By Reni M. Valenzuela

November 12 in Las Vegas MGM will be a nervous day for both fighters despite the show of force and muscles during open-media workouts and notwithstanding the “bravado” pronouncements coming from their respective trainers.

         For Manny Pacquiao, it is the scare and horror that the “ghost” of Juan Manuel Marquez may appear in the arena during their upcoming trilogy bout.

         In view of the breathtaking stiff rivalry and painful punishment Pacquiao had endured fighting the avenging, “insulting” man who gave him the most trouble in the ring all his life as a professional boxer, not just once, but a couple of times in 2004 and 2008, the Pacman is still unsure if he can be able to exorcize the “ghost” while focusing on the fight at the same time with the real person. 

         Pacquiao and Freddie Roach may have developed a phobia of Marquez. 

         Marquez remains strong and is a kind of pervading specter for Pacman.   As such, the Dinamita’s power to call up the past may be so compulsive that the only place perhaps for the fighting Congressman where he could elude the hounding, haunting “spirit” of the “twenty four grueling rounds” with Marquez is in the tension-filled noisy session hall of the Philippine Congress while frightfully delivering his privilege speech.

         And for Marquez, it is the commanding “no fear” spook that has shaped up in Pacquiao due to the fact that the current world number one pound for pound boxer has improved tremendously.  Something for Marquez to ponder, and ponder deeply even in sleepless nights.

         Pacquiao has grown monster “shadows” that won’t leave him when he fights. As a consequence, it seemed to his victims starting from David Diaz that they were going against ten or a thousand more boxers in the same ring with them when they fought Pacquiao.  All these are but miraculous workings of the Pacman corner “knee-prayers,” a mother’s back-up closet-prayers and the Pacman signature hand speed with magical movements. That’s why the most recent “fighters” who “challenged” to dethrone Paquiao ended up merely as “survivors.” Mosley and Clottey opted simply to cover and cower for safety and “pride,”  while Margarito could have been knocked out cold,  but had the benefit of a Pacman compassion in the final closing rounds.

         Pacquiao has become the meek-type Goliath who literally “destroyed” all who dared to cross his path as a giant David since Marquez has last clashed in a war with him.  A Pacman phantom has unfolded and which supernatural phenomena is absolutely untested and “untasted” by the Mexican Dinamita;  such a strangely new and baffling “UFO contraption” in fight sport that is unstoppably a marvel and could be unpredictably explosive in any round.

         Pacquiao is human, but he can be a machine on top of the canvass.

         The Pacquiao camp, however, should not boast too much about the Filipino champion’s progress lest they eat their words afterward.  The Marquez camp has been doing smartly for their combatant to catch up with Pacquiao’s evolution, working tirelessly on being scientific even in the minute details to maximize the Dinamita’s potency and make it function well to cause it to explode in time with precision and in perfect conditioning -   to make the enemy fall.

         Eagerness but with caution, determination but with strain, readiness but with heart-thumping, hope but with reservation, bravery but with anxiety, answers but with questions, prediction but with “ifs,”  belief but with “buts,” and certainties but with deep, buried sighs. This is how it will be for Dynamo and Dinamita and this is likely how feelings would persist to evolve in both camps as their preparations are “nearing the end” toward the highly anticipated “final battle” of their respective warriors.

         Marquez and Pacquiao have no puppy infatuations going on between them and they are no seekers of love and romance at this time, but it seems like they are being set up for a blind date, not one of them being so sure of what to expect; having no plain hint what might exactly be in store for them during probably the most exciting but perplexing moment in their career as great pugilists, so far. 

         On fight night, though, one thing is most imperative.  They both must have clear but truthful visions.

         Don’t blink.

www.ringsideboxingshow.com Reni’s interest in boxing dates back during his elementary and high school days when he would  be asked to compete in boxing matches especially during community fiesta celebrations representing the place in Manila where he grew up. He fought in boxing competitions probably the same number of times that he joined in singing contests also during fiestas of the same period.  Reni took part in different songwriting festivals but it was his God-given talent in drawing and painting that made him win the grand prize. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, he has been into different business ventures and currently owns and manages a herbal production and trade company. Reni is a resource speaker in different Christian mission gatherings and forums. He travels to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in various congregations.  He is into other sports interests like basketball, table tennis and swimming.  Reni loves writing. But his one most consuming passion is the Word of God. renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com