By Chris Williams: Former WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto is really high on WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s chances at beating 38-year-old challenger Juan Manuel Marquez in their November 12th fight.

Berto, who fights next month on September 3rd against IBF welterweight champion Jan Zaveck, thinks Pacquiao’s power and speed are going make it hard for Marquez in this fight.

Speaking with examiner.com, Berto said “You know what, Pacquiao right now… I believe he (Marquez) does have a chance, but Pacquiao, he’s just looking so ridiculously strong right now and fast. He’s completely different from when they fought back in the day, while Marquez is still a naturally small guy.”

Berto is right about one thing and that’s Marquez is definitely the smaller guy. He’s coming up two entire divisions to take this fight with only a small catchweight to help him out. He’s not only smaller but a lot older as well.

A 38-year-old fighter is a different thing from someone in their early 30s like Pacquiao. But as far as the power goes, I don’t see that being much of an advantage for Pacquiao in this fight. What the advantage is here is the size and youth.

It would have been good if Pacquiao fought Marquez a third time three years ago instead of waiting until Marquez was getting on in years and nearing 40. Timing is everything, as they say in boxing.

You get a young lion and you put him in with an old popular lion with most of its teeth missing and then you cart out in front of a mostly ignorant public, who don’t have a clue that the old lion is missing half his teeth. Then the young lion rips up the old one, and the boxing public go crazy thinking the young lion is the best thing since sliced bread.

Berto sure is saying nice things about Pacquiao, isn’t he? It makes you wonder if he’s especially nice hoping to be one of the lucky ones to get a payday fight against Pacquiao. He may get his chance depending on how good he looks against Zaveck. I figure if he struggles and wins, he might get a shot. But if he dominates Zaveck and destroys him, I see him being ignored.