenating and allow Pac-Man to buff out the rough spots.
The loss to Marquez occurred because he was able to come out and match Pacquiao's attack as the fight progressed. In turn, that ultimately led to greater vulnerability, because a fighter gives up defenses when going on the offensive.
Marquez just took advantage and everything fell into place for one connected punch.
Fixing this and getting more precise when attacking is what a home fight can do for Pacquiao. Thereafter is the potential of avenging his consecutive losses.
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