How prepared is Juan Manuel Marquez against Manny Pacquiao?

EVERYONE will just have to wait around for four more months because no matter how many times the video of Saturday’s fight is replayed, no one could really see how much has changed with Juan Manuel Marquez.

The fight against Michael Katsidis lasted nine rounds, but that was a year ago. The bout against Likar Ramos was just on Saturday, but only a few seconds.

So while fight fans speculate, it will be an agonizing wait before another one of Manny Pacquiao’s consolation bouts is fought on November 12.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still a dream, and fight fans had been aching to see what the recent runner-up in the Pacquiao stakes could bring into the ring.

But Marquez did not get to show off his skills as Ramos, a Colombian ranked third in the lightweight category by the World Boxing Association, went crashing to the canvas after taking a right straight to the face at the two-minute and 47-second mark of the first round and didn’t get up until long after his cornermen and medical staff climbed into the ring.

Now the countdown to the finale of the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy is officially on.

After a draw in 2004 and a split decision that went the Filipino’s way in 2008, Pacquiao and Marquez are set to clash anew.

It will be at a catch weight of 147 lb for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight championship belt at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach recently said Pacquiao’s program will be nine weeks instead of the usual eight.

The promotional tour will start in Manila on September 3 and end in Mexico a week later.

“What we are planning is a press conference with both fighters in Manila in the Philippines on Saturday, September 3,” Arum told Boxing Scene. We expect attendance of 500,000 [in Manila].”

“Then, from there, we leave from Manila on Monday morning, arrive in New York on Monday [US time] afternoon for the scheduled press conference the following day.”

The party then fly to Los Angeles for the third leg of the tour.

The Mexico stop of the promotional tour will be held at the Presidential Square where Arum expects 50,000 people to attend.

A fifth stop in Washington, D.C., is possible, according to Arum although he was quick to add that this is remote.