Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: Javier Fortuna Will Steal the Show

In a little over six weeks, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will face each other for the fourth time. The fight will be shown on HBO pay-per-view in the U.S. and will come with a price tag of $54.95 for the regular broadcast and $64.95 for HD. 

Many fans will complain that those are steep prices to pay for a fight that they have already seen three times, but that’s just the cost of PPV these days. 

I will be tuning in not so much for the main event—although I do believe it will be just as good as the previous matchups—but more for the undercard. 

While the undercard has yet to be announced by Top Rank, the word around boxing circles is that featherweight phenom Javier Fortuna will make his pay-per-view debut against Patrick Hyland for the vacant WBA interim featherweight title. 

Fortuna is not a known commodity outside of boxing circles, but all that will change on Dec. 8. 

Pablo Sarmiento, who is best known for his work with middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez, trains the Dominican fighter who is now residing in Oxnard, Calif. 

In addition to be trained by Sarmiento, Fortuna is being advised by Sampson Lewkowicz, the man credited with bringing Pacquiao to the U.S., as well as a host of other foreign-born fighters, like Martinez and fellow Argentine Lucas Matthysse. 

The southpaw fighter packs devastating power in both fists, and although he tends to get a little wild when he has his opponent hurt, he is quite the accomplished boxer.  As an amateur, Fortuna won 397 of his 415 fights and numerous medals along the way. 

Since turning pro in early 2009, the former amateur standout has destroyed virtually every fighter put in front of him. Thus far, he has run up a record of 20-0 with 15 knockouts. 

In his first fight of 2012, Fortuna faced stiff competition in previously undefeated prospect Yuandale Evans (16-1, 12 KOs), who he beat by a vicious knockout in one round on ESPN Friday Night Fights in April. 

In July, Fortuna was once again seemingly matched against stiff competition when he faced former title challenger Cristobal Cruz (39-14-3, 23 KOs). However, Fortuna easily blasted out Cruz in two rounds. 

I have a feeling that Fortuna will once again score a spectacular knockout on Dec. 8 when he faces what should be, yet again, his toughest competition to date.