Juan Manuel Marquez faces what could be the defining moment of a legendary boxing career on Saturday when he fights Manny Pacquiao in the quest for a world title in his fourth different weight class.

The 38-year-old Mexican has enjoyed a grat career, but settled for a controversial 2004 draw with Pacquiao and lost a 2008 rematch by one point on one judge's scorecard, leaving their third slugfest to settle the score.

"Without a doubt it's personal for me," Marquez said. "I didn't get the decisions in the first two. I thought I won them both. The third fight will show who is the best."

Marquez, 53-5 with one draw and 39 knockouts, has won world titles at featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight and hopes to take Pacquiao's World Boxing Organization title on Saturday.

"He needs this fight badly," Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said of Marquez. "You will see a high level of boxing in that ring on Saturday."

His willingness to exchange flurries of punches made his bouts with the Filipino icon exciting for fight fans, but he is confident he can take a decision if he is unable to land a knockout blow.

"I'm just going in with the mentality I have to win the rounds and if the opportunity comes to knock him out, I'm not going to hesitate," Marquez said.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 11/11/2011 page23)