Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is telling those closest to him that he doesn't want his upcoming fight with Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez left in the hands of the judges. Pacquiao and Marquez will meet on November 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It will be the third fight between the two -  in 2004 Marquez survived three first round knockdowns to battle Pacquiao to a draw in a WBA/IBF featherweight title fight. 

Four years later the two went head-to-head once again, this time for the WBC super featherweight title, and Pacquiao just scraped through on a 12 round split decision. Throughout his entire 16 year career, Marquez is the one opponent who has consistently given Pacquiao major problems. This time, he is determined to get his rival out of there early, and become the first man ever to KO the Mexican warrior in his 18 year ring career.

Since their last meeting, both fighters have been extremely successful in the ring. Pacquiao has set new standards in boxing: After stopping off at 135 lbs to KO David Diaz and win the WBC lightweight title, Pacman has focused on the welterweight division. Despite being at a size disadvantage in his last six fights, Pacquiao has hammered Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton (at junior welterweight), Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito (at super welterweight) and Shane Mosley, and has added the WBO welterweight and WBC super welterweight (since vacated) championship belts to his collection.

No slouch himself, since losing to Pacquiao in 2008, Marquez has moved up to lightweight, defeating Joel Casamayor, then kayoing Juan Diaz to win the WBA and WBO lightweight titles. In 2009 he boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr at welterweight, climbing off the canvas in the second round to lose a one-sided decision.

The Mayweather defeat seems to have had no adverse affect on Marquez whatsoever, and he subsequently defeated Juan Diaz in a rematch, then KO'd Michael Katsidis in a nine round thriller. In July this year, Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO's) proved that at 38 he is punching as hard as ever – blowing away Colombian Likar Ramos one round.

The main difference between the two men since 2008 is that Pacquiao is a much bigger fighter now than he was three years ago. He is punching harder than ever before in his career, yet has lost none of his speed and mobility. Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach believe that in Pacquiao v Marquez III, the size factor will be decisive. 

When asked recently if Pacquiao would be gunning for a knockout this time around Roach replied: "That's what we're training him for."

So intense is Pacquiao in his preparation for his fight with Marquez that there is a concern amongst certain members of his camp that he is peaking too soon and will be burnt out come fight night. As Roach said: "We're way ahead of where we usually are, like 75-80% of where we should be by fight night. We're usually around 50% right now. I have to make sure we don't overdo it."

Alex Ariza - Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach - bore testament to his charge's intense pre-fight preparation, claiming it was of the same level as when Pacquiao TKO'd Miguel Cotto in twelve sensational rounds in December 2009, his last inside the distance victory, saying: "He wants to be as big as he was against Miguel Cotto, but Cotto was the equivalent of a linebacker, and Marquez is a free safety. I think he just wants to kill Marquez."

Even the fight's promoter, 79 year old Bob Arum was reportedly heard saying: "Slow him down, Freddie!" after another intense workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club, Roach's gym in Hollywood, California. 

32-year-old Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO's) simply laughed when questioned about the level of intensity he was applying in preparation for Marquez: "I'm focusing on my strength and speed," Pacquiao said. "They're watching my body, so I don't become too big. I control my training, step by step, until the time comes to fight. I want to be gradual in my training."

Big Fight Odds: Manny Pacquiao 1/8, Juan Manuel Marquez 5/1 bet365