WILL PACQUIAO SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS MARQUEZ?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 18 Nov 2013
Manny Pacquiao, 34, will face a younger and dangerous opponent in the 27-year-old Brandon Rios come November 23 (November 24 Philippine time). Even if he had suffered two consecutive defeats to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao is a favorite to prevail over Rios in Macau, China.
"No pressure on me," Rios said during his workout. "I'll be the one putting all of the pressure on him November 23. I'm retiring Pacquiao. I said it before and I'll say it again - Pacquiao's time is over. Marquez took the last bit of life out of him. I'm going to get all of that Manny Money when I win and get ready for my next fight," as quoted by BoxingScene.
Both Braldley and Marquez faced each other recently in a close fight. Glen Feldman had it 115-113 for Marquez, giving Marquez four of the final five rounds. Robert Hoyle (115-113) and Patricia Morse-Jarman (116-112) saw it for Bradley.
Marquez was the favorite over Bradley as the Desert Storm won over Pacquiao by a controversial decision contested no less than by the World Boxing Organization.
But during their actual fight, CompuBox stats had Bradley outpointing Marquez 168-153, and throwing 562 punches (30%) to Marquez's 455 (34%). Bradley outjabbed Marquez 82-38, while Marquez landed more power shots, 115-86.
Pacquiao is seven years older than Rios who knocked out 11 of his 13 opponents before losing to Mike Alvarado by unanimous decision in the first setback of his pro career. Pacquiao is hungrier this time to prove that he isn't over the hill as what some fans had speculated.
Boxing legends George Foreman, Sugar Rey Leonard, Roberto Duran chose the fighting congressman to win over the aggressive never-say-die fighter from Lubbock, Texas. Even Bradley picked Pacquiao as the most likely winner. But they are not counting out the hard-hitting former WBA world lightweight champion.
Complacency may result to a reversal of fortunes like what happened to him during his fourth encounter with Marquez when he was floored by a brutal KO after leading the fighf. The Mexican too suffered the same destiny to the same boxer who won over Pacquiao. Marquez lost to Bradley by split decision and so did Pacquiao.
But then the Marquez loss to Bradley was not clouded by doubt. The boxing world saw Bradley as the real winner and the Marquez triumph over Pacquiao was almost forgotten.
Marco Antonio Barrera advised Pacquiao to be 100% focused since Rios was considering this as the most important fight of his career. Pacquiao should not suffer the same fate as his arch nemesis Marquez. Or else he has to hang up his gloves for good.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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