PACMAN IS HUNGRY FOR THE WIN!
March 12, 2008LAS VEGAS—This early, Manny Paquiao is ready to rumble.
With his weight in check, Pacquiao said he has strengthened his focus on grabbing the World Boxing Council super featherweight crown from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
“Ready to go,” said Pacquiao on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), after eating supper at his suite at the Mandalay Bay here.
“Laban na ito (It’s fight time).”
After checking in at 133 pounds on Saturday, just three pounds over the limit, Pacquiao found no need to starve himself.
“Ang sarap kasi ng ulam (The food is delicious),” said Pacquiao, who feasted on fried pampano and chicken tinola with a scoop of rice and lots of fruits.
Cautioned by trainer Freddie Roach to watch his diet, Pacquiao said he’ll begin to cut down on his food intake on Wednesday.
“Nag-eensayo pa naman ako (Any way I’m still training),” said Pacquiao, who jogged at the University of Nevada at La Vegas campus in the morning and then trained with Roach in the afternoon at the Iba gym.
He did six rounds with the mitts, shadow boxed and completed routine calisthenics.
First Asian to win 3 crowns
Pacquiao is aiming to become the first Asian to hold three world crowns.
Starting his fight career at 16 years old and 106 pounds, Pacquiao bulked up and eventually won the World Boxing Council flyweight and International Boxing Federation super bantamweight titles.
He will continue his routine until Thursday, when he starts psyching up for the bout dubbed “Unfinished Business.”
The first Pacquiao-Marquez fight in 2004 ended in a majority draw after the Mexican survived three first-round knockdowns.
Joining Pacquiao’s growing company of well-wishers on Tuesday was Rod Nazario, his former business manager whom he persuaded to fly here.
Bet of $230 to win $100
Meanwhile, bookmakers reported that Pacquiao remained a minus-230 favorite to beat Marquez, who was listed at plus-190. The odds meant a $230 bet on Pacquiao would earn just $100 while a $100 wager on Marquez would return $190.
The only thing going for oddsmakers is the rising sales on other betting odds like the fight ending in knockout. Thus far, every winning $100 bet stands to earn $175.
For those who do not want the bout to go the full route, they will get just $100 for every $175 wager.
While Paquiao was a solid 2-1 favorite to knock out Marquez last week, the odds now stand at 8 to 5.
