Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Dinamita Will Fizzle Against Pac-Man

Juan Manuel Marquez becomes the latest fighter to assume the title of “not Floyd Mayweather” next Saturday. Even if he’s not the matchup everyone’s been waiting for Manny Pacquiao to get, though, Marquez has plenty of experience facing the Filipino superstar.

Marquez is the only fighter to go the distance in two different fights with Pac-Man, drawing the first meeting and losing on a split decision in the second. For their third meeting, Marquez is bulking up to 145 pounds, the heaviest fighting weight of his career.

Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost in six years, is the clear favorite in the third meeting, and Marquez will be hard-pressed to give him much in the way of a fight. In the first place, Pacquiao is far more comfortable at 145 pounds than his opponent, who was fighting as a lightweight at 135 as recently as last November.

Just as important, the pressure in this fight is (paradoxically) on the challenger rather than the champ. Marquez believes that he should have been the winner in both previous fights with Pacquiao, and he’s out to prove it in this third meeting.

With Pacquiao’s overpowering reputation, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a decision even if he turns in a lackluster performance. Given that, Marquez will likely look to force a knockout and avoid letting the judges have any say in the outcome.

Ultimately, Pacquiao’s superior experience and power will tell in this meeting. Marquez will succeed in avoiding the judges, but not with the outcome he’s looking for.