PACQUIAO HEAVY FAVORITE AGAINST MARQUEZ
[PHOTO - PACQUIAO TIME With a photograph of his Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez posted on the wall, boxing's pound-for-pound king Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao hits away at a speed bag during his workout opened to media at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 (Thursday in Manila). See also Pacquiao heavy favorite against Marquez (AFP Photo) ]
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, OCTOBER 29, 2011 (BULLETIN) REUTERS - Manny Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions to cement his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer, will go into his Nov. 12 bout as a heavy favorite against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
However, trainer Freddie Roach felt the Mexican, a three-division world champion, would once again be the toughest opponent the Filipino has faced in his illustrious career.
"Manny loves it when guys come to him and they're aggressive," said Roach. "Marquez is a counter-puncher and we're probably going to have to go to him (Marquez) to make the fight happen.
"It's a little harder for Manny to do that and there is no question that Marquez has the most difficult style for us," Roach said.
Pacquiao, who proudly arrived at the Wild Card gym in a gleaming Ferrari that he bought last week, will be fighting for the first time since he retained his WBO welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over Shane Mosley in May.
In that bout, as well in his previous two wins against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, the Filipino was criticized by many of his supporters for "going soft" on his opponents in the late rounds.
On Nov. 12, however, Pacquiao can be expected to go full throttle against Marquez, who recovered from three knockdowns in the opening round to earn a draw when they first clashed in May 2004.
Just ask any of Pacquiao's sparring partners who have come in for a pounding in recent weeks at the Wild Card gym.
"Manny has been a little rough on his sparring partners," Roach said with a smile. "But they try and hold him and they're doing a good job. Manny is a completely different animal to the guy that fought Marquez the first time," he added.
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