After 12 rounds of heavy combat, Juan Manuel Marquez raised both his hands believing that he clearly won the fight. Opposite him, Manny Pacquiao was in his corner kneeling and probably praying that the outcome of the fight will go his way.
Minutes later, Michael Buffer announced the verdict, 116-112, 115-113, 114-114, a
majority decision for Manny Pacquiao. A decision that raised the eyebrows of many. A decision that forever will be debated.
majority decision for Manny Pacquiao. A decision that raised the eyebrows of many. A decision that forever will be debated.
7 years ago, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez first met in the ring as featherweights. Pacquiao knocked Marquez down 3 times in the first round, only to see El Dinamita fight back and become stronger as the fight goes on. The bout ended in a draw.
4 years later, they met again in the card entitled "Unfinished Business", this time for Juan Manuel Marquez' WBC Super Featherweight title. Pacquiao won by a mere 1 point via split decision.
After 3 years, they clashed again. At a catchweight of 144 pounds, Pacquiao and Marquez were to settle the score between them and promised to leave the ring winning convincingly, proving who the better fighter is and putting a closure to their epic rivalry. But after 36 rounds, the controversy hasn't been settled.
How did Glenn Throwbridge score the bout 116-112 Pacquiao? How did Dave Moretti came with a 115-113 Pacquiao score? Only they know it. As they say, it's different when you are actually ringside watching the fight, than watching it on television. Even the compubox support the judges' scores, Pacquiao landed 176 of 578 punches. Marquez connected on 138 of 436 punches, preferring, as in his first two fights, to counter punch. Pacquiao had a 117-100 edge in power shots. Stats say that Pacquiao was the busier guy and even on a night where he wasn't the Pacman we usually see, he still outboxed Marquez.
To the eyes of many, not only mexicans but even Filipinos as well, Juan Manuel Marquez won the fight. He was precise with his punches. He hit Manny when it mattered most. He countered to perfection. He kept Manny thinking. He let everyone know that he has Manny's numbers. Proving to doubters that even in a bigger weight class, he can outclass the Pacman, that he can take his punches and retaliate with an even stronger one. And as the decision was handed, only Marquez could say was, "This is the second robbery of the two that we had, and I think this was even more clear than the first,".
“This is part of the game,” Pacquiao said. “The fight is close, but it is very clear I won the fight.” What was Clear, was that we didn't see the Manny Pacquiao that we used to see. We never saw the Pacquiao that annihilated the likes of Dela Hoya, Cotto, Hatton, Morales, Barrera, etc. We never saw the power left, the aggressiveness, the punches in bunches, the Knockdowns. But did we ever think that Marquez is a good counter puncher? Was Manny was being careful instead of being careless? We could only speculate. But even on a night when he was less spectacular, Manny Pacquiao still emerged the winner and in his eyes, he believed it.
After 3 meetings, nothing has been solved yet. Both fighters claiming winners of all three. Will they meet for the fourth time? We don't know. But one thing is for sure though, Juan Manuel Marquez earned the respect of each and everyone of us and have proven to be the puzzle that a Manny Pacquiao can't solve.
For Manny Pacquiao, a greater challenge is waiting for him. "Let's get it on," Pacquiao said of Mayweather. "Let's make the fight happen and give the people a good fight."
The world is waiting.......
