Video Highlights of Pacquiao vs. Marquez Fights 1 Through 3

As Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez get ready to do battle with each other it is hard to believe that there can be any surprises. Saturday Night in Las Vegas these two will meet for a fourth time, and despite the fact that Pacquiao owns a 2-0-1 record in this series he still has his doubters.

As a matter of fact, according to a recent ESPN column, many feel that there are some who believe the 39-year-old Marquez easily could have been awarded victories in all three bouts. The series between these two probable Hall of Fame boxers has become less about their fighting and more about their controversial scoring of the bouts.    

The article points out “The first three bouts -- all title fights -- were contested at three different weight classes over a seven-year period throughout different chapters of their respective careers.”

So in the interest of fairness, I thought that it might be fun to take a detailed look at all three of the first fights. In this video slideshow each of the first fights are highlighted so that fans of both fighters can make their own case on who should deemed the true winner. 

Fight No. 1: Pacquiao vs. Marquez Ends in a Controversial Draw May 8, 2004

Fight held May 8, 2004 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and was for the WBA and IBF Featherweight titles held by Juan Manuel Marquez.  

The big headline from fight No. 1 was that Manny Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round, almost ending the bout. To his credit, Marquez not only lasted through the first round but battled his way through the entire 12 rounds.

The fight ended in a draw. The controversy centered on why one judge scored the first round of the fight 10-7 instead of 10-6 like the other two—which, by the way, for non-fight fans is the standard score for a three-knockdown round. 

Had the judge followed the lead of the other two, Pacquiao would have won. 

So the fans wanted a rematch and they got it. 

Fight No. 2 : Pacquiao vs. Marquez : Unfinished Business March 15, 2008

The fight March 15, 2008 took place again in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort, and it was billed as “Unfinished Business.” This time he WBC super featherweight and The Ring super featherweight titles were on the line.

Juan Manuel Marquez lost the titles to Manny Pacquiao in a 12-round split decision. It was another epic battle, with both fighters going toe-to-toe for the entire time. 

Marquez fought most through most of the fight with a deep cut over his right eye coming from a Pacquiao head butt.

In the end, the judges' scores were 115-112 for Pacquiao, 115-112 for Marquez and 114-113 for Pacquiao—another controversial ending.

The key came in the third round when a Pacquiao left hook sent Marquez to the canvas for the only knockdown in the fight. 

Fight No. 3: Pacquiao vs. Marquez with a WBO Welterweight Title on the Line

On November 12, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez fought for the third time. On this evening the duo would battle for their third different title in their third different weight division, the WBO welterweight championship.

Fight No. 3 was no different than fight No. 1 or 2 as it also ended without a clear winner. Yes, the victory went to Pacquiao on a close decision, but most of the audience believed that Marquez was the winner.

The judges saw it 114-114, 115-113 Pacquiao, and he also captured the card of the third judge by a count of 116-112. The crowd was very unruly and tossed trash into ring in protest to what they thought was a Marquez victory.

So now on Saturday night it will be Pacquiao versus Marquez in their fourth fight, and I think most fight fans would join me in wanting to see a clear winner this time.