Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Dinamita's Verbal Jabs Will Prove Costly Against Pac-Man

When Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao takes on "Dinamita" Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12, it may very well be the biggest fight in either boxer's career.

For Pacquiao specifically, a win would give him validation and possibly set up a fight with Floyd Mayweather.

It goes without saying that Pacquiao doesn't need any more motivation to win this match than he already does. I guess somebody forgot to tell that to Marquez, however, as his constant poking and prodding of Pacquiao in the media has made Pac-Man even more determined.

The results of the first two fights between Pacquiao and Marquez have been controversial, to say the least, as the first bout was ruled a draw and the second went to Pacquiao by split decision.

Despite the reality of things, Marquez insists that he truly won both fights.

There was a case to be made for either fighter to win in both contests, and perhaps Marquez came out on the short end of the stick. But it seems to me that he is trying to get a rise out of Pacquiao. Pac-Man is a focused competitor, so that isn't going to work, but it seems to have had the opposite effect in making Pacquiao more determined.

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“It’s an insult to my manhood,” the worldwide ring icon said in Filipino.

“I’m ready for this fight. I’m motivated,” Pacquiao told Filipino journalists after an abbreviated workout Friday at the Wild Card Gym. Trainers Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez and conditioning coach Alex Ariza limited Pacquiao’s workout for the day, despite the boxer’s request to push hard.

“Even if the fight is nearing, I still want to push hard [during training],” Pacquiao said.

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Those certainly don't seem like comments from an intimidated fighter or one who is lacking confidence. Whether Marquez wants to admit it or not, Pacquiao has beaten him before, not the other way around.

I think it's safe to say that Marquez's assertion that he should have won the first two fights is as much a means of convincing himself as anything. Marquez pushed Pacquiao to the brink twice, and with his age advancing, he may not truly believe that he can finish the job.

Pacquiao will be heavily favored in next week's fight, as well he should be. Marquez understands that Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he is looking for any edge he can get.

Unfortunately for Dinamita, it won't have any effect on the focused Filipino.