Is Pacquiao-Marquez III Really Far from Possibility?

It would be quite a while before Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez would pit each other again. The Unfinished Business would still be unfinished many months ahead.

Pacquiao, who demolished Oscar de la Hoya at 147 lbs last Dec. 6, will face the IBO and Ring Champion Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs Jr. Welterweight Division on May 2, 2009, in his bid to be the first four Lineal Champ in four different weight divisions.

On the other hand, Juan “Dinamita” Marquez who is currently campaigning at 135 lbs Lightweight Division had successfully won over Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz last February 28, 2009.

Only time can tell, when Marquez is ready to move up in 140 lbs division, should he be given the green light to face his conqueror, the Pacman.

In their first fight on May 8, 2004, Pacman decked Dinamita three times in the first round, but Marquez managed to survive and fought back the following 11 rounds to earn a controversial draw.

Marquez claims he won the match, but the judge (Burt Clements) incorrectly scored the first round 10-7 for Pacquiao, which should have been 10-6. That one-point difference would have given a Split Decision in favor of Pacman.

In their equally controversial rematch on Mar. 15, 2008, Marquez was down in Round Three and almost went down again in Round 10. Meanwhile, Pacquiao was in trouble in Round Eight and was staggered in Round Two.

The fight was so close that the difference in the scorecard is the knockdown suffered by Marquez in the third round, giving Pacquiao the win via Split Decision.

But the media, along with boxing writers and analyst, said Marquez should have won the fight with the same slim margin, 114-113. To make matters worst, Punchstats tabulated by compubox showed Marquez leading in power and total punches landed.

Pacfans claims the quality of Pac’s power punches counts more, but pro-Marquez fans thinks that Pac was outbox by the counter-puncher Marquez.

Looking back at the tally, JMM got his overwhelming edge in the total punches landed in just one round. In between Rounds Eight and Nine, compubox showed that they gave 25 punches for JMM against only five for PAC.

How accurate this tally considering that the fight is so close but JMM manage to gain 21 punches more in just one round, compared to other rounds that neither boxer ever landed more than 16 and the average difference between them are only five punches apart.

What is more prevailing then, the big difference tally in Round Eight or the knockdown in the third round?

Pacquiao announced that he has only two or three fights remaining before hanging up the gloves. We all know that Pacquiao–Hatton is coming soon. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being groomed for the next fight.

Can JMM be lucky enough to clinch the last remaining fight?

Thanks for reading.