Pacquiao vs. Marquez: 10 Reasons Hardcore Fans Need to Watch

This Saturday, November 19, 2011, Manny Pacquiao will meet the man who has been his toughest rival. Over the course of two fights and 24 hotly contested rounds, Juan Manuel Marquez has given Manny Pacquiao more trouble than any other fighter in this century. The fight will be broadcast live on HBO PPV.

This has not been a great year for PPV events and Pacquiao's uneventful unanimous decision over the shockingly timid Shane Mosely last May may have pushed the Filipino sensation's star power at least slightly downward for the first time.

Likewise, there has been wide spread grumbling about the fact that Pacquiao is fighting a 38-year-old lightweight.

But by now even most younger or more casual fans are probably up-to-date on the fact that Juan Manuel Marquez has not only been the one man to figure Manny out for more than one night, but is also an elite, hall-of-fame champion completely apart from his classic two-fight series with Pacquiao.

But if you need to get a fuller picture of Marquez's career trajectory, check out this slideshow.

If they were to build a Mt. Rushmore for boxing in the first decade of the 20th Century, both of these guys would be getting their mugs chiseled into stone. This is a fight that both of them wanted, at a time when both continue to perform at the top of their game. 

This is a fight we have wanted to see made for years, boxing fans. And just because it did not occur a couple years ago at some more ideal moment in time does not mean it's too late now.  

It Is Going to Be Historic

The greatest stories in boxing history are all about multiple fight rivalries. When I was a kid we had the Four Kings fighting each other multiple times and Aaron Pryor versus "The Explosive Thin Man" Alexis Arguello.

In the old days they had Willie Pep versus Sandy Sadler or Jake Lamotta and Sugar Ray, Rocky Graziano and Tony Zale. But in the really old days of boxing everybody fought everybody a lot of times. 

Pacquiao-Marquez has been one of the great boxing rivalries of my adult years. No matter what happens Saturday, both of these guys are in every single educated conversation about the great boxers of this generation.

They have fought 24 of the most exciting and competitive rounds I have ever seen. They are both still ranked in the top five pound-for-pound by The Ring. If they want to fight, I want to see it. 

It Is a True International Sporting Event

One of the great things about being a boxing fan is that the sport truly is international. And the men fighting on Saturday night represent two of the proudest, most boxing crazy nations on the earth, Mexico and the the Philippines. 

As even a high percentage of non-boxing fans are aware, the amazing Manny Pacquiao has become a Filipino congressman in his spare time. Meanwhile, Marquez spoke frankly on the last episode of HBO 24/7 about the sense of responsibility he feels representing the great tradition of Mexican boxing. 

The most recent issue of The Ring had a nice little story about Pacquiao's interesting relationship with the Mexican fans and their fighters. The humble Pacquiao purportedly hates the "Mexicutioner" nickname that sometimes gets hung on him, but it is a fact that he is 13-1-1 against boxers of Mexican descent.

Pacquiao has been greeted warmly by Mexican fans when he has visited the country to promote fights. By all accounts, Mexican fans have grown to appreciate their arch nemesis, just as fans throughout the world have.

But don't be fooled by any good will. There is national pride on stake Saturday night, far beyond what the Olympics have produced for a generation or more.  

These Are Two of the Greatest Fighters of This Era, at the End of Their Rides

While I do not believe age has caught up to Marquez yet, at 38 it seems quite likely this will be one of his last big fights. For almost two decades now, he has been one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and five years after he retires, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

No way do I want to miss what might be his last great moment, or even his last moment in the big time. 

Manny Pacquiao, at 32, could probably keep going for several years, at least. But now that he has stated a desire to enter into a serious political career, it's hard to imagine he will have more than a handful of fights left. 

Two of the Sport's Greatest Trainers Will Go Head to Head

As Manny Pacquiao's star has risen, his trainer Freddy Roach has become a star in his own right. In addition to training Manny Pacqiao, he trains other top fighters including WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and junior welterweight superstar Amir Khan. 

He has even been hired as a boxing coach by MMA champions like Georges St. Pierre. 

He's one of the top active trainers in the world today. But his counterpart this Saturday, Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, might be the very best. 

Beristain was inducted into the Boxing Hall-of-Fame last June. His world champions run into the double digits. 

Ultimately, it all comes down to the two men in the ring. But Saturday night, both of those men will come in as well prepared as any fighter could ever hope to be. 

Manny Pacquiao Feels Like He Has Something to Prove

Last Friday HBO rebroadcast the second Pacquiao-Marquez fight, while Pacman sent out his commentary on the fight over twitter. The number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world ended the broadcast by promising: "To be continued on November 12. There will not be any doubts in November."

The is the closest the famously humble Pacquiao is going to get to bragging or smack talk. But the tweets make it clear that Pacman believes he won that last fight.

He's been hearing Marquez, and others, claim he lost it for the past four years. There is no way that has not eaten away a little at Pacquiao's quiet pride. 

There is a score to settle here, and it is personal. There is no way Pacquiao doesn't go into this fight hungrier for a knockout than he has been in a long time.  

Marquez Has a Chip on His Shoulder

The truth is, Juan Manuel Marquez has been fighting with a chip on his shoulder for years. It's hard not to see it as a part of what has made him so great. 

There has always been wide consensus that Marquez is among the most talented fighters on his generation. But for some reason, he has often been on the outside looking in when it has come to big fights.

It took him six years to land his first title shot, and when he dropped a decision loss to Freddie Norwood, it took him four more years to get another one. 

Two title fights in 10 years for a guy who is one of the top five pound-for-pound fighters of his generation; it nearly seems obscene when you see it written like that. I couldn't even begin to list all the fighters who have had far more access to world title fights with only a fraction of Marquez's ability or heart. 

Even after he became a champion, Marquez continued to feel like Rodney Dangerfield. Maybe he was finally getting mentioned in the same breath with the great Mexican champions like Erik Morales and Marcos Antonio Barrera, but he still couldn't get a fight with them. While Morales and Barrera staged the greatest three-fight rivalry of the first decade of this century, Marquez once more was left to watch from the stands. 

In recent years he has watched while a man he is convinced that he beat, Manny Pacquiao, has catapulted his way to the very pinnacle of the sport.

And now, when his long awaited rematch has finally arrived, casual fans all over the United States are scratching their heads and asking "Why they havin' Manny fight the little, old guy?"

November 12 Marquez will get the opportunity to do what he has excelled at over the years: climb into the ring and show people. And if he shows people on this stage, this time, chances are they will finally know. 

Timothy Bradley Returns

Saturday night will also mark the return of undefeated junior welterweight sensation Timothy Bradley, who The Ring ranks number seven pound-for-pound.

Bradley last fought on January 29 of this year, when he handed Devon Alexander his first professional loss by stopping him in 10. He has been inactive for most of 2011 while dealing with problems with promoters and representation, but now the 28-year-old is signed with Top Rank and ready to take the biggest fights he can get. 

Bradley would also have to be viewed as one of the favorites in the "Who Fights Manny Pacquiao Next?" Derby. 

His opponent will be 40-year-old Cuban native Joel Casamayor, 38-5-1. Casamayor, who was TKO'd in 11 by Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2008, is clearly intended to be an opponent here. But he is a highly skilled guy who is always in shape, so he will present an interesting measuring stick for Bradley at the very least. Expect him to do everything in his power to make it a legitimate fight. 

Mike Alvarado vs. Breidis Prescott

At 31-0 with 22 knockouts, Michael Alvarado is currently ranked number 10 by The Ring at 140 pounds. A Colorado native, "Mile High" is the IBF Latino light welterweight champion. 

Breidis Prescott of Columbia is most famous in the boxing world as "the guy who knocked out Amir Khan in 54 seconds." Since then he has dropped back to back decisions to Miguel Vasquez and Kevin Mitchell in 2009 and is coming off a decision loss to Paul McCloskey in September. 

Most people view Prescott as something short of an elite talent, and that his dramatic KO of Khan was a fluke thing. Still, he has fought at a high level for a number of years and probably represents the toughest competition yet for the undefeated Alvarado. 

This Card Could Shake Up the Top of Every Division from 135 to 160 Pounds

Between the main event and the two under card fights, Saturday night could end up having a pretty significant impact on the boxing landscape.

If Juan Manuel Marquez upsets Manny Pacquiao then everything everybody has been talking about for the past few years—i.e., Manny vs. Floyd—suddenly becomes just so much wasted hot air. No way does Mayweather risk getting in the ring with Pacquiao if he can point to a common opponent that he beat easily and Pacman lost to. 

Even another close decision win for Pacquiao makes the Mayweather fight more unlikely, in my opinion. 

Meanwhile, every hardcore boxing fan should be anxious to see what Timothy Bradley looks like now that he has returned to action. An impressive performance against the veteran Casamayor could clear the way for him to take on Manny Pacquiao. Or it could be a preface to a long-awaited showdown with Amir Khan, to see once and for all who is the man at 140 pounds. 

Speaking of Khan, that 54 second destruction he suffered early in his career to Breidis Prescott continues to hang over him. If Prescott can beat the undefeated Alvarado, he will insert himself into the top 10 at 140 and suddenly a rematch with Khan will be a very attractive fight to market. 

And Juan Manuel Marquez remains the number one fighter in the world at 135 pounds. But where does he go from this fight? Back down to 135 to take on the rising phenom Brandon Rios? To 140 to finally do battle with fellow Mexican great Erik Morales? How he performs Saturday night against Pacquiao will go a long way towards deciding all of that. 

It Is Going to Be Dramatic

Manny Pacquiao comes into this fight hungry for a knock out, knowing his last fight against Mosley was a disappointment for the fans. Moreover, he is very aware that Marquez represents the single question mark from his career that has yet to be resolved in a satisfying manner. 

Juan Manuel Marquez is in some ways fighting for the legacy of his entire career. The hardcore fans will always know he was one of the greats, but with a big showing Saturday night the whole sporting world will know.

Even if it doesn't end up being competitive, it will still be exciting. If it starts to become apparent to Marquez early on that he can no longer hang with Pacman, don't expect him to jump on the bicycle like Mosley did. A warrior like Marquez is going to go out on his shield.

These are two great fighters with a long history of putting on great fights. The few times that either has been involved in anything less than a thriller, it hasn't been their fault. 

If you put the two of them together, with a score to settle, I just don't see how you get anything less than fireworks for a result.