Does Marquez Need a Miracle To Win?
With the calendar ushering in the month of November, there are just a few scant days remaining before the big Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The two titans–and ring rivals–will square off on November 12 for the WBO Welterweight title at a 144 catchweight.
During Pacman’s media workout held last week at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, I had a chance to talk with the Filipino southpaw’s famed trainer, Freddie Roach. The busy Hall of Fame coach has guided the career of many world champions, but none bigger or brighter than the idol from the Philippines.
In this new video interview, hear what the master trainer of the ring–and the famed “ringmaster” in the World of Pacquiao–has to say as the marquee matchup nears.
A former fighter himself, the veteran coach is most comfortable inside a boxing ring.
Outside the squared circle, the bespectacled trainer is the humble, friendly and unassuming sort. But after strapping on the focus mitts and discarding his eyeglasses, the former pug gets fierce in the ring going toe to toe while holding the mitts for his superstar student, even getting tagged occasionally by the pound-for-pound puncher.
And away from the ropes, he remains the same down-to-earth guy even though worldwide fame and scrutiny has followed Roach and his prized pupil every step of the way.
This time the pair began training camp in the Philippines. Roach told me there were no distractions during their early weeks in Baguio City and Manny is “very motivated and has had great sparring” for this proposed last chapter in this Marquez trilogy. Both sluggers own 53 victories a piece; both want to win this third battle in “Juan Manuel Marquez for Pacquiao–Marquez III” promoted by Top Rank, MP Promotions and Marquez Boxing, airing on HBO PPV.
What can fans expect between the two warriors? Both say it’s personal.
Will it be a “Blast Fest” living up to all the hype?
Freddie has said he wants this rivalry finished–all questions answered with a victory from Pacquiao, of course.
But should the Mexican hero win their November 12 match, could Roach concede to a fourth and “final” fight?
“It would be one draw, one loss and one win for each guy,” he says in regards to Juan Manuel pulling off an upset. “If there’s a ‘miracle’ out there and that does happen…then yes we’d be willing to have a fourth fight–a tie breaker!”
But it will take a “miracle” for Marquez to win, adds Pacquiao’s trainer with a smile. Cornered by Roach, Team Pacman has no plans of a defeat. Convinced his Filipino phenom will pummel his way to one more victory and a satisfying win over JMM, the veteran trainer tells me, “I don’t think this fight will last six rounds.”
Hear what else Freddie Roach has to say in our video interview in which he says Marquez would need a miracle to win, gives us an update on if Jorge Linares will rematch Antonio DeMarco, and how this Manny Pacquiao training camp really went.
Wearing a Manny Pacquiao caricature T-shirt, Roach held his post right by the entrance of his beloved boxing gym as I caught up with the famous trainer.
Here’s Freddie straight out of Wild Card!
Photo by Michele Chong/ Ring photo by Maria Hedrick
Freddie Roach Interview
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