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Manny Pacquiao begins serious sparring at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles tomorrow (Manila time) and trainer Freddie Roach has assembled a formidable cast of nine fighters, including three new undefeated contenders, to mimic Juan Manuel Marquez’s style.

It won’t be easy beating Marquez who survived three knockdowns in the first round to salvage a split 12-round draw with Pacquiao in their first meeting in 2004. A technician whose trademark is crisp counter-punching, Marquez is expected to give Pacquiao plenty of trouble in their much-awaited rematch at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15.

But boxing scholar Hermie Rivera, writing from Newark, California, said there’s no doubt in his mind that Pacquiao will dispose of Marquez convincingly inside the distance.

To prepare for Marquez, Roach is tapping unbeaten Dean Bryne, Juan Garcia and Daniel Cervantes to trade blows with Pacquiao in the gym. They’re newcomers in Pacquiao’s team. Also in the rotation is amateur hotshot Adrian (A-Game) Gallon, Jr. Others in the lineup are holdovers Ray (Sugar) Beltran and David Rodela. Three more unnamed sparmates will be added to the list just in case there are casualties along the way.

Rivera noted that it isn’t easy signing up sparmates for Pacquiao because no amount of money is worth absorbing the punishment meted out by the Filipino ring icon. Roach personally hand-picks the sparmates who are usually bigger and heavier so theoretically, they’re able to take what Pacquiao dishes out.

One of Roach’s early choices, Roger (Speedy) Gonzalez, was not in the final cast disclosed by Rivera. Gonzalez, 29, is a Marquez clone and has been described as “ultra-quick and an excellent counterpuncher.” It was not known why Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup.

Byrne, 23, is a lightwelterweight with a 6-0 record. Garcia, 21, is a superfeatherweight whose record is 14-0, with five KOs. Cervantes, 22, is a lightwelterweight with a record of 9-0. None is a devastating puncher but lack of power is negated by superior boxing skills.

The other sparmates are Beltran, 26, with a 21-3 slate, Gallon, 19, and Rodela, 24, with a 7-1-2 mark, including four KOs.

Last Saturday, Pacquiao decided to spar four rounds with Byrne in an unscheduled foray. Pacquiao toyed with Byrne for three rounds then got the urge to unload a left straight that bloodied the Irishman’s nose.

Rivera said Roach is excitedly laying the groundwork for seven weeks of hard sparring in a “seamless” preparation for the shootout with Marquez.

Rivera said Pacquiao’s personal physician Dr. Alan Recto recently flew in from his home in Laredo, Texas, for a routinary check-up and found the fighter in tip-top condition.   

The consensus along cauliflower row is the fight will go the 12-round distance. Billy Hussein, who trains Vic Darchinyan, said he expects Pacquiao to win on points because Marquez is no longer the same fighter of four years ago.

“Marquez is now 32,” said Hussein whose brother Hussy challenges IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. in Dubai on April 18. “He didn’t look impressive in his last two fights, beating (Marco Antonio) Barrera and (Rocky) Juarez. But Manny didn’t look too impressive himself in winning over (Jorge) Solis and Barrera last year.”

Hussy Hussein also predicted the fight to go the full route but chose Marquez to take the decision. “Marquez has learned from his mistakes in the past,” said Hussein. “He won’t commit the same mistakes again.”

Rivera quoted several boxing experts on their opinion of what will likely be the outcome of the bout.

Willie Harris, whose son Ronnie won a gold medal as a lightweight fighter at the 1968 Olympics, said “a well-conditioned Pacquiao is unbeatable.” Harris frequents the Wild Card Gym to check out prospects.

“Marquez will find it difficult to beat Manny who’s on a tear, beating 10 of 11 Mexican victims,” said Harris. “What I’ve been seeing daily in Manny’s workouts is a determined fighter out to do well.”

Mexican fighter Alejandro (Alacran) Perez said Pacquiao will beat Marquez with his speed and power. Perez, 21, reminds Rivera of a young Julio Cesar Chavez. Rivera said Perez now spars with Filipino superbantamweight hotshot Bernabe Concepcion who takes on Juan Ruiz in Mexico this Saturday.

Trainer Joe Goosen said Pacquiao should breeze against the Mexican because even as Marquez has more experience, he isn’t as aggressive.

“Only an M-16 armalite can help Marquez stop Pacquiao,” said Goosen’s aide Gregorio Asuncion. “Age will matter most in the rematch, not weight problems. Remember that Manny was overweight in his rematch against Barrera yet he beat him silly. Barrera, a master boxer, never had weight problems.”





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