Mayweather-Pacquiao: No fear, no mercy, no excuses

In just a few hours, the boxing world's Fight of the Century will commence at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The protagonists, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, have proclaimed that they have done their homework and are ready to rumble. They promise to give the fans the fight of a lifetime and we expect them to deliver nothing less.

Thus, we expect them to be at their best when the bell rings. It will be a fight between two fighters considered to be among the best of all time. We will witness tonight a chess match between the best defensive fighter of his era versus the most explosive offensive fighter of his generation.

The case for Floyd Mayweather, Jr, to defuse Manny Pacquiao's attacks lies in his ever-present intelligent jabs and a very vicious right. Add the patented shoulder roll, the ring smarts and ring generalship to the lot and you will have a defense that will be hard to penetrate. Mayweather can pick his spots and can snipe Manny Pacquiao with clean shots every time Pacquiao strays into his territory.

On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao's unorthodox fighting style that gave many of his previous opponents fits must be present tonight if he wants to break into Floyd Mayweather's vaunted defense. Pacquiao's footwork, power and speed must work in unison in order for him to deliver his bombs to Mayweather.
The old classic offense versus defense boxing cliche will still be a factor here. Both fighters are considered to be some of the best, if not the best, when it comes to their craft; thus we expect them to try to impose their will and their brand of fighting on each other.

In a fight of this magnitude, an offensive juggernaut like Manny Pacquiao should start fast and deliver his 'shock and awe' early to put Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the defensive. Pacquiao's relentless attacks should put a siege that will paralyze Mayweather's defensive fortifications. Pacquiao should rain hell coming from all angles into Mayweather by using his superior hand speed and powerful straight lefts down the button to obliterate his foe. Pacquiao's seldom used right hand, the "Manila Ice," can be a big factor in the fight.

But Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is not an easy prey to collar -- the main reason why he is still undefeated going into the megafight. If Mayweather survives the Pacquiao onslaught in the initial stages of the fight and adjusts as he always does to disrupt his opponent's rhythm, his pin-point accuracy with both hands can put Pacquiao in trouble, as the Filipino dynamo is still susceptible to the overhand right that Juan Manuel Marquez used to demolish him in their fourth fight. Timothy Bradley tried this strategy as well and was successful at times, but ultimately failed to crack Manny Pacquiao's now suspect chin in their second fight.

In order for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to deliver on their promises, the fighter who will emerge victorious in tonight's match should be able to stick to his game plan and impose his will over his nemesis. The winning fighter should be able to control and dictate the tempo of the fight and should show no mercy in finishing off his opponent when the opportunity knocks.

Hence, this writer will go against the majority flow and have Manny Pacquiao taking out Floyd Mayweather, Jr. inside the distance of a brutal albeit tactical fight.

Note: Any comments, reactions, and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page.

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner.

Beatdown at The Forum: Juan Manuel Marquez survives Mike Alvarado

Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) came out to fight Saturday night and put on a show in California against tough American Mike Alvarado to win the inconsequential WBO International Welterweight title and put him in contention for a probable megafight with old nemesis Manny Pacquiao this fall.

The Mexican legend earned the nod of the three judges: Robert Byrd (119-108), Julie Lederman (117-109) and Max De Luca (117-109), who were unanimous with their judgment.

Prior to Juan Manuel Marquez's showdown with Mike Alvarado, The Forum, the historic arena in Inglewood and the past home of the Los Angeles Lakers during their "Showtime" era, was the site of Juan Manuel Marquez's 12 previous fights as a young fighter on the rise, but he last fought there in 1999. That's why Juan Manuel Marquez's triumphant return to what he referred to as his 'home' was nothing but sweet, as his stock went down following his split decision loss to Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last year.

The victory against a young fighter like Mike Alvarado proved that Juan Manuel Marquez is still a formidable fighter at 40 years old. When younger fighters have fallen by the wayside, the 'old' Juan Manuel Marquez, like fine wine, continues to amaze the boxing world with his age-defying hand speed, durability and power.

With the majority of the crowd of 12,000 behind him, Juan Manuel Marquez, ever the technician, took the fight to the tentative and gun-shy Alvarado and controlled the first half of the 12-round bout. But Marquez found himself into a firefight when the sleepwalking Alvarado suddenly came to life right after being sent crashing to the canvas and into the ropes in the 8th on a powerful right to the face, reminiscent of the punch that knocked Manny Pacquiao out. Alvarado survived the round and got a tongue-lashing from his corner "to let his hands go."

Having jolted back to his senses, Mike Alvarado went for broke in the 9th and engaged Juan Manuel Marquez in a dogfight. And with 2 minutes left in the round, the Denver native beat the Mexican to the punch and landed a powerful right to the chin to send Marquez on the seat of his pants, reminiscent of the way he landed when Manny Pacquiao bombed him in their first fight.

Then in the 10th, instead of sustaining his form from the last round, the enigmatic Mike Alvarado chose to dance around, evade a brawl and fight in spurts, while Juan Manuel Marquez pressed the action more and landed hard-thudding combinations on Mike Alvarado.

After being berated again and reminded that "you know you need a knockout" by his corner, Mike Alvarado came out smoking in the 11th and stayed in front of Juan Manuel Marquez in a slugfest. A right hand from Alvarado connected and buckled Marquez's legs (like the way they buckled in the Timothy Bradley fight), but Marquez was able to hold his body up, regain his balance and come back to battle until the bell sounded.

After the hard-fought fight, Juan Manuel Marquez said, "I expected this kind of fight. I said it was going to be a tough fight and I said it was going to be a difficult fight."

As that old cliche goes, it was the fight that "separates the men from the boys" -- and Juan Manuel Marquez proved why he is still the man to beat in the welterweight division and one of the best fighters in the history of the sport.

The 12th was all vintage Juan Manuel Marquez as he pressed the action while Mike Alvarado elected to revert to his old shell and let Marquez dictate the tempo and outcome of the fight.

Alvarado, with both gloves up and close to his face, waited for the opportunity to land his big shots, but Marquez did not let him be. There's an old saying that "patience is a virtue," but it is not the case in the fight game -- as the clock ticked away, suddenly gun-shy Mike Alvarado just let the biggest fight of his career pass him by.


 Note: Any comments, reactions and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page.

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner.

Manny Pacquiao: "No Excuses"

“I want people who watch this fight to be satisfied. I don’t care about a belt and I don’t care about the money – I want to win in style.”- Manny Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Marquez better watch out. Manny Pacquiao is going to put the hurt tonight. But that will only happen if the Filipino boxing superstar is in top shape and true to his pronouncements.

We may say, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have fought for 36 rounds before, and the Filipino fighter managed to put the Mexican down four times but failed to finish him off; what else is new this time around?

For a change, the news that came out of his training camp was nothing but positive, encouraging and spectacular. They say that Manny Pacquiao is very focused and has worked very hard for this fight. Gone are the usual distractions: the booze, the gambling, the women and the late nights. They advertised that the fire in his belly is back and that he has knocked down several sparring partners this time around, a fact that has not been seen in his training camp since his preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight as proof.

Yet amid all these pronouncements and press releases, many of us remain skeptical since we all have heard this kind of news before, and we all have read this kind of script before, and we all have seen this kind of movie before.

Truth is, Manny Pacquiao has not been the same fighter inside the ring ever since he showed mercy on a bloodied Miguel Cotto in 2009. He then went out and had fun with Joshua Clottey and made mince-meat of Antonio Margarito a year later. And in 2011, instead of fighting, Manny Pacquiao engaged Shane Mosley in a 'touched-gloved' diplomacy and did not take Juan Manuel Marquez seriously in their trilogy.

And last June, Manny Pacquiao cruised and sleepwalked on Timothy Bradley, which he could have easily taken care of if he only cared enough to push for a stoppage. And so Manny Pacquiao paid the price for his lackluster performance by eventually losing the said fight albeit a controversial one.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao has been shamed and humbled by the Bradley debacle. And he is on a mission to bounce back and show the boxing world that he can still be a fireball inside the ring.

Yes, despite his age and the wear and tear, Manny Pacquiao wants to prove that he can still be the 'Typhoon from the Pacific' who can unleash a storm against his opponent. Yes, Manny Pacquiao wants to silence his critics and convince the skeptics and regain the stature that made him one of the most loved, if not the best fighter of his era.

Manny Pacquiao states that tonight, there will be "no doubts this time" when he hammers the final nail on the coffin on the Juan Manuel Marquez question.

However, all these talks about Manny Pacquiao's exploits in training camp would not matter if on fight night, Manny Pacquiao fails to deliver. All these press releases to be the 'old' Manny Pacquiao and knock out Juan Manuel Marquez will be for naught if he fails to pull the trigger.

So, if Manny Pacquiao hopes to 'win in style', then all he has to do is bear in mind that old famous Nike slogan, "Just Do It."

 Note: This article was previously posted on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Juan Manuel Marquez: In search of the holy "grain"

If we want to understand Juan Manuel Marquez's mentality as a fighter, we only need to look back in all the things that he did and the discipline that goes with them so that he can acquire "that little grain of difference" against his opponents.

And there is no other fighter that can make Juan Manuel Marquez shift into overdrive in preparation for a fight than Manny Pacquiao. He engaged the Filipino superstar in three brutal wars that could have gone either way, but he ended up on the losing end twice (2008, 2011) and managed to eke out a draw in one (2004).

And there is no other topic that can make Juan Manuel Marquez's blood curdle than the mention of his defeats to Manny Pacquiao. His setbacks to the Filipino fighter are what drive him to prepare harder and resort to unconventional methods just so he can have even the slightest edge over his nemesis.

Yes, in the mind of Juan Manuel Marquez, he believed that he has won all three of their fights, a belief that only adds fuel to his desire to finally get one over Manny Pacquiao. And tonight he will have his chance to finally end years of frustration, quiet all his detractors and unburden him of the weights on his shoulders.

Juan Manuel Marquez's desperation bordering to obssession to finally beat Manny Pacquiao is one for the books; because of his unconventional approach in his quest for boxing's holy grail, Juan Manuel Marquez at one time or another has become the butt of jokes among fans and fighters alike.

After all, nobody in the boxing world has the mental toughness and intestinal fortitude that Juan Manuel Marquez has exhibited in preparation for a fight. His burning desire to have that wee-bit of an advantage once led him to drinking his own urine to no avail.

Juan Manuel Marquez has never shied away from using both traditional and new technology to enhance his chances of winning a fight. He uses the hyperbaric chamber to breathe 100% pure oxygen and has also incorporated 'cupping therapy' in his regimen to relax his 39-year old body.

And that search for "that little grain of difference" found him hooking up with Angel "Memo" Heredia, a trainer with a dark and shady past who once bragged in a 2009 interview that modern day testing for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports is 'laughable' -- Juan Manuel Marquez has made what many boxing observers believed to be a pact with the devil.

So, Juan Manuel Marquez with Angel "Memo" Heredia overseeing his strength and conditioning training has transformed himself into a hulking, muscular, well-chiseled specimen. He professes that he feels good and is ready to engage Manny Pacquiao in a no-holds-barred fight. He proclaims that his hard work and his new-found strength and speed will make the big difference in the fight. And he also vows that he will go for a knockout against Manny Pacquiao this time around.

But whether Juan Manuel Marquez has really found 'that little grain of difference' with Memo Heredia in his corner for this fight remains to be seen. Juan Manuel Marquez will still need to go out there and prove his mettle against Manny Pacquiao to earn the nod of the boxing public.  Juan Manuel Marquez needs to commit and take the fight to Manny Pacquiao to show the judges who is in charge inside the ring.  As they usually say, a warrior does not waste his time waiting for the enemy to commit mistakes and good fortune always favors the brave.

Tonight, a victory by Juan Manuel Marquez will be a vindication of his long quest and the road that he has taken for that elusive W against Manny Pacquiao. But another defeat in the hands of his traditional nemesis will not only be devastating but a bitter pill to swallow for the fighter from Mexico.

So, what would Juan Manuel Marquez do?




Note: This article was previously posted on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

"Charles & Reggie: Toe to Toe with Manny Pacquiao" explodes on TNT tonight

We all know that Manny Pacquiao loves basketball and is a big fan of the NBA. It is well-known that on numerous occassions, he would defy his trainer Freddie Roach's order not to play the game during training just so he can play pick-up basketball with his friends.

But if there is any doubt left about the Filipino boxing superstar's passion for the game, we only need to remember his fight with Timothy Bradley last June wherein Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum decided to delay the start of the main event so that Pacquiao could watch Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

We also know that NBA Legends and Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller are big boxing aficionados. They are also regular fixtures at big time fights in Las Vegas. And NBA fans have seen Charles Barkley figured in a scuffle with fellow TNT analyst Shaquille O'Neal eons ago during one of their games, but if we are talking about Sir Charles' boxing skills, that's another story.

On numerous occasions, both Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller have been very vocal about their love of prizefigting as well as professing their admiration for Manny Pacquiao during their coverage of NBA games on TNT.

And in last week's Thursday night telecast of the Miami-San Antonio game, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller spoke about their experience working out with Manny Pacquiao.

Charles Barkley: “We spent a day with Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, and let me tell you something — one of the great days of my life. “

"I don’t wanna brag, but there’s no doubt in my mind I could knock Manny Pacquiao out."

To which, Reggie Miller disagreed, “No, you can’t. Manny (Pacquiao) call me, let’s set this up.”

Now, there is no doubt that Reggie Miller is one of the best shooters to ever play in the NBA. Yes, there is no doubt that Charles Barkley is one of the best talkers, if not the best bruisers to ever play in the NBA. And there is no doubt that Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers to ever display his wares in the ring. Aside from their common love for Boxing and Basketball, all three are funny and hilarious in their own special way.

Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller gave us a hint of what we should expect from the 30-minute TNT wherein they went toe-to-toe with Manny Pacquiao.

 "As a boxing fan, it was one of the coolest things I've ever done," Barkley said.

"As a professional athlete, it's always interesting to hear how other elite athletes prepare themselves for competition. Training with Manny was an experience I'll never forget," added Miller.

It will be interesting to see how Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Manny Pacquiao talk shop, interact, and literally and figuratively throw jabs at each other -- a welcome respite from all the monotony and serious talk about the fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, subjective odds, analysis and all, being peddled to every boxing fan by boxing scribes during fight week.

Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that the well-adverstised TNT special will not only be explosive but a knockout; Laugh-wise, that is.

Tonight, TNT will air  "Charles & Reggie: Toe to Toe with Manny Pacquiao" after the NBA double-header between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks at 8 p.m. ET, with the Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns following at 10:30 p.m. ET.

 Note: This article was previously posted on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

ESPN First Take: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez

Manny Pacquiao at the crossroads

Credits: 

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao can't seem to find his head these days. Even prior to his controversial loss to Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao's focus regarding his boxing career was already being questioned by many observers. As if his duties and responsibilities as an elected representative in the Philippine Congress were not enough, his newly-found religious fervor now also has to compete with the time that he has to spend in the ring.

As of this writing, Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao cannot seem to agree on the timeframe of his return to the ring as well as on his preferred opponent if ever he decides to fight again this year. This uncertainty coupled with his actions and behaviors in the past is another obvious sign that shows his heart is no longer 100% into his boxing career.

But one thing is certain, whether Manny Pacquiao decides to fight on November 10 or on a later date in December, the list of familiar opponents being touted does not excite even his die-hard fans more so the casual ones.

Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto, and Juan Manuel Marquez are all good fighters in their own right, but to many fans they are not the fights that they want to see, especially at this stage of Manny Pacquiao's career. But we also cannot deny the reality that Manny Pacquiao has very little options left except against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

But since Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is enjoying an extended sabbatical from boxing after his stint in prison and trying his darndest best to evade the Pacquiao question, the boxing powers that be have given us just three choices to pick on who will be Manny Pacquiao's next dancing partner if and when he decides to fight.

In this writer's opinion, Miguel Cotto should not even be in the equation, especially after the brutal beating that the Pacman inflicted on him. There is no drama nor the element of surprise here as the fight was conclusive and one-sided. The loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., even though the Boricua fighter gave a good account of himself, further disqualifies him in many boxing observers' minds.

Timothy Bradley, despite all his pronouncements lately, just does not cut it out. The boxing world knows who won the fight that night in Las Vegas, except the boxing judges who robbed Manny Pacquiao of his belt and gave it to Bradley, despite Bradley doing almost nothing to improve his stock in the fight. The dole-out was just inconceivable even to the eyes of the casual boxing fans who probably don't know the difference between a right hook and a bare-handed slap. No boxing fan in his right mind would want to undergo the experience of watching a snoozefest the second time around.

That leaves us with Manny Pacquiao's perennial nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. The Mexican is probably the only fighter who was able to solve the Pacquiao puzzle and was not intimidated by the Filipino's mystique in the ring. Their trilogy was very competitive albeit controversial as both camps and their supporters believed in their hearts that their own fighter was the rightful winner regardless of the result of the fight.

Juan Manuel Marquez provides danger and a challenge to Manny Pacquiao. The Mexican fighter is like a bad nightmare that never goes away. Manny Pacquiao needs to put a stop to Juan Manuel Marquez's emphatic claims regarding their past fights.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao should choose Juan Manuel Marquez from the list in order for him to put an end to the lingering doubts of the skeptics regarding his close victories over the Mexican legend. Manny Pacquiao needs to stamp his class and put Marquez away decisively and for good.

But before he puts his name on the dotted line, Manny Pacquiao should try to look inside himself and find out whether he still has the fire and desire to continue fighting. Otherwise, it is time to walk away from the fight game.

 Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Pacquiao-Marquez III: A look into the 'polarizing decision'

It's been days since the Saturday megafight and hopefully, by this time, the people who have watched the fight have all been sobered up and less emotional and have a clearer perspective and understanding of what happened that night. Maybe this time they're now more attuned to using their heads rather than be carried away by their emotions.

The third installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy has divided not only the boxing community but also the casual observers on who the rightful winner and welterweight champion of the world would be.

The camps of both Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez and their supporters have been very vocal with their claims that their man was the real winner last Saturday night. There were two schools of thought on the matter as to which should have more weight when judging a fight: the fighter who threw more punches versus the one who connected cleaner but at a lesser rate; the aggressor versus the counter-puncher; the fighter coming forward and initiating the action versus the fighter backpedaling and waiting for the opportunity to strike.


*Continue reading Pacquiao-Marquez III: A look into the 'polarizing decision' HERE

Behind the Scenes: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III

Trouble in Paradise

Some ring observers have noticed that Manny Pacquiao was not in his usual self during his walk from the dressing room to the ring against Juan Manuel Marquez. Gone were the bright smiles, the happy hand gestures and that extra bounce on his feet that all characterized his ring entrances in the past. If one has watched Pacquiao's fights before, one will probably notice the difference in his demeanor.

It seemed that Manny Pacquiao was not 100% focused during the fight. There were things that were probably bothering his mind. Just days prior to the fight, there were some reports coming out of the Philippines that there was trouble in Manny Pacquiao's homefront and even in his camp.

There was this rumor or news that Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, were not in good terms because of his infidelities and were seeking an annulment. And to add insult to injury, there was another rumor going around that Pacquiao sired another baby from another woman, a 23-year-old culinary arts student. And given his recent preponderance for giving 'royal' names to his children, a lot of people believed the rumor, even though the alleged mother of the said child has come out and denied that the Filipino pound-for-pound king was the father of King Arthur (yes, that is the baby's name.) (Note: Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's trainer also had a son named King Arthur). It turned out that Manny Pacquiao stood as one of the godfathers of the child.

Then there was this report by Chino Trinidad on how cold Jinkee was to Manny Pacquiao as well as his rift with his strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, wherein he described the usually mild-mannered Pacquiao as 'very angry' and listed 'BlackBerry cellphones' and an 'expensive table glass top' as casualties of the said 'misunderstanding.' Alex Ariza eventually admitted that there were just some misunderstandings between him and Manny Pacquiao, and that they were 'now okay' just a day heading into the fight.

Now, it just makes us wonder why some of these so-called Manny Pacquiao supporters would propagate these kinds of issues or spin some twists on a plot unrelated to boxing, especially on the eve or just days before Pacquiao's major fight.

Whether the observations by the casual observers and the rest of the news reports are true remains to be seen.


*Continue reading 'Behind the Scenes: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquezz III- HERE

End Game: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III

Tonight, the third and probably final installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and promises to be a war between two protagonists who both want to prove a point and end all the questions on who is the superior fighter between them.

The very technical and skilled counter-puncher in Juan Manuel Marquez faces Manny Pacquiao, the speedy offensive dynamo, in a fight that will finally settle the score and close the final chapter of their highly competitive, well-fought and controversial history. A history between two warriors who carry the weight of their nations on their shoulders, a history of pride and determination that was documented in blood, sweat and tears ever since they first traded punches in 2004 and reprised the part in 2008.


*Continue reading the article HERE

HBO Ring Life: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez recap

Boxing fans will learn more about Juan Manuel Marquez than they will about Manny Pacquiao in this episode. This is because we are now so acquainted with the life story of Manny Pacquiao that it seems there is very little left out there that has not been covered in the past. Yet, there were some new insights that we can get if we watch and listen close enough.

The episode started with Manny Pacquiao telling his story that we've all heard before, and then some. Growing up in the Phillipines, Manny Pacquiao was "dirt poor, abandoned by his father, no money to buy food," and turned to boxing to help his mother make ends meet.

"I turned pro at 16, from the beginning I was not a very good fighter and I don't have natural talent but I had a determination to win the fight." -- Of course, considering where he is now, we all know that this was just partly true, because at a young age, with minimal or no amateur experience at all, Manny Pacquiao was not a very good fighter. But with his hard work and determination, Manny Pacquiao discovered his innate talent in prizefighting, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Freddie Roach, for his part, spoke of his chance meeting with the current pound-for-pound fighter in the world, which he now attributes to fate: "12 years ago he walked into my gym and his manager asked me to work the mitts with him. After one round, I was impressed with his quickness and timing. Every time he hit the mitts, it sounded like gunfire."

So, I said to my friend after the short workout, 'This kid can fight!'"

And Manny Pacquiao went back to his manager and told him, "We have a new trainer."


*Continue reading the article- HERE

Notes from the Pacquiao-Marquez III weigh-in

The weigh-in for the third installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was witnessed by a capacity crowd of 5,500. There were several people turned away when the management decided to close the doors for the spectacle. Based on history, packing the said venue no longer surprises anyone, as this has become the norm whenever a Manny Pacquiao fight is held in Sin City.

The atmosphere was electric as both the boisterous Mexican and Filipino fans engaged in a friendly back and forth; cheering and heckling to their hearts' content as the two protagonists prepared for the official weigh-in.

Amid a mixture of cheers and boos from the mostly young and energetic crowd, Marquez, the challenger and Ring Magazine's #5 P4P best, stepped onto the scale and weighed in at 142 lbs. He was soon followed by the WBO welterweight champion and current P4P king Manny Pacquiao amid a backdrop that screamed "Manny Pacquiao for President?" -- a front page shot from one of the Philippines' biggest newspapers, Manila Bulletin. Manny Pacquiao went up to the official scale and weighed in at 143 lbs.

+ Continue reading Notes from Pacquiao-Marquez III weigh-in HERE

Pacquiao- Marquez III Press Con: Manny Pacquiao Q & A

video credit: 15rounds1/ YouTube

Done Deal: Manny Pacquiao dethrones Juan Manuel Marquez

Manny Pacquiao took Juan Manuel Marquez' belt via a split decision in a very close fight to become the new WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the world at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three ringside judges scored the fight, 115-112, 114-113 for Pacquiao, and 115-112 for Marquez.

The fight was a classic one between two brave and determined warriors who battled from the first round until the end of the fight. It was a nip and tuck slugfest that gave the fans their money’s worth for the night.

The Champion won the first round but Pacquiao came back to win the second. In round three, the Filipino sensation decked Marquez who was stunned and looked wobbly but couldn’t finish him off as Marquez was saved by the bell. Manny Pacquiao took the 4th round with ease with vicious hard punches but again failed to finish the game champ.

Marquez' took the fifth and sixth rounds with his counter- punching prowess but the Pacman came back to take the seventh. Marquez’ best round was the eight when he rocked Pacquiao with power punches to the face. He failed to sustain his intensity though in the next round as Pacquiao peppered him with timely power hits. It was the same story with the 10th round as Pacquiao continued his assault with more telling blows to the face of his opponent.

However, the champion threw more punches and connected better than the challenger in the penultimate and last rounds to come back into contention that put more spice into the already intense and heated rivalry not only between the two seasoned pugilists but among their rabid supporters.

The split decision in favor of Manny Pacquiao drew loud protests from some quarters citing that Marquez was the better fighter statistics- wise as shown in the Compu-box scorecards but to me his edge in the punches thrown and landed over Manny Pacquiao was negated by the knockdown in the third round.

Also, to the uninitiated, I’d like to point out that the fight was scored on the basis of the fighter’s performance on a per round basis not on the total number of punches unleashed during the fight.

That’s why even if Marquez connected more punches in the fight especially in the 8th round when Pacquiao, bothered by the cut on his right eye preferred to just cruise rather than engage Marquez toe-to-toe, Manny still leads in the scorecards (he came back and won rounds 9 and 10 where he rocked Marquez several times with solid combinations to earn a three- points cushion) going into the last two rounds.

It should be duly noted that Marquez won the 11th and 12th rounds which make them both winning 6 rounds apiece of their unfinished business rematch in my card.

And by using the 10-9 Scoring System employed by the World Boxing Council and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), Pacquiao won by a point in my book by virtue of his 10- 8 score when he dropped the defending champion to the canvass with a vicious left hook in the third round which proved to be the eventual difference in the fight.

Here's my score of the Fight...

Round 1: 10-9 Marquez
Round 2: 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 3: 10-8 Pacquiao
Round 4: 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 5: 10-9 Marquez
Round 6: 10-9 Marquez
Round 7: 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 8: 10-9 Marquez
Round 9: 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 10: 10- 9 Pacquiao
Round 11: 10- 9 Marquez
Round 12: 10- 9 Marquez


Here's a glimpse of the Awesome Fight--

Unfinished Business: Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

On Target: Manny Pacquiao