Peñalosa betting on quick victory

MANILA—Juan Manuel Marquez will fall inside the first three rounds.

Former two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa gave this bold prediction on Tuesday regarding the third battle between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and the Mexican legend on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“It will be short and swift,” said Peñalosa, who hung up his gloves last year after stopping Thai Yodsaenkeng Kietmangmee in the fourth round. “From one to three.”

Though Pacquiao is heavily favored to beat Marquez, many boxing pundits believe he’ll be able to last up to the second half of the 12-round showdown. After all, he came close to beating Pacquiao twice.

In their first fight in 2004, Marquez survived three first-round knockdowns to forge a controversial draw. Four years later, they fought again with Pacquiao emerging the victor by split decision.

Peñalosa, considered by renowned trainer Freddie Roach as the most technical Filipino boxer ever, thinks the outcome will be vastly different this time.

According to Peñalosa, Pacquiao has grown stronger as he moved up in weight while Marquez seemed to be slower when he bowed to Floyd Mayweather at a catch weight of 144 pounds in 2009.

Peñalosa also noted that the four-division champion had been hit and hurt more often than before.

“What more, if it’s Manny who’s landing those punches,” said Peñalosa.

So confident is Peñalosa that he said lightheartedly that he’s saving $300 dollars to bet on Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

“One hundred for each round,” said Peñalosa, noting that a $100 bet for a first round KO will win $3,200.