Marquez could end up fighting twin opponents

There’s one inevitable twist which normally should first be kept from Mexican boxing great Juan Manuel Marquez.
But without meaning to confuse or disorient Marquez, he must be warned outright.
While he continues to pepper the boxing air with wild claims he had beaten Manny Pacquiao in their two previous fights, Marquez should be reminded it won’t be solely a stronger and more methodical world pound-for-pound king he will face at MGM Grand Las Vegas this weekend.
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In fact, there won’t be only one version of Pacquiao who will report for the showdown with the Mexican counterpuncher cum laude.
Both the original Pacific Storm, who toppled Marquez a total of four times with left-hand thunderbolts in previous encounters, and a smoother, two-fisted knockout machine will do battle.
There could also be a third version, a mean, unforgiving warrior who will give it all to finish off his Mexican foe and put to rest doubts about the results of their previous encounters.
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But Marquez would do well to prepare to meet only two Pacquiaos in what promises to be the final chapter of their rivalry.
Anyway, while Freddie Roach had sounded content in preparing a smoother Pacquiao with more technical depth for the third encounter with Marquez, the premier trainer inevitably announced they would also be riding on the tested weaponry of the wild-cat Pacquiao of previous years.
How and why?
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Maybe Roach was already willing to just keep mum and let the Marquez camp do the talking and the taunting.
But after Marquez trainer Nacho Beristain claimed Pacquiao would be walking into a virtual trap by doing a methodical battle, Roach tried to put sanity into the prefight debate.
Who knows, Roach himself must’ve been peeved or aroused by the claims made by Beristain that it would be cozier on their part if Pacquiao would be less unpredictable and stormy, and instead fight riding on smartness and technical proficiency.
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No, Roach, in shooting back at Beristain, did not say they could also shift tactics and counterpunch, considering Pacquiao’s new vastly improved skills.
That, countering a certified top-flight counterpuncher, was nothing new.
Whether Roach would use that counterpunching style, which to some could be a Marquez exclusive, should be worth pondering for Marquez and his handlers.
But in order to show that there won’t be only one Pacquiao—the smooth, technically proficient eight-division world champ—Roach made an open announcement.
Roach ordered Pacquiao to go for a knockout, the wilder the better, right at the opening bell.
Pacquiao, for his part, told Roach that Sunday’s third encounter with El Dinamita will be totally different from their two previous duels.