Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao poses with Miss Universe contestant Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon.REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus 

(REUTERS) - Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez held their final news conference prior to their Saturday fight in Las Vegas. Pacquiao narrowly retained his WBO welterweight title with a controversial majority decision when they last met in November 2011. On that occasion, the Filipino southpaw earned two of the verdicts from the three judges, though it was a surprisingly unimpressive display and boos from disgruntled Marquez fans echoed around the arena after the shock decision was announced. Pacquiao is hoping to regain a measure of respect from boxing fans disappointed with their last meeting.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (L) and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico pose with Miss Universe contestants Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon and Miss Mexico Karina Gonzalez during a news conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

"This fight with Marquez, the fourth fight, is going to be a good fight and I know that he trained hard, he worked hard for this fight and he needs to prove something and I'm ready for that. Hoping for a good fight and more action in the ring on Saturday so that people will enjoy it and there will be no more doubts in the mind this fourth fight. I'm so focused for this fight. It's in god's hand," he said in a short statement from the podium.

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

Mexican Marquez is a three-division world champion and, according to Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, he has been the Filipino's most difficult opponent over the years. Their other two meetings ended in a Pacquaio victory and a draw. Marquez was confident his past four months of training with improvements in speed and power will tilt the scales in his favor.

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

"I want to give another great fight. The most important thing for this fight is that Manny Pacquiao knows me and I know him. This fight will be another war. Everybody's will watch another war because he knows me and I know him. I want to invite everybody to watch another great fight. I prepare myself because I know this will be another war," Marquez said.

Marquez and Pacquiao are both renowned for their bold, all-action approach in the ring and they fought to a draw when they first met in May 2004.

The Mexican then lost his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino in a controversial one-point split decision in March 2008.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (L) and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico face off. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

In 2011, Pacquiao was tested to the full in their third encounter before he stunningly beat a visibly angry Marquez after the Filipino's preparations had been hampered by various distractions, including marital difficulties.

There is no title on the line Saturday but the WBO has stepped up and created a "Champion of the Decade" belt which the fighters posed with.

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus