Juan Manuel Marquez’s training for his fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 8 took a giant step a few days ago when he logged 13 kilometers of roadwork on the footsteps of the 15,354-foot Nevado de Toluca, Mexico’s fourth highest peak.
Escorted by security personnel on motorcycle, Marquez said his whole body ached after the first two weeks of high-altitude training that included chopping wood using an ax and slamming a tire with a sledgehammer.
“After working hard in the first two weeks, my body is aching but once you get used to the training, you’ll feel like a well-oiled machine,” Marquez, 39, told the Mexican media.
Team Marquez plans to do 10 workouts in the mountains of Nevado de Toluca as part of the boxer’s rigid preparation for what will likely be the final chapter of his storied rivalry with Pacquiao.
Raul de Anda, a long-time member of Marquez’s entourage, presided over the mountain phase of the training in Toluca (altitude of 8,700 feet) as chief tactician Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain is holed up at the Romanza Gym in Mexico City (altitude 7,000 feet).
Even though Marquez hasn’t scored a win over Pacquiao in their three matches, the Mexican believes he was the recipient of bum decisions in all of their encounters. The first fight in May 2004 ended on a draw while the next two were ruled close points decision wins for the Filipino.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, will report for training at the Wild Card in Hollywood on Oct. 15.
Trainer Freddie Roach said he will have no choice but to close the gym for two hours while Pacquiao is training so they can max out their preparation.
Pacquiao is actually getting warmed up for the tough grind under Roach as he has been doing his morning roadwork and doing light workouts in the afternoon.
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