By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer
LAS VEGAS–Manny Pacquiao, who on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) earned his spurs as a finesse fighter, declared after a thanksgiving Mass here Monday he was not yet moving up to the 135-pound lightweight class.
Pacquiao likewise clarified that his proposed duel with World Boxing Council 130-lb. champion Juan Manuel Marquez was still on.
“No, hindi,” Pacquiao told team insider Hermie Rivera, who tried to confirm reports emanating from Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino that the Filipino boxing star planned to turn full lightweight after his ordeal with the weighing scales before his second conquest of Marco Antonio Barrera Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) here.
Even Pacquiao’s lovely wife, Jinkee, who must have favored the move to go one division up, said there was nothing definite about the plan.
“Puwede kong labanan si Marquez, maski (I can fight Marquez even at) 130 or 135 pounds,” Pacquiao said.
Team Pacquiao headed from here to Los Angeles in a convoy of cars Monday afternoon.
He will meet with Top Rank big boss Bob Arum before flying for home Wednesday. He’s expected in Manila Friday morning.
A host of other possibilities, including a bout against World Boxing Association super featherweight champion Edwin Valero in Macau, arose Monday.
It was also suggested Pacquiao could next clash with the winner of the world lightweight championship between Juan and Julio Diaz.
Meanwhile, what obviously got overlooked by bloodthirsty fight fans at Mandalay was the elevation of Pacquiao as a finesse fighter based on his smooth control against Barrera, who mainly tried to move away and survive.
The fight did not develop into a full-scale battle due to the refusal of Barrera to slug it out with Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, after landing big shots which he failed to sustain in rounds four and five, went all out in the 11th round and caught his Mexican foe with a lethal combination to the head.
Visibly shaken, Barrera let off a hefty right cross off a clinch, hitting Pacquiao flush on the face. The fight was halted as referee Tony Weeks slapped a point deduction.
The fight lasted the full 12-round route.
Pacquiao celebrated his second conquest of Barrera at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
If they asked him, trainer Freddie Roach would have declared the big celebration was for the elevation of Pacquiao into a finesse fighter, as evidenced by the smooth control displayed against the backpedalling Barrera.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
he is very effective in lightweight if he is comfortable at 135lbs…i saw big boys champions in lightweight but i didn’t saw them caliber as pacman…pacman has also limitation because he is only human being but the question is who is that pokemon can beat the pacman style…it goes “the fighter career ends when the great figther begins”..
October 11th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
depende if he can gained the weight then thats the tym he will move up to lightweight…bec we noticed him he was drained to get 130lbs. hes legs not to strong he is not comfortable enough may be its the dilemma..if he is comfrotable at 135 then i know he will bring with him his devastating punch and his endless attack style.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:46 am
please go for pacquiao-marquez match im dying for it. laban habang may buhay pa!
October 10th, 2007 at 9:33 am
pacquiao will not be effective in higher weight because his power will diminish on his added weight. also, these fighters at 135 lb can absorb his punches without effect…
October 9th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado : Pacquiao: Marquez fight still on [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
it might be interesting to know what other areas/technique that Manny still needs to improve to be assured of a sure-win for his next fight.