Manny Pacquiao will knock out Juan Manuel Marquez in the 8th or 10th round, is how local sports leader Oscar “Dodong” Bascon foresees the ending of the fourth fight this Sunday (Phil. time) between the two great boxers at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend.

Bascon sees a more confident and a better-prepared Pacquiao heading for Las Vegas this week as compared to a bit laidback champion who lost to Timothy Bradley in June this year.

“He took that fight for granted and no fighter should do that. I think Manny learned a lot from his loss to Bradley,” Bascon, one of the founders of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association said.

He added that the Filipino icon looks fit and in shape and has been training hard for Sunday’s fight.

Also seeing another victory for Pacquiao is former Bacolod congressman Monico Puentevella, who said in a text message that it will be “Pacquiao by decision again”.

Puentevella, who lost his bid for a fresh term as Philippine Olympic Committee chairman last week, said “if any knockout happens, it would be Pacquiao by KO..but I doubt it”.

He also pointed out that if the fight gets close, then Marquez will win so that promoter Bob Arum can have fight No. 5.

For the fourth time, the Filipino Pacman will face Marquez, also known as “Dinamita”, and will try to score a convincing win against the Mexican.

Their first encounter inside the ring on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw and the second fight on March 15, 2008 had Pacquiao winning by a split decision. November 12 last year won by majority decision, with Marquez demanding a rematch.

The 33-year-old Pacquiao has 54-4-2 (38 KOs) record in his boxing career while the 49-year-old Marquez carries a 54-6-1 (39 KOs) record.

Negrenses will have the chance to watch the fight telecast live in free public viewing areas, eight of them in Bacolod City, sponsored by the city government.*NAB

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