MikeLigalig.com

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Jan 2008



Beverly Hills, CA - Juan Manuel Marquez (43-3-1, 35KO), the reigning WBC super featherweight champion, today met face to face the challenger for his title, Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 24KO) for the first time this year. The duo met in what appears to be the very first of a series of press conferences planned by Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions to hype the fight on March 15, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The fight is dubbed by the promoters as “Unfinished Business”, highlighting the fact that when the two gladiators first met in May 24, 2004, the fight ended in a draw. Their March 15th fight will address the “unfinished business” and determine what Lupe Contreras, the voice of Solo Boxeo refers to as “quien el mas macho”? In other words, who is the better man and thus the last man standing.

Marquez and Pacquiao met at a press conference at the famed Beverly Hills Hotel located along Sunset Boulevard in the glitzy west side of Los Angeles. Bob Arum, the head honcho of Bob Arum Promotions and Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions were the hosts of the affair. The press con which included a fancy lunch was well attended by members of the Los Angeles media as well as out-of-town and international scribes and photographers.
To their credit, both Marquez and Pacquiao acted in gentlemanly manner avoiding harsh words that were oftentimes heard when the combatants have great disrespect for each other, like Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga.

The March 15th bout will be televised by HBO PPV. It is a much anticipated rematch that is generating world-wide interest. It also carries a potential to break the all time PPV record.

Richard Schaefer of the Golden Boy Promotions indicated in no uncertain words that even if Marquez was the defending champion and thus by common rule should be paid more the challenger, he agreed to terms that heavily favored Pacquiao revenue-wise because he wanted to show the world “ what Mexican fighters are all about”.

Marquez wanted to show the world that he can do much better than Morales, Barrera, Solis, Larios and Velasquez, top-notched Mexican fighters who are prominent in the “victims” list of Pacquiao.

Quotes from the Press Conference:

Manny Pacquiao:

“I thank God for the great opportunity to speak before you again. I also like to thank Bob Arum and the Golden Boy Promotions for this opportunity”.

“I have to win this fight as we have many plans for more and bigger fights this year”

Jaime Quintana of Romanza Boxing:

“You will see a great, great fight”

Nacho Beristain (Marquez trainer)

“ We won’t have the same problem as in 2004. We will give a stronger fight this time”

Richard Schaefer:

“If there is one guy that made this fight happen is Juan Manuel Marquez. He made great concessions to make it happen”. “Thank you Juan, for giving the fight people want”.

Juan Manuel Marquez:

“Now in 2008 you will see a better fighter”


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