Nang una niyang makasagupa si Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, wala siyang kaliweteng sparmates na kinuha.
Subalit nang matikman ang tatlong pagbagsak niya sa first round sa kanilang featherweight fight ni Pacquiao noong Mayo 8 ng 2004, natuto na ng kanyang leksyon ang 34-anyos na Mexican super featherweight champion na si Manuel Marquez.
“My sparring with the southpaws has gone really well and I’m very happy with the way it’s sharpened me up,” ani Marquez kahapon sa kanyang pagsasanay sa La Romanza Boxing Gym sa Mexico City. “I’ve already given one hundred percent in training and on fight night I’m going to give much more.”
Para magamay ang mga kaliweteng boksingero, kinuha ni trainer Ignacio Beristain si Japanese super lightweight Norio Kimura, nagdadala ng 33-5-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 17 KO’s.
Nasa listahan rin sa hanay ng mga sparmates ni Marquez sina Venezuelan featherweight Rafael Fernandez, may 10-2 (10 KO’s) slate at
Nicaraguan super bantamweight Eusebio Osejo Cano, nagbabandera ng 18-4 (9 KO’S ) card.
“Manny also knows what he personally has to do to prepare, because this isn’t going to be an easy fight for him,” wika ni Marquez. “I think I have a great opportunity to win and I’ve worked three months to this effect.”
Noong Disyembre pa sinimulan ni Marquez ang kanyang preparasyon sa La Romanza Gym, habang noong Enero 17 naman si Pacquiao sa Wild Card Gym sa Hollywood, California.
Inaasahan ni Marquez na malaki na ang kaibahan sa boxing style ni Pacquiao matapos ang kanilang unang pagkikita noong 2004.
“Manny’s now a two handed fighter and he hits hard, but I’m not going to be surprised and caught out by his left as happened in our first fight. I’m going to use my power, aggression, work rate and all my technical skill on March 15th. My psychology is: Preparation, condition and my punches,” ani Marquez. (Russell Cadayona)