MANILA, Philippines - Juan Manuel Marquez’ first-round knockout of Likar Ramos failed to stun Manny Pacquiao.
Marquez, many believe, could have done better facing a tougher opponent instead of that fall guy from Colombia.
Pacquiao caught a late glimpse of last Sunday’s fight in Cancun. It was over even before the crowd could warm up their seats.
Ramos was gone in 90 seconds or a little over perhaps.
Yes, it looked so easy.
Marquez should have taken on a second opponent that same evening if he wanted to get tuned for his next fight with Pacquiao.
“Hinipan lang eh,” Pacquiao told scribes Tuesday midnight, motioning like he was gently blowing candles on a birthday cake.
“Ganun lang ang ginawa,” he added.
He was pressed to make a prediction on his third fight with Marquez, set Nov. 12 in Las Vegas, but was on his old self.
“I prefer to be quiet,” said Pacquiao.
But then he said, smiling, “Pabubugbog ko siya sa kaibigan ko (I will let my friend beat him up). Kilala niyo siya? (You guys know him?)”
Pacquiao was pointing to his own image, a life-size cardboard image of the boxing icon endorsing a dietary supplement for men.
Again, he was pressed to say more, but he refused.
“Okay lang ako (I’m fine),” he said.
Pacquiao also was asked if there was any truth to reports that he had fired his Canadian adviser, Michael Koncz.
He shook his head.
“Hindi totoo (Not true),” said Pacquiao.
Then he begged off to join his friends at the table at the Pan Pacific Hotel.