Juan Manuel Marquez knows Manny Pacquiao very well after engaging in four action-packed bouts, but the Mexican boxing icon admitted that he saw a different Manny Pacquiao last month.
In a conference call related to Marquez's next fight, the 40-year-old Mexican admitted that he was impressed with Pacquiao's performance in his rematch with Timothy Bradley.
Marquez, who inflicted Pacquiao's most humbling loss in his illustrious career, said that he saw the best version of Pacquiao in the Bradley rematch, adding that the fire in Pacman's eye is back.
"I saw the best Manny Pacquiao," Marquez said. "He wants to beat everybody. I saw the best Pacquiao. Everyone knows that Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter and he is a world champion. Right now Pacquiao is back."
Marquez cited Pacquiao's effective use of his footwork to confuse and stop Bradley in his tracks, which also allowed the former pound-for-pound king to land telling blows against the then-unbeaten champion.
"Right now Pacquiao is using his feet very well. He moves in the ring. I saw the best Manny Pacquiao because he landed a lot of punches and was moving on his feet. I liked the way Manny Pacquiao fought very much," Marquez said.
Marquez, who is coming off a loss to Bradley, will look to get back to his winning ways when he collides with Mike Alvarado on Saturday, May 17, and The Forum in Los Angeles.
Reports indicated that a Marquez victory could lead to a fifth showdown between Marquez and Pacquiao, who is aching to avenge his sixth-round knockout loss in their fourth fight in December 2012.
Marquez said that he is not yet thinking about the possible fifth fight against Pacquiao as he is focused in his upcoming fight against Alvarado, but he admitted that he really wants to win a fifth world title in as many division, and Pacquiao's WBO welterweight title is on top of his list.
"I want to make history by winning another world title," said Marquez, who is looking to become the first Mexican to reach the feat. "It's something that's never been done. That is what I am looking forward to towards the end of my career, to win that next world title."
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