By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 15 Mar 2008
Filipino ring gladiator and national treasure Manny Pacquiao steps into the ring tomorrow determined to finish some unfinished business when he engages WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight fans dream rematch before a sell-out crowd at the plush Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao said later he “couldn’t believe it†even as celebrated trainer Freddie Roach told HBO Sports that after the “three knockdowns in the first round I thought the fight was over.â€
Both Pacquiao and Marquez made it clear they didn’t want Joe Cortez who refereed their first clash and also the first Pacquiao-Erik “El Terrible†Morales battle to be appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission which apparently took their sentiments into consideration and named Kenny Bayless who handled Pacquiao-Morales II as the third man in the ring.
After going their separate ways with Pacquiao opting to stick with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Marquez leaving Arum and joining Golden Boy Promotions after Arum junked a planned rematch with Pacquiao for the first fight in an epic trilogy between Erik “El Terrible†Morales and Pacquiao, the two sides have finally got what they both longed for – a chance to finish some “Unfinished Business.â€
The fight card will be telecast by Solar Sports in cooperation with GMA 7 and will also be shown on pay-per-view over Dream Satellite TV and in several theaters throughout the country.
The nation’s life is certain to grind to a halt as fight fans, families and friends gather around television sets in their homes or public venues to watch the Philippines most popular personality by far, strive once again to enhance the pride and glory he brings to the country even as he continues to appeal for national unity.
The fight may be just as difficult as achieving national unity. A poll among twenty experts handpicked by the “Bible†of boxing Ring Magazine was dead even, 10-10, with Pacquiao evening it up through the magazine’s Philippine correspondent Ted Lerner and this reporter picking Pacquiao to win. But while the Ring chosen experts were deadlocked, the magazine’s respected editor-in-chief Nigel Collins predicted that Pacquiao, being the great fighter he is will win “convincingly†over a very good fighter, Marquez.
Among those who have regularly visited the Wild Card Gym to provide Pacquiao with moral support have been Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, the “Living Legend†of Philippine basketball, former Sen. Robert Jaworski and the Filipino member of the hit group Black Eyed Peas Apple Pineda.
Also expected to be at special ringside aside from Jaworski will be his brother-in-law Sen. Bong Revilla and a host of other government officials led by Vice president Noli De Castro and Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez says Marquez has “mentally prepared like there’s no tomorrow†for the rematch which will be telecast by Solar Sports in cooperation with GMA 7.
On the eve of the fight Gomez told Viva Sports/Manila Standard, “obviously Marquez feels he has the advantage because to him its do or die. He’s got to win this fight if not, there’s nothing after this.†For Pacquiao he’s got bigger and better things while for Marquez it doesn’t get any bigger than this.â€
Meanwhile, The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared a seven-hour unilateral ceasefire in its campaign against communist insurgents on Sunday to give troops time to watch the fight of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the chief of staff said.
The suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) will start at 8 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m., General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said in a phone interview Saturday.
"I suggest that they also watch the fight," Esperon said jokingly of the communist New People's Army (NPA).
Esperon said he declared a SOMO so that "the conduct of soldiers is clear" during Pacquiao's bout with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. He said the AFP declared an "informal" SOMO during Pacquiao's last fight in 2007.
"To tell you the truth, we will all be watching the fight because Pacquiao is a soldier. Rather than not knowing what to do, we decided to declare the SOMO," Esperon said.
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