THE MIGHTY HAS FALLEN
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 09 Dec 2012
Las Vegas, Nevada - Manny Pacquiao was the most popular and decorated boxer that came out of the largest continent in the world. He won eight division titles in his career. He defeated the best of his era and has become the face of boxing in the last two decades. His popularity exceeded beyond his exploits in the ring and it has brought him fame and fortune in the process.
Tonight in front of the eyes of the world, what was once invincible is no more.
Tonight in the arena that has seen him defeated the best in the sport, Manny Pacquiao joined those whom he has beaten in the past.
Yes, the great Manny Pacquiao lost tonight. He lost in the most brutal way that this sport has seen in the past. A shocking ending to a war between him and his rival, Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao, 33, was sharp from the opening bell. He was connecting with his left hand against the seemingly slow Mexican boxer. He was beating Marquez to the punch up to the early stages of the third.
And then Marquez, 39, unloaded a rocket of a straight right that dropped Pacquiao to the canvas. A jubilant pro-Marquez crowd jumped in celebration of the knockdown while Pacquiao's fans felt their hearts sinked.
Pacquiao beat the count and tried to regain the momentum but Marquez is now in control. Marquez continued his accurate punching in the 4th round. He was tagging Pacquiao with his two hands, snapping his head with that potent straight right hand. Marquez was finding his way again, just like in their last three fights.
Pacquiao regained his composure and his footing in the 5th round, bashing his rival with sharp combinations. Marquez was caught flat footed as Pacquiao moved in and out of him and hurting him in the process.
And then, Pacquiao's vaunted left hand landed on Marquez who hit the canvass after taking that punch. The Filipino went for the kill as Marquez tried to survive the round.
Pacquiao continued his onslaught in the 6th round, throwing two, three and four punch combinations that bloodied his rival's nose. He was chasing and punishing Marquez around the ring like a shark that smells blood.
And with one second left in the round, Pacquiao missed with his left hand and Marquez connected with a vicious right counter.
The punch dropped Pacquiao face down in the canvass like a cut timber. He was out cold. He was not moving.
Referee Kenny Bayless looked at the fallen fighter and waived the fight off as help came rushing inside the ring.
That was a sweet victory for Juan Manuel Marquez and his legion of fans who has always felt cheated from the last three fights. It ended in the most spectacular manner for Marquez as Pacquiao lay unconscious in the ring.
And with a spectacular victory comes the grief of defeat. And it was a defeat that came in the ugliest of manner.
As Jinkee Pacquiao cried hysterically at the sight of his unconscious husband, she was joined by a grieving and shocked nation that never saw this end coming.
The great Manny Pacquiao has fallen and a country is heartbroken.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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