Did Roach Unwittingly Lead Pacquiao To Marquez KO Ambush in 2012?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Dec 2020
Eight years ago on December 8, 2012, Manny Pacquiao faced Mexican archrival Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time in a bid to bounce back from an earlier controversial decision defeat to USA's Timothy Bradley that resulted to his losing his WBO world welterweight title.
What followed was another unexpected defeat and worst, by a sixth round knockout in the hands of an opponent who had never came close before to even put him down but in fact, tasted the canvas four times in two of their three previous fights.
It was the only time that Pacquiao had suffered a back to back defeat and in a single year, 2012, which ironically was the year another Filipino Nonito Donaire was declared Fighter of the Year.
A month before the fight, red flags were already all around the place.
For the first time, Marquez had his training in secret and in the seclusion of a mountain in his native Mexico where no press and other observers were allowed.
From the little information that filtered out, it was reported that Marquez also for the first time had adopted an old school method of training which included chopping down of trees using axe and hitting huge tires with sledgehammer. Using the axe and sledgehammer recruit the same muscles used in explosive punching.
But far from being alarmed, Roach chose to belittle Marquez ultra secret training camp and adaption of old training method used among others by Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano and Ernie Shavers as well as some popular MMA fighters to strengthen their core and develop wallop in their punches.
"We know that @JMMarquez_I is going to run whatever training he has," Freddie posted on Twitter "The key to @ Manny Pacquiao winning will be his speed and ability to cut off the ring."
How wrong he was.
The first real warning sign came in the third round when Marquez to the surprise of everyone, including Manny, felled his Filipino ring nemesis for the very first time in their four meetings with a powerful looping overhand right to the side of the face.
The first two rounds were tentatively fought with both fighters sizing each other up but the edge going to Pacquiao for his cleaner punches and head movement that prevented counters from Marquez landing.
Shaken, Manny had to take the mandatory eight count from the referee Kenny Bayless. The round ended with Marquez failing---or tarrying--- to capitalize and follow up on that advantage as he was no sooner back to his usual defensive counter punching.
In the next round, snorting like an angered bull, and with fire in his eyes, Manny could not wait to pay the Mexican back in kind and hence was pressing the attack. He was unable though to lure Marquez to lengthy spirited exchanges.
Round five, Ring Magazine's "Round of the Year" opened with Pacquiao landing several hard left hands in the early going before breaking through and flooring Marquez with a straight left hand. Marquez arose and answered with a massive straight right on the chin that wobbled his rival. In the final minute of the round, the fighters traded before Pacquiao landed several unanswered punches, including a right hook that buckled Marquez's knees and broke his nose. A bloodied Marquez retreated for the remainder of the round as referee Kenny Bayless looked on closely.
With his earlier knockdown avenged, Pacquiao went on to regain the initiative and seemingly, control of the fight as he attacked Marquez for the remainder of the round ferociously unleashing rapid fire volume punching he was well noted for.
Not a few were thinking that the end was near, Marquez's end that is. What happened next came as a shock.
The sixth started almost like the previous two rounds with Manny looking to inflict more damage and if possible, deliver the punch or punches that would force an end to the fight.
He chased Marquez around the ring trying to cut his escape route off. But he was too cocky to the point of also being careless. In one sequence, he was pressing Marquez against the ropes in an attempt to pin him there to continue punishing him. But Manny left himself momentarily open and he ran smack straight to a well timed ponderous counter that sent him sprawled on the canvas face first unconscious.
Ringside HBO commentator Roy Jones shouted over broadcast partner Jim Lampley, "He's not getting up, Jim! He's not getting up, Jim! He's not getting up, Jim!". Lampley's reply: "No, he's been knocked out!"
Marquez darted across the ring, right hand raised, before mounting the corner ropes and being mobbed by his trainer Nacho Beristain and promoter Fernando Beltran among others. Kenny Bayless didn't bother to count as Pacquiao lay on the canvas motionless until he was revived and sat on his stool, two minutes, twenty seconds after going down.
Marquez defeated Pacquiao by knockout with one second remaining in the sixth round. It was named Fight of the Year and Knockout of the Year by Ring Magazine, with round five garnering Round of the Year honors for 2012.
The knockout was as sudden as it was unexpected by many, most of all, Manny and his chief trainer, Freddie Roach.
The third round knockdown should have alerted Freddie to caution Manny about the danger that Marquez could still pose in the succeeding rounds, never mind that Manny had not only evened it out but was apparently on the way to administering a beating.
But Roach had underestimated Marquez and had too much confidence in Manny's capabilities.
He should have read and heeded the warning signs.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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