Pacquiao faces legit challenge in Marquez

Every boxing "Superman" has an opponent who is his kryptonite, and for Manny Pacquiao, that man is Juan Manuel Marquez. Over the past six years since his last loss to Erik Morales, Pacquiao has evolved into a boxing superstar with a 14-match winning streak that includes world titles in five weight classes of the eight he has ruled, but questions remain about Pacquiao's draw with Marquez in 2004 and the split decision he won in their 2008 rematch.

"I really won the first two fights, so a third one was needed," Marquez insisted yesterday at Chelsea Piers, where he and Pacquiao appeared at a news conference to promote their WBO welterweight title fight Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "At the end of every fight, I was sure I won, and the fans knew it, too."

That difference of opinion is what makes horse races and good fights, too. In his recent fights, it almost seemed as though Pacquiao was marking time, waiting for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to agree to a megafight. But Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) represents a different, more personal challenge to Pacquiao (53-3-2,38 KOs).

"I want to clearly prove it so there's no doubt, not even one percent, in the minds of the fans," Pacquiao said. "I'm more focused for this fight because Marquez is denying he lost the last two fights. That makes me motivated to train hard."

Pacquiao scored three knockdowns in the opening round of their 2004 featherweight bout but escaped with a draw after Marquez fought back brilliantly. When Marquez and Pacquiao met again in 2008 it was a junior lightweight bout at 130, but this fight is at a 144-pound catchweight, which favors Pacquiao, who has proved his power in higher weight classes.

"People can say what happened in the last two fights, but time has passed by and I have improved a lot," Pacquiao said. "I don't know if it's the same situation compared to [three] years ago."

Marquez believes the aggressive Pacquiao is made for his counterpunching style. "I know how to defeat him," Marquez said. "You have to engage him first and make him think about what he wants to do next. I've been able to do that for 24 rounds . . . I have to be fast, and I have to hit him hard enough so he knows he's in the ring with me."

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, said a more aggressive approach by Marquez "will be his downfall" because it means exposing himself to Pacquiao's power. If Pacquiao wins, Mayweather might finally come to the table.

Pacquiao suggested Mayweather's Sept. 17 bout against Victor Ortiz, a lefthander with power, might be a dress rehearsal for a Pacquiao bout. Roach agrees.

"It looks like it," Roach said. "He's talked a lot about Manny, but do we know? It's the fight I want as badly as any of you. I'd like to get Mayweather next, beat him and call it a day. Those are my thoughts, not Manny's thoughts. Win this one, win the next, and there's nothing else to prove."