LET THE TRILOGY HAPPEN
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Jun 2009
Juan Manuel Marquez could have changed the course of boxing history not once, but twice. But in his mind he did beat Manny Pacquiao twice and there are many who silently or vocally agree with him. Unfortunately for him, there were two out of the three judges who disagreed every time.
He is the only person in this planet who got up after being knocked down by the Pacman and stormed back and delivered his own brand of punishment. He did this a total of four times, lasted the twelve round distance twice as fans bit their nails waiting for the decision.
Filipino fight fans did not really enjoy his Manila visit. He came across as a sore loser. But Marquez is the only fighter who, after facing to Pacquiao, his career got better. Setting aside the Indonesian disaster in the form of Cris John, Marquez has remained an elite pound per pound fighter and continues to win titles.
The likes of Chatchai Sasakul and Lehlo Ledwaba were never the same again after losing to the Pacman. After beating Pacquiao, Erik Morales lost to Zahir Raheem then suffered back to back stoppage losses to Pacquiao and then lost to David Diaz. Barrera came out of retirement only to lose to Amir Khan. Oscar dela Hoya retired. Ricky Hatton is contemplating about having one last fight before cashing his retirement check.
But Marquez is still around.
Since the second Marquez fight, Pacquiao has evolved from being a future Hall of Famer into an ?All Time Great?.
When Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez announced their blockbuster match, they wound up talking more about Pacquiao. Score round one for the Pacman.
Now, the mega match-up that wasn?t selling tickets got postponed due to a rib injury sustained by Mayweather while training.
Most Filipino boxing fans were wary of a third Marquez fight would rather see Pacquiao perform dental surgery on Mayweather, Jr. Unfortunately that is not going to happen soon. Miguel Cotto is the current front runner in the Pacquiao sweepstakes. The Puerto Rican WBO welterweight champ showed vulnerability in squeaking past Joshua Clottey last weekend.
The two Pacquiao-Marquez fights were too close to call and brought out the best from both fighters. Marquez personifies the very essence of the sweet science. Pacquiao has evolved from being a reckless slugger to a boxer puncher because of his big fight experience against the likes of Barrera, Morales and Marquez. Only one point from one judge separated them in their second contest. One point even in a basketball game is tough to swallow. In a just world there should be a rematch.
Boxing history is filled with ?injustices?. There are many rematches that should have happened but never did. Sugar Ray Leonard never fought Marvin Hagler again, Oscar dela Hoya did not give Pernell Whitaker a rematch and it?s simply too late for Roy Jones-Bernard Hopkins II. In amateur boxing, 13 years ago Filipinos griped about the Atlanta Olympics light flyweight finals. There was no rematch between Onyok Velasco and Daniel Petrov Bugilov.
Pacquiao ? Marquez III should not be left to mere speculation and ?what if?? articles to be written by sportswriters years from now. There should be a glimmer of justice even in the red light district of sports.
The warrior inside Pacquiao still exists. Warrior need to be challenged. Setting aside promoters, managers and monetary considerations, the warrior inside Pacquiao knows Marquez remains his biggest challenge.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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