Commentary: Stop the Pacquiao-Marquez III Debate
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Nov 2011
LOS ANGELES, Cal. ? The on-going debate as to who won between World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Juan Manuel Marquez is unfair and should be stopped. It is ridiculous
It?s over. Those authorized to decide the outcome of the fight have spoken, so what is there to argue about?
American trainer Freddie Roach, in an interview Wednesday at his Wild Card Gym here, said this exercise is unfair to boxing, in general, and to Pacquiao. Unfair to the sport?s pound-for-pound best and the only man to win eight world championships in eight divisions.
?Nobody can benefit from this debate, not even those who argue that Marquez won because the people who are in the position to decide have already handed down their verdict,? the 51-year-old trainer argued.
Truth is, even The Marquez camp, several days after the fight, has not filed a protest. So, what?s the fuss? ?
Instead of continuing with the debate, Roach instead advised those concerned to just watch the replay of the fight ?and they will realize that, indeed, Manny won. And that he?s still the champion.?
?It was a close fight, alright. In fact, I saw Manny winning by just one point,? he admitted. ?But you see, in boxing and even in other sports, you cannot win running away all the time. There are times when one doesn?t feel well but he still has to fight or play. That?s how athletes live.?
?But please do not deny him of that clear victory,? he said. ?Why subject him to ridicule? Why question him? He?s not the judge. He was not the one who decided the fight. ?
Roach admitted the fighting Sarangani Congressman had a bad night. ?But despite having a bad night he fought well and emerged triumphant, so what?s the problem.?
What saddened Roach, according to him, was that while the foreign media looked to have accepted the fact, it is in the Philippines that debate still continues up to this day.
?Why, they are even thinking of a debate between journalists who believe Manny won against those who thought Marquez won in front of television camera. What for? To add fuel to animosity, misunderstanding??
?Ow, come on, give Manny a break. He doesn?t deserve what he?s getting, especially from the Philippine media, which should be the first to get into the front line of defense. After all, Manny didn?t rob anybody,? he commented.
Roach was right. Pacquiao, a national treasure, a hero should be treated as such. He had done nothing that embarrassed this country and the word Filipino. He won that fight to keep his 147-pound crown. So let it be.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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