Juan Manuel Marquez: Pacquiao 'Fan' Finally Wins 'Sweepstakes'
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 May 2011
LOS ANGELES--It would have sent different signals if the guy holding a camera phone was no other than Juan Manuel Marquez that night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Manny Pacquiao was about to enter the ring and for some five minutes of fanfare last May 7, Juan Manuel Marquez was at press row looking mesmerized and immersed in all the excitement, pomp and pageantry. Like the thousands gathered to watch the spectacle of a grand Las Vegas entrance, Marquez was gayly fixated on the giant screen and all the things happening around him. He was, like everybody else, reduced to becoming witnesses to the fight which was about to explode--the Pacquiao and "Sugar" Shane Mosley encounter.
Holding his camera phone, Marquez fired away, saving everything that he can store on his phone, like a fan who was there to savor every moment for eternity. He quickly saved one item after getting finished capturing another.
This writer was seated at the same row as Marquez and observing how child-like Marquez was at that moment, took a couple of shots of him as an actual subject, a subplot to the next chapters unfolding in Manny Pacquiao's career. Personally knowing at that time that talks have already started making him a potential opponent for Pacquiao in the future, it was notable to see even future ring legends like Marquez became part of the "paparazzi," too.
Pacquiao's battles with Marquez were close and controversial, to say the least. Their first fight, which ended in a draw, should have been a split decision win in favor of Pacquiao if only ring judge Burt A. Clements correctly scored Pacquiao's whirlwind, three-knockdown first round as 10-6, and not 10-7. Clements' scorecard would have read 114-113 for Pacquiao, who would have won the IBF featherweight title way back in 2004. Pacquiao was fighting for Murad Muhammad of M & M Promotions (who would later get disgraced in a court case filed by Pacquiao, himself) while Marquez was a Top Rank fighter (who would later have a falling out with Top Rank honcho Bob Arum, himself).
Equally controversial was Pacquiao's split decision win over Marquez in March 2008, which had everyone clamoring for a rematch, owing to the closeness of the results.
Marquez was the sorest of all losers, as he blazed a trail of vengeance to finally snag a third fight with the Fighting Congressman from Sarangani province. He would have shirts printed, saying he won those two fights, where he got knocked down a total of four times in both matches. But the ever-courageous Mexican fighter gave a good account of his gallantry as he made it look close, and at some point, winning in the eyes of some spectators.
Little did Marquez suspect that Pacquiao had been hounded by minor "tragedies" in both fights. During the first encounter, Pacquiao wore the infamous, $1 pair of socks that caused too much friction it caused blisters on the soles of his feet. The blisters were so huge they were three inches in diameter when Pacquiao showed them after the fight. Still, Pacquiao could have done enough to win had ignoramus Burt Clements known it was okay to score a 10-6 round.
During the second fight, only Pacquiao's trusted lieutenants knew he was hampered and slowed down by foot problems, similar to what transpired during the Mosley fight. He was not as mobile as he wished he could but still, did not make that as an excuse.
Marquez would continue on his crusade to lure Pacquiao into signing a fight, like anybody else in the "hurt" business. Knowing that a fight with Pacquiao would be like winning the Sweepstakes, Marquez appears to be at No. 1 right now, as Floyd Mayweather hasn't signified his true intent in making a fight happen and both camps are in bitter court wars, too. Mayweather, his other family members, and even Golden Boy Promotions executives have allegedly accused Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs and a case is pending in Nevada courts.
In between 2008 when Marquez and Pacquiao last fought, the Filipino ring idol has won seven other matches including winning four separate world titles in four different weight classes. His learning curve has been noted to have skyrocketed to new and unprecedented heights and should a trilogy with Marquez finally materializes, it will only prove that the previous two "winning" results for Pacquiao may not have been flukes. Marquez has only fought five times since, winning four including the WBO lightweight title, and losing to an overweight Floyd Mayweather, who did not mind paying the fine for coming in over the limit.
Pacquiao is hottest, riding on a 14-match winning streak since 2005 and is much-sought by anyone who would want to earn a quick "retirement fund" and/or a shot at instant greatness.
Hopefully, Marquez won't be trying to take pictures next time, should he and Pacquiao face off, again.
Photos: WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and potential Manny Pacquiao future opponent is caught in this unguarded moment recording, taking and saving pictures of his nemesis Manny Pacquiao on his camera phone. Pacquiao is still to review the fight contract which was reportedly signed by Marquez and will decide in a week or two whether on not the terms are acceptable for a Nov. 12 third match.
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Winchell Campos is the official biographer of "Pacquiao," the true and only accurate Manny Pacquiao life story of boxing's lone eight-time, eight-weight division pound-for-pound champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
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