PACQUIAO: WE CAN FIGHT AGAIN!
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Mar 2008
Las Vegas, NV?After winning a razor close split decision victory over now former WBC Super Featherweight Champion, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao is open to another match with the Mexican star, but not likely immediately and not at 130lbs. Marquez, who fought a tremendous fight, was understandably disappointed with the outcome of the bout.
?Fights are not won in one round?, Marquez said, referring to the 3rd round knockdown he suffered by a Pacquiao straight left. Normally, fighters do not recover nor rise from the canvas from a punch like Marquez took. The fall was as equally damaging. However, Marquez came back in the middle of the fight, dominating Pacquiao with well-timed counter punchers.
In the 8th round, Marquez hurt Pacquiao with a body shot, but couldn?t finish off Pacquiao, who himself has the rare ability to come back from damage. ?It was all heart after that (cut)?, Pacquiao explained to a group of Philippine based journalist in his hotel suite just before taking off on a road trip to Los Angeles. Pacquiao is expected to return to the Philippines on March 22.
?I can fight him again.? Pacquiao claimed, ?At least I don?t have to learn his style again!?
NOT CONTROVERSIAL, IT?S DEBATABLE!
Judge Jerry Roth had Marquez winning 115-112. Judge Duane Ford had Pacquiao winning 115-112. Finally, Tom Miller had Pacquiao winning 114-113. Pacquiao had the fight won after the 10th round, when Miller had Pacquiao winning 6 of those 10 rounds.
About half of those in press row had Marquez winning and the other half had Pacquiao winning. Those who had Marquez winning, generally scored the bout 115-112 (eight rounds to four). Those most who had Pacquiao winning, scored the bout 114-113 (six rounds a piece).
Close friend of Pacquiao and current WBO 118lbs champion, Gerry Penalosa, felt Manny won by one point, but a draw would also be fair. Simply put, at the end of 12 rounds, none of the 11,000 plus spectators in the arena knew who won the fight. There were no controversial moves made by Referee Kenny Bayless. Unlike the first fight, there were not any admitted ?scoring mistakes? made the judges. The fight could have done either way and the discourse on this fight is all about preference in style.
Team Marquez claimed an injustice occurred against that ?ruined? boxing; just like Juan?s brother Rafael Marquez claimed after his thrilling loss to Isreal Vasquez two weeks ago. Rafael claimed that the referee wrongfully ruled a knockdown and a low blow deduction that cost him the fight. That prompted Pacquiao?s promoter, Bob Arum, to lash back, explaining that fight could have gone either way and that two of the three judges had Manny winning. And Arum is right! The fight was so close and competitive that having the fight for either fighter could be justified.
However, you cannot blame Team Marquez for being as upset as they were. Had the decision gone against Pacquiao, Team Pacquiao could have made similar complaints.
Last night, two of the best (active) fighters in the world of boxing, fought an intense back and forth (and back and forth) 12 round contest in front of a sold out Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Pacquiao came away with the win and now is a 3-division champion. Marquez lost for just the 4th time. However, Marquez can still make the claim that he?s never been soundly beaten in his entire career (his previous 3 losses were questionable at best).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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