MANILA, Philippines - Inamin ni Alex Ariza, ang strength and conditioning coach ni Manny Pacquiao, magiging personal ang pangatlong pakikipagharap ng Filipino world eight-division champion kay Juan Manuel Marquez sa Nobyembre 12.
Matatandaang sinabi ni Marquez na siya ang parehong nanalo sa kanilang dalawang pagtatagpo ni Pacquiao noong 2004 at 2008.
“This is the fight that Freddie (Roach) and I have wanted for a long time now. Marquez is always complaining and whining about it but he priced himself out of it so many times that it never really happened,” ani Ariza. “”Finally they got it done and now it’s time to put up or shut up.”
Sa kabila ng tatlong beses na pagbagsak sa first round, isang draw ang naitakas ni Marquez sa kanilang unang paghaharap ni Pacquiao noong 2004.
Inagaw naman ni Pacquiao ang dating suot na WBC super featherweight belt ni Marquez mula sa isang split decision sa kanilang rematch noong 2008.
Idedepensa ni Pacquiao, may 53-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, ang kanyang WBO welterweight belt kontra kay Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) sa Nobyembre 12 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas.
Ayon kay Ariza, inaasahan niyang mas magiging matindi ang ipapakita ni Marquez sa kanilang ‘trilogy’ ni Pacquiao.
“He comes to fight, he got a style, he’s a competitor, and he won’t run no matter how tough the going gets,” wika ni Ariza sa 38-anyos na si Marquez, ang kasalukuyang world lightweight titlist. “He’s there to put on a show.”
Hindi rin ikinaila ni Ariza na dati siyang masugid na tagahanga ng Mexican warrior.
“I used to be a fan of Marquez and I still am, as far as watching him fight. For me, it’s very exciting because we get to prepare for somebody who’s going to show up for the fight,” sabi ni Ariza.