Pacquiao vs Marquez: Is HBO's 24/7 Losing Its Punch Before Big Fight?

The first two episodes of HBO's latest installment of 24/7 were spectacular, offering viewers more than enough as Manny Pacquiao and rival Juan Manuel Marquez got set for their third and final fight.

But the third episode of Pacquiao vs. Marquez was disappointing from an entertainment standpoint, and you have to wonder if HBO is pressing at this point.

Headed into the latest installment, there was concern that Pacquiao and Marquez wouldn't provide the pre-fight fireworks that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz did. For boxing purists, it would be a joy to watch regardless, but in terms of bringing in a broader audience there was a chance it wouldn't deliver.

The first two episodes brought us everything from Marquez taking jabs at Pacquiao to Pacquiao showing a determination to silence his longtime rival once and for all. It brought the kind of drama we have come to know and love about the 24/7 series, even with the soft-spoken Pacquiao in the forefront.

However, the third episode was largely a disappointment in terms of charging up fighting fans and you have to hope this is not where the installment levels off.

There were some interesting parts, such as former steroid dealer Angel Hernandez (aka Angel Heredia) addressing questions about him working with Marquez.

But, in all, there was little fire in terms of promotion for such a big fight.

The truth is, Paquiao isn't Mayweather, and Marquez isn't Ortiz. In short, they are more respectable as individuals, and that makes for a rather lackluster reality TV show.

What has made HBO's series so popular is it expertly fuses the inside world of boxing with drama. But what happens when there is no more drama to drum up?

You are left with looking ahead to the fight, and growing weary of the same old storyline repeating itself each and every episode.

If only Pacquiao used his windpipes to belt Marquez with a round of knockout punches before the fight.