Manny Pacquiao: HBO's 24/7 of Pacquiao vs Marquez Trumps Mayweather vs Ortiz

I respect Manny Pacquiao more than Floyd Mayweather Jr. outside the ring, but I figured HBO's 24/7 installment of Pacquiao vs. Marquez would be much less entertaining than Mayweather vs. Ortiz.

That's because while Mayweather is always full of drama, Pacquiao has always been soft-spoken outside the ring.

But Pacquiao vs. Marquez turned out to be much more entertaining for me, in a much different way.

24/7 has been so popular since its debut in 2007 because it's been a fusion of boxing insight and reality TV.

I was expecting plenty of boxing insight headed into Pacquiao vs. Marquez, but I figured the series would fall short in coming through in the other area.

But the latest installment has been fantastic, and a lot of it has to do with the intriguing words by Pacquiao and Marquez headed into their fight on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.

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For one, this may be the fight of the year. Marquez may be the toughest opponent for Pacquiao throughout the years, battling the Filipino to a draw and split-decision. He has the counter-punching style that works better against Pacquiao, who throws punches with ferocity, but can also be open to exposing himself every once in a while. That alone has spiced up these episodes.

On top of that, Marquez made headlines last November by wearing a T-shirt labeled "I beat Pacquiao twice" on one of his trips to the Philippines. He's selling the idea that the judges got it wrong in the rivals' first two fights, and he's stirred up the boxing world in the process.

Since then, Pacquiao has made it clear he doesn't just want to win on Nov. 12, he wants to leave little doubt that he is the better fighter. While Marquez has turned this into the defining moment of his career, Pacquiao may be thinking the same thing.

"I want this man," Pacquiao said in the second episode.

The significance of this fight, for both boxers' careers, has single-handedly made the lead-up exciting and pure entertainment. Pacquiao and Marquez don't need to act like reality TV stars because their emotions are running wild already.

And, for once in a hurting sport, the actual fight may pack a punch just as much as the promotion.