Pacquiao-Marquez III still left questions
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Nov 2011
LAS VEGAS, Nevada ? It was a fight staged to end bitterness and forget the past. It wasn?t so as World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao could only settle for a majority decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. That again left more questions than answers.
The reigning eight-division champion and pound-for-pound king, sensing perhaps that he was losing grip of his title, had to give his all in the championship rounds that tilted two of three judges? decisions in his favor to keep the 147-pound belt in his waist.
The overflowing, relatively pro-Marquez crowd of 16,386 inside MGM Grand Arena booed lustily when the decision, was announced, especially judge Glenn Trowbridge? s four-point 116-112 verdict in favor of Pacquiao . Judge Dave Moretti also saw the Pacman the winner by a slimmer margin, 115-113. Judge Robert Hoyle scored the fight even, 114-114.
Asked by television interviewer what he can say to the apparently unhappy reaction of the crowd, Pacquiao said: ?Well, Mexicans are unhappy, but my fans they?re happy.?
Pacquiao said the fight, judging from the judges? decisions, had, finally settled the doubts brought about by the closeness of his first two fights with the Mexican ?Dinamita,? adding quickly though that ?Anytime. It depends on my promoter.?
?It was very clear I won the fight because he (Marquez) was not throwing punches as he should, ? Pacquiao remarked.
Pacquiao?s chief trainer Freddie Roach commented that had Pacquiao did not win the 12th round, the judge who saw the fight even could have given that to Marquez.
After the gruelling matchup, Marquez rode on his handlers? shoulder as if he won. In contrast, Pacquiao and his camp remained silent.
?I was robbed again,? was the first words uttered Marquez inside the dugout even as he added, he didn?t know whether to retire or continue fighting.
Arum, top man of Top Rank Promotions, said:?If the fighters want it, okay, let?s arrange a fourth fight.?
Both Pacquiao and Marquez fought like there was no tomorrow as they exchange power punches throughout with Pacquiao inflicting a swell on Marquez?s eye in the fourth and Mexican?s returning the compliment on the Filipino icon?s right eye in the next.
It was evident Pacquiao?s timing was off as he missed shots he could have landed.
An apparent accidental head butt by Marquez in the 10th that escaped referee Tony Weeks? eyes and failed to merit a point deduction that had Pacquiao?s left eye bleeding from the 10th on.
In the end, Pacquiao ended up with that cut delaying the post-fight conference with the media. Marquez?s right eye was partly closed.
Despite the biased reaction, coming from the challenger?s camp, Top Rank?s Bob Arum described Act III of the protagonists? trilogy as scintillating that justified the boxers? lofty standing in the pound-for-pound best list.
The defending champion?s quickness in both hands enabled him to throw a total 578 punches, 176 of them finding their target for a 30%, while Marquez emerged the better percentage connection ? 32 % in hitting 138 of the 436 thrown.
Pacquiao had 20 more power punches to 254 of Marquez, connecting 117 times for 43 %. Marquez threw 254 power punches but could only connect 100.
The winner, likewise, led in jabs thrown 304-182 connecting 59 as against 38 by his opponent. Pacquiao threw an average 14 punches per round to Marquez?s, 36.
The Filipino?s average per round came as a far cry from his 1,000 average in his previous decision victories over Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao came to the post-fight presscon held at the media room two hours late with his right eye taped. He only answered a couple of questions and left, to, perhaps, attend a pre-arranged victory concert at the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.
In the post-fight press conference, Marquez repeated his desire to hang his gloves following an 18-year career that saw him won three world championships in as many weight divisions.
He added though that he has to consult his family and members of his team, adding that the three judges? decisions might force him to do so.
?I don?t really know what I should do to convince the judges,? he said.
Asked to compare Pacquiao with undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Marquez answered that since boxing is Mayweather?s style, I think Pacquiao will have a hard time should they fight.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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