Pacquiao vs. Marquez III: Pac-Man's Punch and Intelligence Will Win Fight

Beyond his record and name in the sport, why do I think that Manny Pacquiao will beat Juan Manuel Marquez?

After all, Marquez has given Pacquiao everything he could ever want twice. When it comes to people who he's actually met in the ring, Marquez is easily Pacquiao's greatest rival.

Despite all of that, Pacquiao is the better fighter. 

I know the two fights were close, but the bottom line is that the current record is 1-0-1 in favor of Pacquiao. It should be at least that good. 

Pacquiao is also five years younger than Marquez. The older both men get, the more relevant that becomes. 

But the age isn't what puts Pacquiao over Marquez in this one, at least not directly. 

No, that's a factor. It's just not the only factor. 

Pacquiao is a smart fighter. It may be the youth that gets him an early lead. But the most important factor in keeping that lead will be his intelligence.

What Pacquiao does better than just about any fighter I have ever seen is stay away. He gets his early lead and then just stays back, picks his spots and builds on that lead. That's even more impressive when you consider that fighters from behind are looking to land that one big punch.

That doesn't seem to phase Pacquiao. If it does, he's never really shown it. 

Until I am proven wrong, I am going to predict that Pacquiao will come out strong. He'll get his early punches in, but I don't think it will be a knockout unless Marquez gives him a golden opportunity. 

The good news is that he doesn't need to win by a knockout. He's got the superior fighting ability to get an early lead and the intelligence to hold it. 

You can't ask for anything more from a fighter. 

After this one, the million-dollar question will be this: Can he put that practice into play against Floyd Mayweather Jr.? 

I can't wait to find out. I doubt that many people can.