HE has downplayed his tag as the "Mexican Assassin," but former champion Manny Pacquiao believes World Boxing Council super featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Marquez is the "only Mexican left" with a chance against him with just a week left before their much-awaited rematch.

"He (Marquez) is hungry for a victory in this fight because he’s the only Mexican left who has a chance to beat me. He wants to make a name by beating me," Pacquiao said in a recent news conference.

The flamboyant southpaw from Gen. Santos City said he expects the 34-year-old Marquez to be well prepared, especially since the Mexican has a lot of motivation, in their March 15 (March 16 in Manila) rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"I’m expecting Marquez at his 100 percent best," he said.

"He needs to win this fight, that’s why he will do his best to fight a good fight and to win this fight. I won’t let him do that and I have trained hard and prepared for this fight, so it’s going to be a good fight," he added.

Pacquiao, 29, has been tagged the "Mexican Assassin" even before completing the trilogy of fights against superstar Erik Morales, which he dominated, and his two bouts with another Mexican superstar, Marco Antonio Barrera.

Other prizefighters from the country south of the United States, such as Hector Velasquez and Oscar Larios, also fought Pacquiao but all failed.

Pacquiao now seems to be setting his sights on other targets, such as crossing over to other markets and moving up in weight.

"Well, I want to be liked not only in the Philippines but all over the world and including the Mexican people and I don’t want somebody calling me the Mexican Assassin," Pacquiao said.

"Right now I’m very focused for the March 15 fight with Marquez. I think I want to fight at a higher weight and 135 pounds because I think that I can make it," adding he is confident he can slug it out against WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, who also beat Morales.

"He’s strong but he’s not fast. He’s a good fighter, and strong, but I believe that I can beat Diaz."

However, there is an apparent apprehension at Top Rank, the outfit that promotes Pacquiao’s fights.

"Everybody should know that David Diaz will be on the card on the televised portion of the card, he’ll be fighting a 10-round non-title fight against Ramon Montano on the card," said Top Rank boss Bob Arum.

For now, Pacquiao said he is focused entirely on the rematch with Marquez, whom he downed thrice in the opening round of the first encounter almost four years ago. Marquez got up each time to force a draw after 12 rounds.

"I think I have learned more experience than the first fight and Freddie has taught me a lot of new techniques and more development of my right hand," Pacquiao said.

"I think that Marquez is still strong and still a good fighter and I won’t underestimate Marquez," he added.

World renowned trainer Freddie Roach also said Pacquiao has improved much and acknowledged that Marquez himself has progressed into a better fighter, quickly adding they are prepared for whatever the Mexican would throw at them come fight night.

"He’s (Pacquiao) a much more complete fighter now and he’s a lot stronger and I think you know, he’s just overall a better fighter and Marquez, you know, he’s changed his style a little bit and being a little bit more offensive and come at you guys and throw more punches and I hope he keeps doing that," said Roach.

"I hope he doesn’t go back to his kind of punching style with Pacquiao but I think if he comes to us it’ll make it easier. But if he wants to go with the kind of punching style we’ve got a great game plan for that."

"There’s a lot of difference from the first fight and I think that we will surprise everyone with our new strategy. It will be different from the strategy on the first fight," Pacquiao added.