Manny Pacquiao will try his best to beat Juan Manuel Marquez

March 11, 2008

Manny Pacquiao insists he’ll try his very best to beat Juan Manuel Marquez in their WBC super-featherweight title fight on Saturday night for “all Filipinos”.

The ‘Pacman’ admits he was too complacent in his last two fights against Marco Antonio Barrera and Jorge Solis last year, even though he claimed victory in both, but is now focused on his next challenge.

Pacquiao struggled to cope in the early stages of his bout with Mexico’s Solis before delivering an eighth-round knockout blow, while he just about decisioned Barrera in their 12-round rematch back in October.

“I was not pleased with my performance although I won both fights. I realised I cannot be just complacent with my preparation,”said Pacquiao in an interview with Sports Radio’s ‘The Scene Around’.

But this time the Filipino sensation will raise his game for the bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, where the winner will also be crowned as 130lb champion of the prestigious Ring Magazine.

He said: “I will do my best not to let down my countrymen. I am dedicating this fight to all Filipinos for our unity. Especially now that there is political turmoil.

“I will give my best to win his fight for all Filipinos.”

In their first encounter for the world featherweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Pacquiao floored Marquez three times in the opening round but his Mexican opponent fought back to salvage a 12-round split draw to keep his IBF and WBA belts.

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