Pacquiao must KO Mayweather to win, says Marquez

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez has fought Manny Pacquiao four times and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Once. If the 4-division boxing champion has one piece of advice for the Filipino underdog, it is to not leave matters in the judges’ hands. 

Marquez warned Pacquiao against falling into the fate of his compatriot Jose Luis Castillo, who lost a controversial unanimous decision to Mayweather in their first fight in 2002.

Many fans and reporters felt the Mexican did enough to retain his WBC lightweight title, including HBO unofficial judge Harold Lederman, who scored the bout 115-111. Mayweather won their rematch later that year conclusively. 

“Mayweather has the defensive resources, technique, speed and counter attacks to do a lot of damage to Pacquiao, and I think he will impose [those traits],” Marquez told Clarica, as translated by BoxingScene. “I know how judges perform in Las Vegas, as we saw in that fight where Jose Luis Castillo beat [Mayweather]. However, [the judges] gave it to Mayweather and Pacquiao has no alternative but to knock Mayweather out to end his undefeated record.” 

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 knockouts) has been doing light training in Manila for his May 2 fight against Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The 37-year-old boxer-congressman-baller is expected to play one more game for the KIA Carnival in the Philippine Basketball Association on Saturday, February 28 before departing for Los Angeles that night. Pacquiao will begin training under Freddie Roach, who was named BWAA Trainer of the Year for the seventh time this week.

Pacquiao had to skip his session on Friday due to heavy traffic coming from his home in Forbes Park to his gym at MP Tower in Sampaloc, and instead ran around his neighborhood for cardio.

Pacquiao’s first gym session in LA will be on March 2, according to ESPN. Roach won’t be present because of his commitment to Chinese flyweight Zou Shiming, who fights March 7 in Macau against IBF titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng. Pacquiao will work with Roach’s Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio in the interim. – Rappler.com