Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez: 10 Reasons You Need to Watch the Fight

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III is the biggest fight left on the calendar. The history between both fighters is rich with the type of drama that makes for a great trilogy.

On November 12, these warriors will enter the squared circle at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada to settle the score once and for all.

Their first battle in 2004 ended in a draw. Their second battle in 2008 was a split decision in Pacquiao's favor. Marquez believes he won the first two bouts. Pacquiao wants to shut him up.

The rivalry is thick with history, blood, sweat, respect and vengeance. The tickets are sold out and both fighters are training the hardest they ever have.

Here's a list of 10 reasons to purchase this fight on HBO pay-per-view November 12.

10. Marquez's Determination

May 8, 2004 marked Pacquiao and Marquez's first meeting. During the first round, Marquez seemed on his way toward out-boxing Pacquiao when he was suddenly dropped by Manny's signature left.

Marquez had to stand up to his competition and compete for featherweight supremacy. The knockdowns did not discourage him from doing so.

If anything, the knockdowns encouraged him to pick up the pace and dominate for the remainder of the evening.

Marquez is determined to fight and determined to win, even in the face of likely defeat. This guarantees action galore.

9. Pacquiao's Explosiveness

Pacquiao has a history of possessing an entertaining explosiveness within his fists that ignites audiences and re-sculpts faces.

Most boxers have certain defensive responses to getting rocked by a big punch. These include holding, guarding with their gloves held high or using their speed to avoid any further blows.

Pacquiao only knows one way to react after getting rocked, and that's to throw more punches. Those punches come with a force that has knocked down the likes of Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton.

This type of offensive attitude, mixed with a powerful punch, leads to satisfying conclusions of dramatic fights with all-action narratives.

8. Marquez's Quest

Marquez has not been shy about who he felt won the first two matches between himself and Pacquiao.

The scores have been so close in both matches that a Marquez win was only a point or so away from happening, but multiple knockdowns shed a few points from his score.

This led to a draw in the first fight and a split decision Pacquiao victory in the second fight.

Some say that if Marquez can still frustrate Pacquiao like he used to while remaining on his feet, Marquez can squeak out a win.

He's been determined to prove he schooled Pacquiao twice upon a time and now is his final opportunity.

After campaigning for this rematch since the end of their second match in March 2008, it's safe to believe Marquez won't waste this moment.

7. Pacquiao's Legacy

Every time Marquez has told the world that he won both fights, Pacquiao's inner rage builds.

This slow build is being allowed to simmer with no regard for who the history books have as the official winner of their first rematch.

Now Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is getting ready to unleash Manny and all the rage that has been stored will be released, in hopes of putting the unfinished business of Marquez behind them for good.

6. Pacquiao and Marquez Have Excellent Fight Chemistry

When a fight goes right, the brutality can be as beautiful as ballet.

When two performers like Pacquiao and Marquez know each other so intimately from previous contests, that history fills the air, electrifies the performers and jump-starts what everyone hopes will be a classic.

Though they haven't fought in three years, that chemistry is something that won't go away.

Their knowledge of each other will allow for a back and forth ebb and flow that should make for a great fight.

5. Both Men Promise a Knockout

Marquez has stated that he wants a decisive ending through a knockout so that the scorecards can't "rob" him of victory.

Pacquiao has echoed those statements in his own favor with members of his team suggesting that Marquez won't make it out of Round 6.

If both fighters are truly serious about not letting this one go to the card, a knockout seems imminent. Marquez has never been knocked out before in his career and Pacquiao hasn't been knocked out in almost a decade.

4. Has Pacquiao Really Gotten Better?

Many have claimed that the Pacquiao Marquez faced in 2008 will not be the same as the Pacquiao he will face on November 12.

Pacquiao is said to have vastly improved, but to what degree?

Pacquiao fought Marquez at 130 lbs, the super featherweight limit. He then moved up to 135, the lightweight limit and blasted David Diaz.

Pacquiao capped off 2008 with a shocking move to 147 lbs to knock out Oscar De La Hoya in his first trip to the welterweight division.

Though Pacquiao has fought a few heavy hitters and giants since, none bear the fighting style of Juan Manuel Marquez.

There are no similarities worth mentioning between Pacquiao's latest opposition and his oldest ring rival.

Whatever improvement Pacquiao has or hasn't made will show when the two rivals meet in the ring.

3. Has Pacquiao Gotten Worse?

Pacquiao has captured the imaginations of many in the past, but his last performance against Shane Mosley left something to be desired.

His footwork was sloppy, his speed was slightly slower than usual and his killer instinct was dulled.

To his credit, Mosley was not willing to engage after he began to feel the power of Pacquiao. He backpedaled for the majority of the fight, but that could also be a problem.

Mosley has never been a backpedaling fighter, yet he was able to outmaneuver Pacquiao.

Pacquiao couldn't cut off the ring and finish Mosley, leading some to question whether Pacquiao is beginning to show signs of leaving his prime.

Pacquiao also lacked his usual lateral movement that helped create the angles he used to take out De La Hoya nearly three years prior.

Manny is 32 and turns 33 this December. He's been in numerous wars inside the ring and it has to catch up to him sometime. Perhaps Marquez can exploit that in one final war against Pacquiao.

2. Marquez's Final (Finest) Hour

As has been the case in a lot of Pacquiao's recent performances, fighters are always questioning whether or not to continue boxing.

De La Hoya retired after losing to Pacquiao.

Hatton retired after losing to Pacquiao.

Cotto and Margarito have each suffered devastating losses to Pacquiao and now face each other on December 3 in a fight that will likely retire the loser.

Shane Mosley has stopped fighting indefinitely and will likely retire.

Marquez would not be doing anything out of the norm by deciding to retire should he suffer a defeat to Pacquiao.

Even if he wins, retirement is still a logical decision and Marquez's final hour is one a true boxing fan will not want to miss.

A victory for Marquez means a career-defiining win and a hell of a way to end a beautiful career. You don't want to miss this ending.

1. Freddie Roach's Gameplan vs Nacho Beristain's Gameplan

Beyond the fight inside the ring, there is also a mental battle between the two trainers.

Freddie Roach trains Pacquiao and claims he will develop the ultimate gameplan to shut Marquez up for good.

Beristain claims he will have the gameplan to beat Pacquiao, often citing the old saying that style makes fights.

Does Marquez's style make for a tough fight for Pacquiao on any given night? It might.

But Roach has given Pacquiao some interesting gameplans in the past that, when executed, have become beautiful performances. This includes Manny's legendary beatdown of De La Hoya, a fight where Beristain served as De La Hoya's trainer.

Roach has also improved Pacquiao's technique and overall boxing ability.

Beristain has helped Marquez develop his legacy, possibly beyond many of his great Mexican peers such as Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Now comes the ultimate test of everything Marquez has learned in his career and everything Beristain can instill in him.

Who will emerge victorious? Who will bring the better gameplan?

The only way to find out is to watch this fight, November 12, on HBO pay-per-view.