‘Overhauled’ Marquez: I’m bigger, stronger now

Bulked up Juan Manuel Marquez.

LAS VEGAS—If he were a car, Juan Manuel Marquez, did not merely get a tune-up. He was overhauled for his fourth showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

And the credit goes to strength and conditioning expert Angel Hernandez.

“I’ve been doing the same things for 18 years. Now with Angel around, everything has been changed,” Marquez told select members of the media at MGM Grand on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

“I’m bigger and stronger now, but I didn’t lose my speed,” said the 39-year-old Marquez, who has been fighting for 19 years.

Marquez was so impressed with the new system employed by Hernandez and legendary trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, that he said the Pacquiao-Marquez fight saga would have turned out differently had Hernandez joined his team earlier.

Their first fight in 2004 ended in a draw. In 2008, Pacquiao won a split decision before again emerging a majority decision last year.

Marquez said he felt very angry that the judges had deprived him of a victory and relishes the chance to get back at Pacquiao. This time, if the chance is there, he’ll go for a knockout.

“I have to be more aggressive, throw a lot of punches but with intelligence,” Marquez said. “Manny is dangerous.”