Pacquiao vs. Marquez III: 5 Reasons You Don't Want to Miss This Fight
Filipino superstar and pound-for-pound leader Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38KO) will make his return to the ring on Nov. 12th versus a familiar foe in Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38KO), who is jumping up 10 pounds in weight to face an opponent he has come close to defeating on two different occasions.
Their first two meetings were memorable bouts with two very different results. What will the third bring us?
In 2004, the first bout saw Pacquiao making a statement early, dropping the Mexican fighter three times in the first round. Marquez showcased the heart of a champion and fought back to earn himself a draw over 12 rounds.
The rematch took place in 2008, and had it not been for a single knockdown suffered by Marquez in round three, he may have come away with the victory. Marquez out-landed Pacquiao in the bout, but it was not enough to earn the win, losing a split-decision many had thought he won.
With the third fight scheduled and a super-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz on order for September, there are going to be some shifts in who the biggest star of the welterweight division really is.
No. 5: Unfinished Business
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Through 24 fast-paced rounds of boxing, Marquez can make the claim that he won more rounds against Pacquiao, and the scorecards prove it.
If it weren't for the four knockdowns, Marquez would probably have two victories over the only boxer to win 10 world titles. He suffered three knockdowns in the first bout and one in the second. He picked up a draw in the first bout with a 113-113 scorecard and a split-decision loss in the second because of a 114-113 scorecard.
There is a sign of unfinished business between the two, and it can only be put to rest by fighting for a third time, which means good business for boxing. Hopefully, the rivalry gets settled after this one so both can move on to bigger and better things.
Since losing to Pacquiao in 2007, Marquez has defeated Juan Diaz (x2), Michael Katsidis and Joel Casamayor and has looked great doing it. Two or three of those could have been considered "fight of the year" candidates.
No. 4: Pacquiao Wants to Make Up for His Diasappointing Win Over Mosley
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The victory is and should be the most important thing for any athlete, but a boxer takes a special position as an entertainer as well, and this is something Pacquiao wasn't in his fight with Mosley.
Blame it on the injuries or the friendly relationship between the two, but it was a performance that won't stand as one of Pacquiao's best. He was able to knock down the former WBA welterweight champion but was unable to capitalize on his damaged and older Mosley, who started to run after the third-round knockdown.
It was the third decision victory in a row for the three-time Ring Magazine's "fighter of the year," and they have all been lopsided. In his bouts versus Mosley, Joshua Clottey and Margarito, there were judges that had the fights scored a shutout at 120-108.
Even if Pacquiao can't knock out a 144-lb. Marquez, fans will be in for 12 rounds of him looking for the decisive victory, and this makes for action all-around. Marquez won't go down easy, and it's now or never for him. He won't get a fourth chance if he loses.
No. 3: Can Marquez Get Knocked Out for the First Time?
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With a not so wise decision for Marquez, he accepted the fight at a catchweight at 144 lbs.
The last time the 37-year-old jumped that far up in weight was against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2009, and everyone knows how that fight went down. Mayweather dominated the three-division world champion for 12 rounds before winning a one-sided unanimous decision.
With the recent performances of Pacquiao, it has become true that he likes to out-do Mayweather, and he might just do it again here. It could possibly end up mirroring the fight Marquez had against Mayweather but with more action.
If Pacquiao can't get the stoppage, at least it will gives us another couple inches on the measuring stick of how well he would fare against "Money" Mayweather if they ever do fight down the line.
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No. 2: Outside of Mayweather, This Is the Best Opponent for Pacquiao
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It's no secret that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is the fight everyone wants, but it seems too good to be true at this time.
What fans can settle for is a solid matchup between a fan-favorite fighter and the most worthy challenger in recent memory.
It's hard to argue that Marquez isn't the toughest opponent for Pacquiao that's not named Mayweather. If you go through "Pacman's" last eight bouts, his toughest opponent was Marquez, and that's saying a lot considering his opposition.
Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya are some of the fighters that fell at the hands of the Filipino icon in recent years, and they didn't offer anything close to the challenge that Marquez presented to Pacquiao in the first two fights.
No. 1: Where Will the Trilogy Stand Among the Best?
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Ali vs. Frazier, Gatti vs. Ward and Morales vs. Barrera were three of the greatest trilogies in the history of the sport.
They hold a special place in boxing fans' hearts, and it's the third fight that determines who the best fighter really is.
It's also in the third fight that determines just where the trilogy ranks among the best, and while Pacquiao vs. Marquez may not have been "great" when placed beside those, it was certainly "good."
Their first two bouts were competitive, back-and-forth and action-packed fights with knockdowns and many possible outcomes that resulted in a draw and split-decision victory for Pacquiao. The unpredictability that these two bring to the ring is what makes the fight intriguing.
If Marquez wins this one, maybe there will be a fourth one in the making. If not, at least both can be remembered for being associated with the word "trilogy," and that is something to be proud of in the world of boxing.
You can also check out my "Five Reasons You Don't Want to Miss Mayweather vs. Ortiz" article, here!
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