INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao won’t let any distraction get in the way of his buildup for world super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Everything is absolutely fine and everything is definitely under control,” Pacquiao wrote in his column that appeared in the website www.philboxing.com on Thursday. “There’s no need to worry.”

Downplaying the reported embezzlement of a huge amount from one of his bank accounts in Los Angeles, Pacquiao said the case won’t affect his mental and physical state as he revs up his training for his rematch against Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao did not even mention the names of persons who stole his money by forging his signature. He said he regards the matter as a personal problem and requested that it be treated as a “private matter.”

He said what he considers more important is his responsibility to the country and the Filipino people from whom he draws strength and inspiration.

Pacquiao added that even before the case was uncovered, he had already forgiven those who did him wrong.

Rather than sulk, Pacquiao said incidents like these only toughen his resolve to succeed. He said his training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood is proceeding smoothly.

After sparring for eight rounds against Rey Beltran, David Rodela and Daniel Cervantes on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), Pacquiao said he felt fine for the megabuck rematch.

Earlier, Roach said he expects no problem with his prized ward making the (142-pound) pre-fight weight limit set by the World Boxing Council on Thursday. The super featherweight limit is set at 130 lb.

Filipino trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri are helping Roach whip Pacquiao into shape.

Meanwhile, reports being floated since last year regarding a Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya fight gained momentum again after Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, said the fight “is a definite possibility.”

Quoted by SportingLife, Schaeffer said there’s a chance that De La Hoya’s farewell fight, slated late this year or early next year, could be against Pacquiao.