Loss to Marquez thing of the past – Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao has gotten over his crushing loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s now in the mood to train for the fight against Brandon Rios in November in Macau.

The world champion in eight different weight classes said his sixth-round knockout loss to Marquez last December in Las Vegas is now a thing of the past.

“Nakalimutan ko na yun (I’m now over it). Syempre naranasan ko na din ma-knockout (I’ve experienced being knocked out). Hindi na bago sa akin (It’s nothing new),” he told ABS-CBN.

“That’s part of boxing,” added Pacquiao of the setback to Marquez.

It was the fifth loss against 54 wins and two draws for Pacquiao who was knocked out twice early in his career by Filipino Rustico Torrecampo in 1996 and Thai Medgoen Singsurat in 1999.

Pacquiao lost twice last year, including one to Timothy Bradley in June, but it was the one he suffered against Marquez that had some people asking if it was time to retire.

He said it’s time to pick up the pieces.

“I will do my best,” said Pacquiao who will go deeper into training for his next fight by August, which is three months before he takes on the younger and hungrier Rios.

The 34-year-old boxer has been sweating it out daily on the basketball court.

According to the ABS-CBN report, Pacquiao plays basketball as much as four hours a day to make sure he stays in shape and that he doesn’t gain the unwanted pounds.

“This is (my way of) cross training,” said Pacquiao.

When he faces Rios at The Venetian in Macau, it will be almost a year after his last fight. It’s the longest layoff for the Filipino boxing icon.

He said playing basketball keeps him in shape while he’s not boxing.

“Para hindi magsawa sa boxing,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN.

A couple of days ago, Pacquiao took his oath as a second-term congressman of Sarangani together with his wife, Jinkee, now the vice governor of the province.

While on the campaign trail, Pacquiao completely took his mind off boxing. But now that the elections are over, he said he’s slowly getting back into groove.

Days after he lost to Marquez, Pacquiao said that he “will rise again.”

He has taken the first steps.