(Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images)
Who’s the best fighter in the world today? Others say Floyd Mayweather Jr and others say Manny Pacquiao.
Well, the answer depends whicht part of the world you’re from.
After watching last night’s 12-round, one-sided fight between Mayweather and reigning lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, with the former winning lopsidedly, you may think that Mayweather’s has the edge over Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s two fights with Marquez were both closely disputed. The first was a spilt draw and the second, a close split decision in favor of the Pacman.
As I’ve said in my previous article, it’s a fight that you hate to see someone lose because of the courage and tenacity of both fighters, but someone has to.
Marquez wasn’t a shade of his old self like were his 24 rounds with Pacquiao, against Pretty Boy Floyd. He was tentative; he was confused with Mayweather’s style and couldn’t find his rhythm. In short, he can’t step on the gas.
His patient counter-punching style was not there either. Instead, he was the one coming forward. Everything was not he had hoped for.
With Mayweather, the 21-month break from boxing was never evident in the fight. He was quick on parrying shots, displayed very nice footwork and a wide variety of head movements, created angles in throwing punches, everything went his way. It was sweet; he was magnificent.
Though Marquez fought hard, there was no way he can get to Floyd.
On the brighter side, he didn’t quit. The two best fighters in the world that he fought can’t knock him out. Though knocked down, he was never counted out. He fought back gallantly but was just not lucky. He’s got the ultimate warrior’s heart. He was prepared to die in the ring.
That’s the courage of Dinamita Marquez.
My pre-fight prediction was Mayweather winning on a unanimous decision but I was hoping that the fight was more competitive. A close unanimous was what I was hoping for. I was hoping that Marquez land clean blows. I was hoping for cuts and swellings on Mayweather’s face. I was dead wrong.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao had three common denominators: Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Marquez.
Dela Hoya was beaten by Mayweather by a controversial unanimous decision. Many pundits feel Mayweather lost that fight. Pacquiao retired him at the beginning of the ninth round.
Ricky Hatton was knocked out by Mayweather in 10 rounds though Hatton was competitive in the early rounds of that fight. Pacquiao knocked him out cold in two, with two knockdowns in the first round.
Juan Manuel Marquez had two close fights against Pacquiao. Of the 24 rounds that they have fought, Marquez arguably won the majority of those. Mayweather swept all the 12 rounds of their fight.
Who do you think is better? Take your pick.
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