Pacquiao vs Marquez 3: Pacman's Power Will Be Too Much for Marquez

Manny Pacquiao has spent much of his career climbing the weight-class ladder, a progression obvious in his series of fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.

After fighting to a draw in 2004 at 126 lbs and a controversial split decision (in favor of Pacquiao) in 2008 at 130 lbs, the fighters will meet for the third time next Saturday at 145 pounds, the heaviest fighting weight of Marquez’s career.

Although Marquez has plenty of experience with his more famous rival, the increase in weight class isn’t a negligible difficulty to overcome. More weight means more power, and Pac-Man already boasted lots of that even at lower weight classes (a major reason he’s moved up so successfully).

Just as critically, Marquez has neither experience nor success fighting above his preferred lightweight bulk (135 lbs). His only welterweight fight ended in a unanimous decision in favor of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Agreeing to fight at this weight was a mistake on Marquez’s part, and Pacquiao will make him pay for it.

Marquez has suffered his share of knockdowns in their earlier bouts, and likely won’t be able to go the distance a third time against a bigger, stronger Pacquiao (who’s been fighting at welterweight or heavier since 2009).

Unfortunately for boxing fans, even a knockout win for Pacquiao won’t produce any progress toward the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight the boxing world has spent the last few years rooting for.

Fortunately for those fans, they should be in for an entertaining bout, even if a bulkier Marquez’s chances to beat Pacquiao have never been slimmer.