Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez: 10 Reason Marquez Could Score an Upset

Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) faces Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a fight that will be broadcast live on HBO pay-per-view.

Twice upon a time have they have fought closely scored and deeply disputed bouts. A clash in 2004 resulted in a draw. A rematch in 2008 resulted in a split-decision victory for Pacquiao.

Now, 2011 has arrived and a third match in this epic trilogy is fast approaching. Pacquiao is suspected to get the victory because of his recent track record against much bigger foes, as well as Marquez's advanced age of 38 against Pacquiao's prime age of 32.

Marquez, though disadvantaged in size and age, more than makes up for it in other ways. November 12 could be the date Marquez changes history and puts up his most memorable performance.

There are at least 10 factors that spell a highly possible upset in Marquez's favor. Read on to see what they are.

10. Marquez Has Fought in America Longer

When a foreign fighter travels to the United States, they usually fight in their own home country for quite some time to build up their confidence and ability.

When a fighter steps into America, they test their skills against fighters from all over the globe. Las Vegas, Nevada as well as many other cities become boxing meccas for fighters to prove their worth.

Marquez began fighting in America early in his career in 1994. Pacquiao came much later in 2001. That would mean Marquez has fought a better brand of competition for seven years longer than Pacquiao.

9. Marquez Has Taken Less Punishment

This may sound strange, but Pacquiao has taken more punishment than Marquez over the course of his career.

Though Marquez has 59 professional fights and Pacquiao has 58 professional fights, Marquez is a counter-puncher and Pacquiao is a brawler.

Pacquiao's style is to overwhelm his opponent by swarming with punches. That has often left Pacquiao open to hits for hits to his head and body.

Pacquiao has even been knocked out twice. Marquez has been knocked down numerous times, but has not been knocked out in his career thus far.

Marquez also had a short amateur career of 35 wins and one loss. Pacquiao has an amateur record of 60 wins and four losses.

Even in victory, punishment is still taken to get the win.

8. Marquez Is the Financial Underdog While Pacquiao Is the Financial Fat Cat

Since their 2008 meeting, Pacquiao has gone on to obtain mini-fortunes from single fights. Marquez, meanwhile, has not come close to repeating similar million-dollar miracles.

But now, Marquez has come upon his biggest payday by fighting the new money-printing machine version of Pacquiao. His bank account, wallet and family will not want this to be his last paycheck of such stature.

In order to secure another one, he has to beat Pacquiao. Upon defeat, Pacquiao will likely exercise a rematch clause. Beating Pacquiao means an even bigger slice of the pie next time around.

Now that's motivation.

7. If a Man Can Drink His Own Pee, He Can Do Anything to Win

A man willing to drink his own urine, because he believes it will help him win battles, will do anything for victory.

Marquez is that man.

Pacquiao: be very afraid.

6. Longer Relationship with Trainer

Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain is the legendary Mexican trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez and his brother Rafael.

He's been with both men since they were boys. In contrast, Freddy Roach joined with Pacquiao roughly ten years ago.

Nacho's extended time with Marquez allows a father and son relationship to build. Blood is always thicker than water.

A duo as connected as Nacho and Marquez will push their abilities to the max in order to achieve history against Pacquiao.

Pacquiao and Roach may have developed a similar father and son form of relationship, but likely not as strong.

5. Marquez Has Wanted This Forever

Marquez has campaigned for a third fight ever since the controversial ending of their second fight. He's walked around with a shirt saying, "I beat Pacquiao twice." Marquez believes Pacquiao makes excuses to avoid the fight.

Someone with the conviction of Marquez to call out a fighter after every fight and hound, almost obsessively, on the prospect of knocking them out, will likely try their best to make good on those words.

November 12 will tell what Marquez has ready for the Pac-Man.

4. Marquez Looked Better in His Last Performance

Compare these two performances:

Marquez knocked out his last opponent, Likar Ramos, in one round.

Pacquiao had Shane Mosley in a fearful sprint after knocking him down in Round Three, yet had to settle for a unanimous decision.

Why? Because Pacquiao couldn't cut off the ring and finish Mosley off.

Marquez has shown in his recent fight that he can take out an opponent when he has him hurt.

Can Pacquiao do the same? November 12 will provide the answer. 

3. Pacquiao Has Too Many Distractions

Pacquiao has lots of responsibilities and business endeavors that could make his training camp not up to par against his biggest in-ring rival.

Pacquiao is a politician, a singer, an actor, philanthropist, husband, father and, somewhere among all of those things, he is a pugilist.

But when and how much is he actually a fighter? That is the multi-million dollar question. Marquez will delight in discovering the answer.

2. Marquez Learned from Fighting Mayweather

People have announced Marquez's demise, funeral date and time of death on November 12 partly because of his age but, mostly, because of his lone performance at welterweight against Mayweather.

The problem in judging that performance is that Mayweather is one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time, a style that's hard to counter-punch. Marquez is a counter-puncher.

Pacquiao is one of the greatest offensive fighters of all time, so a counter-puncher like Marquez has something to counter. That will give his style a boost of success.

Plus, Marquez plans to gain weight with a nutritionist this time around, learning from his past mistaken attempts at weight-gaining on his own.

So, expect a stronger, leaner version of this 147-pound Marquez, in comparison to the previous 147-pound Marquez that faced Mayweather.

1. Marquez Actually Beat Pacquiao Twice Before

The official scorecards for the first fight between Pacquiao and Marquez read as follows:

115-110 for Márquez, 115-110 for Pacquiao, and 113-113

A knockdown deducts one point from the boxer that suffers it. Marquez suffered three knockdowns in the first round.

Had the knockdowns not occurred, the scorecards would read 118-110 and 115-113 (the judge who scored it a draw didn't deduct a full three points originally) for Marquez. 115-113 for Pacquiao.

Marquez would have won by split-decision.

The second fight had official scorecards that read as follows:

115-112 and 114-113 for Pacquiao while one judge scored it 115-112 for Marquez.

There was one knockdown scored in Pacquiao's favor. Had Pacquiao not scored that knockdown, one of those scorecards would've been a draw.

Now, the reason a third match is necessary becomes quite clear. Pacquiao has never without a shadow of a doubt defeated Marquez.

Marquez has went on defeating others and proclaiming victory over Pacquiao because the closeness of the first two fights lends him that liberty.

The only way to snatch it back is with a clear cut beating, likely a knockout.

Marquez is more determined than ever, seeing this as his last chance to beat Pacquiao.

Pacquiao's camp makes all kinds of ridiculous predictions of third and first round knockouts, when they know full well that this fight will not be that easy.

Marquez has Pacquiao's number and will call it on November 12.