Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Will Pacman Be Distracted by Latest Mayweather Jab?

Per usual, Manny Pacquiao's impending bout with Juan Manuel Marquez is already swirling with side-chatter and distractions.

Trash-talking seems to be a tradition in boxing more than any other sport, so the constant jabs and back-and-fourth between the two opponents is nothing surprising.

Check out the last verbal punch Pacquiao threw at Marquez, as reported by Keith Idec of boxingscene.com:

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Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) just hopes Marquez, who has fought less than one round in the last 11 months, remains capable of competing at the elite level as they try to settle their debate once and for all Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. They’ll square off at a catch weight of 144 pounds, three below the welterweight limit, even though they’ll fight for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight crown.

“For me, I hope I’m fighting with the same Marquez as the last fight [three] years ago, not worse,” Pacquiao said recently. “I hope it’s the same Marquez I fought [three] years ago because if I win the fight, maybe somebody will say, ‘Oh, [it’s] because Marquez is old, you know, and slow.’ ”

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There's nothing more insulting, short of calling a guys momma fat, than calling the guy you are about to fight "old and slow", so it's good to know that Pacquiao is on his game as far as trash-talk is concerned.

That being said, I wonder if Pacquiao will be fully in the zone and mentally prepared once the fight rolls around.

Word has come out that Floyd Mayweather, his mortal enemy and rival, has finally called him out and wants to fight.

Even with the Marquez fight just days away, this Mayweather story has already taken precedence and is all the rage.

One has to assume that Pacquiao is far too good to start looking ahead past this fight, but it is only a natural reaction.

It will be interesting to see if Pacquiao can keep his focus on Marquez, or if his mind will start drifting off the task at hand.