MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao Thursday dismissed the photos being circulated on the Internet as a desperate attempt to discredit him.
?Paninira lang sa kanya (an attempt to discredit him),? was how Pacquiao reacted when reached over the phone, according to Mike Enriquez of GMA-7 in his news report Thursday.
Enriquez said Pacquiao told him that the photos were taken a long time ago and didn?t mean anything. One of the photos showed Pacquiao?s chief of staff Jake Joson in the background.
Pacquiao is in his hometown Gen. Santos City, where he has started training for his March 15 rematch with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
Meanwhile, future Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera chose his countryman to prevail over Pacquiao.
Though he has absorbed the full weight and fury of Manny Pacquiao?s punches twice, Barrera said he would still root for Marquez when his compatriot stakes his World Boxing Council super featherweight championship against the Filipino fighter.
?I am Mexican, and I support Mexicans,? Barrera told The Ring?s Don Stewart. ?Manny Pacquiao is a very good friend, but I will come to support Juan Manuel.?
Marquez, of course, is also remembered for wresting the world title from Barrera, who later announced his retirement after taking a second beating from the Filipino superstar last October.
Pressed for a prediction, however, Barrera balked and simply reiterated his support for Marquez, who recovered from three first-round knockdowns to forge a controversial draw with Pacquiao in their first duel in 2004.
Barrera advised Marquez to go to the body and make better use of his hand speed to counter Pacquiao?s quickness for the much-awaited fight slated at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Like Barrera, Telefura analyst Bernardo Osuna also picked Marquez to prevail in the mega-buck bout.
?It?s a pride fight for Marquez,? said Osuna. ?If he can avoid making the mistakes he made the first time around, I can?t see Manny evolving enough in the last four years to overcome Marquez? boxing skills.?
