Great expectations in boxing, the NBA
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 03 Jun 2013
THAT was a mean left hook thrown by Juan Manuel Marquez which has all but knocked out Manny Pacquiao?s desperately sought fifth fight with the Mexican ring legend.
Marquez, who abruptly ended Pacquiao?s reign as his era?s greatest fighter with a sensational sixth-round stoppage in Las Vegas, said he did not want to have anything to do with Pacquiao.
Marquez said Pacquiao was not even worth a serious thought.
?Anything that was pending was settled in every way,? Marquez exclaimed.
**
Marquez has started honing up for a fight with Tim Bradley, who had outpointed Pacquiao in dirty and controversial fashion before the Filipino boxing superhero suffered that shocking tragic fall last December.
It was not the first time Marquez had rejected that fifth bout, another dream promotion by the irrepressible Bob Arum.
This time though, Marquez has failed to conceal his disdain.
?If Pacquiao could have knocked me out the way I did to him, how am I going to ask for another bout??
That, whether said in English, Spanish or Ilongo, was nothing short of saying ?How stupid can you get??
Plainly put, that should more or less put to rest great expectations about a fifth Marquez-Pacquiao bout, if just for the rest of the year.
**
Turning to the NBA, today?s decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals was totally unexpected at the start.
Of course, there was that one-point squeaker by Miami in Game 1, followed by a home-steal by Indiana in Game 2 of the playoffs.
Miami stole back, Indiana won the next game and, by then, there were already overriding expectations about the Finals play-offs going the full route.
It?s like this. After Miami went up 3-2 last week, the first question asked was: Would the Heat do it on the road?
**
Well, not so fast because Indiana was far from burned out and, in fact, sizzled sensationally to force the initially unexpected decisive seventh game.
Not so fast, but Indiana diehards will not be pleased to hear that there was hardly a soul ready and willing to bet on the Pacers on the eve of Game 7.
Out in the Mandaluyong city wet market, a tested listening post in sports in my birthplace, the main concern was not how Indiana could finally pull the rug from under Miami.
The main concern was how fiery LeBron James et all could make the (waiting) NBA title series against the low-boil San Antonuio Spurs look interesting.
?If not edible, Miami should at least make the series look credible,? suggested one grizzled commentator, who failed to place his bet on Miami in today?s decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Repeat: Nobody was bold enough to risk hard-earned cash on Indiana.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Jeremy Marticio wins IIEE SIKAT, ICFF won PTC World Engineering Opening
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Facularin to fight Torres on December 13 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Dec 2025Baricuatro wins, Veloso falters in SEAG boxing
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Dec 2025BASH BOXING AND UP NEXT FIGHTING RETURN WITH SPECIAL EDITION UNF 29 TOMORROW NIGHT AT ACE · MISSION STUDIOS IN LOS ANGELES
Fri, 12 Dec 2025MERCADO AIMING TO SEND MESSAGE TO 140LB RIVALS
Fri, 12 Dec 2025Sullivan Management signs Influencer/pro boxer Brooklyn Barwick
Fri, 12 Dec 2025Round 12: Successful WBC Annual Convention in Bangkok (Photos)
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 12 Dec 2025Halfway Point Surpassed at the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Fri, 12 Dec 2025