By John F. McKenna (McJack): It is no secret that World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) is a workaholic when training for a fight. Manny will take on WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez in their Trilogy on November 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao well understands the significance of his fight with “Dinamita” and more than anyone else realizes that this is no ordinary fight. The Marquez fight will play a huge part in defining eight division champion Manny Pacquiao’s legacy.

In their first match up in 2004 at 126 pounds Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw even though Manny had knocked down Marquez three times in the first round. It was later discovered that one of the judges officiating the match erred in tabulating his scorecard. The mistake cost Pacquiao a victory. In their second match at 130 pounds in 2008, “Manny” scored a razor thin win over Marquez. Despite having knocked Marquez down in their second fight as well many fans and boxing analysts think Marquez won the fight. Marquez, who thinks he won both fights, has been pushing for a rematch ever since the conclusion of the second fight.

Manny started training for the Trilogy two weeks earlier than he would for an ordinary fight. Trainer Freddie Roach is used to Pacquiao’s fanaticism when it comes to his training regimen, but even Roach is surprised at how quickly “Pacman” is getting into shape.

Three days into his high altitude training at Baguio, Manny asked Roach for a sparring session with former WBC featherweight and WBA super featherweight champion Jorge Linares. Linares (31-1, 20 KO’s) will be fighting Antonio Demarco on October 15 for the vacant WBC lightweight title. After sparring with “Pacman”, Linares obviously impressed with Manny predicted that he would KO Marquez in four or five rounds.

Early in the morning Pacquiao had jogged with marathoner Brian Livingstone, from Los Angeles. The run which was originally scheduled for 3.8 kilometers was extended another three kilometers, with Manny wanting still more.

Manny Pacquiao is not a fighter who needs to be pushed during training. To the contrary, Manny sometimes over trains as was the case in his match with Shane Mosley last May. It was thought that the over training resulted in the leg cramps Pacquiao complained about during the fight with Mosley. The cramps restricted Manny’s side to side movement while attacking Mosley. Many observers took his lack of movement as a sign that Pacquiao is slowing down.

Manny Pacquiao wants to defeat Marquez for sure, but he also wants to demonstrate to the world that he is still at the top of his game.