BERT SUGAR'S PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS

by Bert Sugar with Steve Small

STRENGTHS OF EACH FIGHTER

MANNY PACQUIAO -

- Pacquiao possesses speed and power, throwing quick and explosive punches.

- With the best punch south of the heavyweight division, the extra poundage moving up to the junior lightweight division should give his punches more "oomph."

- Under the tutelage of trainer Freddy Roach, has added a right hand to his skill package, making him a two-handed fighter, one capable of hurting an opponent with either hand, especially his newly discovered right hook.

- Is an aggressive fighter, one who keeps coming, coming, and coming, always throwing power punches.

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ -

- Marquez is a far better boxer than Pacquiao, with better balance, quickness and overall ring generalship.

- His is the perfect style to combat Pacquiao's aggressiveness, a style that had him throwing quick counter punches almost every time "The Pac Man" mounted a charge in the closing rounds of their last fight, hurting Pacquiao several times.

- Marquez possesses the greater "hunger" for their rematch, having waited four years, less than two months, to avenge his embarrassment of having been floored three times.

- He will be better prepared for Pacquiao's lightning-fast charges than he was the first time round, confessing "When the bell rang I began to connect with punches. What was going through my mind was 'Hey, this is an easy fight.' Just as I finished my thought process, he connected and there I was on the canvas."

WEAKNESSES OF BOTH FIGHTERS

PACQUIAO

- The southpaw Pacquiao comes straight in at his opponent with hands held too low and little head movement and rarely varies his attack or movement, even though trainer Freddy Roach has taught him how to use his right, especially to the body.

- After throwing a punch "The Pac Man" tends to bring his hands back in a low position and rolls his hands, leaving himself open to counters, a Marquez specialty.

- Pacquiao's style is one built for offense, not defense and he sometimes experiences trouble when his opponent moves out of range and doesn't stand directly in front of him.

- In previous fights there has been a question of Pacquiao's focusing on the fight, what with all his outside activities serving as a distraction.

MARQUEZ

- Marquez doesn't move his head well and is susceptible to straight punches thrown down the middle.

- He holds his hands up high to pick off punches, and is vulnerable to body punches.

- At the age of 34 and with 52 ring "wars" behind him, who knows how it will affect his quickness or the demands of a tough fight.

- As opposed to their first fight four years ago, Marquez now has to be concerned with Pacquiao's right hand as well as his left.

WHAT EACH MUST DO TO WIN

PACQUIAO

- Pacquiao cannot just rush in, as he did in their first fight, but must fight a more controlled fight, setting up his howitzer-like left with right-hand leads.

- He must move and force Marquez back into the ropes where it's his fight and not stand in the middle of the ring. - "The Pac Man" must keep his hands up to thwart Marquez's counters.

MARQUEZ

- Marquez cannot afford to make this an "all-out war," but must fight the smart fight he conducted in the last 10 rounds their last time out.

- He must move his head more and not move straight back, but move to his right to keep away from Pacquiao's left-handed bombs.

- Marquez should try to stay in close, almost burying his head into the chest of Pacquiao, all the better to throw short counters inside "The Pac Man's" wide punches.

- On the outside, Marquez has to make Pacquiao lunge at him, all the better to throw his quick counter shots.