PACQUIAO WATCH: Half the die is cast
By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 Sep 2009
ANYBODY who entertained an upset win by Juan Manuel Marquez against comebacking Floyd Mayweather Jr. and bet on it probably ended up losing his shirt Sunday (Philippine time).
Floyd did what was expected of him – steamroll past the gutsy but totally outclassed Marquez, who, despite coming in several pounds above his comfortable fighting weight still ended up at the short end of the scale.
Marquez’s counterpunching style is simply ineffective against a guy with the best defense and who is not known to initiate a fight.
In Filipino cockfighting aficionados’ lengua – kontra pelo.
Marquez did not have the aggressiveness of Jose Luis Castillo and Ricky Hatton to upset Floyd’s rhythm. Nor the ring savvy of Oscar de la Hoya, who narrowly lost to Floyd in a closely fought contest.
Castillo, in fact, did very well against Floyd he could make an argument that he won at least one of their two fights in 2002, when both fought as lightweights.
Hatton gave Mayweather fits before the Englishman was kayoed in the 10th round, incidentally Floyd’s last fight prior to announcing is retirement only to “unretire” and face Marquez.
Like I said, Floyd has the uncanny ability to frustrate his opponents with his cunning defense which was on display throughout the Marquez fight. As good as Marquez was against top notch competition, he was simply outmatched - style-wise - against Mayweather.
Okay, I failed in my prediction that Mayweather will stop Marquez in the latter rounds. But certainly, Floyd was in his element and could have stopped Marquez had he taken some risk. Well, Floyd is Floyd. Safety comes first for him.
Now half the die is cast.
Floyd did his share and performed the task that is demanded of him for the anticipated showdown with Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino heavyweight of a spitfire.
Pacquiao is exactly the opposite of Marquez that is why the two will always battle in exciting and explosive ring matches. Pacquiao and Marquez feed on each other's strengths and weaknesses.
In a Floyd-Manny encounter, you will see more slambang action and tactical battles with momentum shifting from one corner to the other just as the two Pacquiao-Marquez matches drove all boxing fans to the edges of their seats.
If you were entertained while holding your breath watching Manny and Juan Manuel clash like there is no tomorrow, expect nothing less from a Manny-Floyd bonanza.
Their styles are so opposite they are like other ends of the magnet. They attract each other.
Now that Floyd had already done his share, it is up for Manny to complete the missing link that will end all puzzles – who is the best of them all.
Top photo: Juan Manuel Marquez (L) of Mexico and Floyd Mayweather, Jr (R) of Michigan and Las Vegas walk towards the center of the ring at the start of the first round during their bout Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.
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