COME Sunday, expect the Philippines to once again come to a virtual standstill. This is barely an exaggeration. Go to church on Sunday whenever Manny Pacquiao has a bout, and noticeably fewer people will be in attendance. If we believe the stories, coup attempts are postponed, and even the communist insurgents temporarily cease operations so they, too, can watch Pacquiao in action.

So, how will the Filipino hero fare this time around? Will he dismantle yet another proud Mexican fighter in his rematch with World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez?

Whatever happens, we’ve got it covered. Keep visiting The Pacquiao Files for the latest updates, and for our coverage of Pacquiao-Marquez II as it unfolds this Sunday.

To whet your appetite, check out the Sports channel of INQUIRER.net VDO for our Pacquiao clips — including all 12 rounds of last year’s epic encounter between Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. And be sure to keep checking INQUIRER.net VDO this Sunday

GO, Manny!

Check out this video of Manny Pacquiao sparring in a San Francisco gym, taken by our US Director of Sales Esther Chavez, assisted by Raffy Lacap.

For more videos, visit INQUIRER.net VDO.

ARE you confident that Manny Pacquiao will defeat his old foe, Juan Marquez, the reigning World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champ?

Well, Pacman has assured Filipinos that he will do just that on March 15 when he and Marquez clash at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Here are two videos taken by INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla during the press conference at Crowne Plaza.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Online Videos by Veoh.com

By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The World Boxing Council has issued another call for super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico to defend his title against Filipino star Manny Pacquiao in his next fight.

Marquez is slated to defend his title against Rocky Juarez on Nov. 3, and should he come out victorious, WBC president Jose Sulaiman wants him to stake his 130-lb title against Pacquiao.

If Juarez pulls off an upset, Sulaiman said he would also be mandated to defend against the Filipino boxing icon.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–International boxing champion Manny Pacquiao broke his silence on allegations he had an affair with actress Ara Mina.

Pacquiao told GMA-7’s “Showbiz Central” on Sunday that his relationship with the actress was strictly professional and never went beyond the set.

“Magkaibigan lang kami at saka may movie kami. Almost finished na yung movie. Nasa 70 percent na kami. Alam mo na pagka-ganoon, may mga intri-intriga,” Manny said in the interview.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Inquirer

CEBU CITY–Here’s Manny Pacquiao’s reply to lightweight king Juan Diaz’s challenge:

“If the price is right,” said the Filipino ring icon.

The retort came after Diaz unified three lightweight titles in his bout against Julio Diaz Sunday in Chicago when the latter failed to answer the bell in the ninth round.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

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.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LAS VEGAS–Manny Pacquiao, landing sporadic big shots but failing to follow up, carved out a unanimous decision victory over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, who later announced his retirement at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino here (Sunday in Manila).

The wily Mexican, shaken by a thunderclap combination, threw a dirty right cross off a clinch late in the 11th round, a foul blow that visibly saved him from a crushing onslaught.

Referee Tony Weeks called an instant halt to the most furious, suspenseful moment in the 12-round bout and slapped a point deduction against Barrera, who wisely used the break to clear his head and steady himself up.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LAS VEGAS–The great Sugar Ray Leonard said he would not be surprised if Manny Pacquiao, whom he admires, wins inside six rounds.

“He’s a tremendous puncher, with great speed and boundless stamina,” said Leonard, who was part of the main cast in Thursday’s press conference.

He said he’s amazed at Pacquiao’s work ethic that includes endless labors resulting in undiminished power until the final bell.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

CHECK out the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera “Will to Win” trailer provided by Solar Sports. Solar Sports is airing the bout live on October 7, 2007.