If Pacquiao ever had a reason to dislike an opponent (besides Floyd Mayweather Jr., of course), it would be for his WBO welterweight title fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday (HBO pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET) atMGM Grand.
This is their third fight — the first two in 2004 and 2008 ended in a draw and a Pacquiao victory — and Marquez has no doubt he won both fights. And he lets everyone know that wherever he goes, including the Philippines. In Pacquiao's home country Marquez handed out T-shirts saying that he won their first two fights.
So what kind of trash-talk does Pacquiao muster up for that one? "I'm not angry at Marquez; it's his freedom to do that," Pacquiao before Wednesday's news conference. "He's my friend, but once we get inside the ring, we have business to do. I want to be an example (of) a good fighter, not a trash-talker."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has been known to stir the pot now and then, and he says there's a little more to it than what Pacquiao would admit.
"I think it was a slap in the face to Manny that (Marquez) went to the Philippines and tried to give out T-shirts that said he beat Manny twice and tried to get Manny's countrymen against him," Roach said Wednesday. "And saying that he was robbed. They were good close fights, but there were no robberies in my mind.
"Yeah, it was a slap in the face to Manny. And Mayweather, by the accusations he's made, I don't think Manny likes him too much, either."
Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) pushed for an immediate rematch after the first fight, but it took four years to make. He definitely wanted a third fight quickly to settle the score, but that never happened.
Now, at 38, he finally gets his chance against Pacquiao, and he's ready, he says, even though the fight is three years late.
"I ask myself that question a lot. Why wasn't there an immediate rematch? Things happen for a reason," Marquez said. "I always say, 'What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.' "
Marquez appears to have bulked up considerably from his last couple of fights, when he fought at lightweight (135 pounds) twice and super lightweight (140) the last time out, all victories.
This fight will be at 144 pounds, 3 pounds under the welterweight limit. The last time Marquez fought at more than 140 pounds (147), he looked slow in getting nearly shut out by Mayweather.
Marquez's new strength coach, Angel Hernandez, has a history of being involved with performance-enhancing drugs and had to defend himself on HBO's third installment of24/7: Pacquiao vs. Marquez.
Marquez, asked about Hernandez on Wednesday, said, "I want to make a clean fight. I've done clean preparation for this fight, like I have always done."
However, a bulked-up Marquez, one of the great ring tacticians and counterpunchers of this era, plays right into Pacquiao's hands, Roach thinks.
"With all the muscle Marquez has put on, I don't think he wants to be the counterpuncher in this fight," Roach said. "He tells me he's going to use his strength, and the only way you use your strength is to throw punches. I think he's going to come out fast, and I don't think he's going to be counterpunching. That will fall into our hands very well though."
Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) also thinks it will be to his advantage. "I've been fighting in a higher weight division, and I'm quicker and faster than him.
"The question is, putting on this weight, will he be as fast as before? It's not easy to maintain your speed when you put more weight in your body."
Pacquiao, who won his first title at 112 pounds, ought to know.
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