It’s a rematch four years in the making and both Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao and world champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico insist they’re well-prepared and better fighters this time than when they fought to a controversial split draw in May 2004.

They can prove their declarations Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines) at the Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will meet with Marquez’s World Boxing Council super featherweight title on the line.  

"I think he is a 90 percent better fighter," said trainer Freddie Roach, referring to his prized ward, Pacquiao. "He is smarter, more experienced and he sets things up with two hands now."

Knocked down three times in the first round, Marquez rallied to salvage a draw and retain his WBA and IBF 126-pound titles in a thrilling fight with Pacquiao four years ago.

Marquez, 34, is 48-3 with one drawn and 35 knockouts while Pacquiao is 45-3 with two drawn and 35 knockouts. But they are a study in contrast. Marquez is a calculating counter-puncher, while Pacquiao is an aggressive cat-quick puncher.

For Saturday night’s fight, Pacquiao, who hails from General Santos City, is a 2-1 favorite to beat Marquez. Pacquiao’s latest victim, Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, in a television interview, has even tipped the Filipino to win.

Pacquiao, who was tapering off with his training Friday with close to two days before the fight, said he prepared hard for Marquez, more than any bout in his career.

He said he is focused and ready and hopes that the sacrifices – being away from his family in the Philippines, among others – will bear fruit with a win against Marquez.

In Bacolod, where Pacquiao has been extolled as an adopted son, business establishments are cashing in on his drawing power with hotels, restaurants and cinemas charging from as low as P250 to as high as P500 for the live viewing of the fight.

The fight will also be shown live starting at 9 a.m. at the City Hall Grounds, Bays Center, Burgos Market, Libertad Market and Central Market and barangays Handumanan, Montevista, Alijis, Granada and Sum-ag, the City Government announced.

There are also viewing areas at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Riverside College and Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.

Marquez is 19-1-1 since 1999, the lone defeat a unanimous decision loss to Indonesian Chris John in March of 2006. Pacquiao is 19-1 with two drawn in the same span, losing only a unanimous decision to Mexican Erik Morales in 2005.

The Philippines is resting its hopes on Pacquiao, who has become a symbol of unity in a nation constantly hounded by political turmoil.

The superstar has always been quick to acknowledge this.

“I need to win this fight for my people as this is the key to Filipino unity. Not only for myself but all the people who love boxing. I want them to be satisfied with my performance and not disappoint them,” Pacquiao said during the pre-fight press conference Thursday.

At 29-years-old, Pacquiao, experts say, is at the prime of his career.

And he is looking to complete his near-dictatorial rule of the super featherweight division with Marquez remaining as the lone stumbling block. His previous conquests are Morales and Barrera. 

Despite owning two wins against the Mexican greats, Pacquiao isn’t a legitimate world champion as of the moment.

That tag belongs to Marquez, who has been fighting behind the shadows of Morales and Barrera until his famous, bloody win against the former last year. 

But Pacquiao is chasing a more illustrious record. A win over Marquez could make Pacquao the first Asian fighter to win titles in four different divisions and also the ninth fighter to do so in history.

The elite list, according to compubox.com, includes Thomas Hearns, Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Leo Gamez.*CPT with an AFP report

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