Juan Manuel Marquez: How Manny Pacquiao's Opponent Got to This Fight

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have produced a rivalry whose ending is seven years in the making.

2004, these two warriors would meet for the first time and inspire a boxing classic with no victor. The draw that resulted from such a fight sparked a raging debate over who really won that first epic battle.

Many wonder how Marquez took Pacquiao to such depths and continually placed himself in such a position to bring such heated and close fights to Pacquiao.

Here is an in-depth guide to the parallel rise of Marquez and Pacquiao.

Pacquiao-Marquez: Before 2003

Both warriors came to America with dreams of pugilistic glory and hunger for fortunes the size of empires. Marquez started his professional career in 1993, debuting on American soil in 1994. Pacquiao debuted professionally in 1995, debuting in America in 2001.

Before they could achieve such dreams, they first had to barrel through a sea of men with those same desires whose names became anonymous under the quick fists of Marquez and Pacquiao.

Though Marquez started at a much heavier division, featherweight—126 lbs—Pacquiao would soon catapult upward as his nutrition grew better with the higher income that came from winning fights.

Pacquiao began his professional career as a light flyweight—108 lbs. He battered most of his competition, only losing twice by knockout to two listless foes before finally moving up to a comfortable weight class.

Pacquiao found his strength at the super bantamweight—122 lbs—weight division where he would knock out Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 to win the IBF world championship.

This became Pacquiao's second world title at a second weight class.

Marquez had to put away 29 opponents before landing his first shot at a world title in 1999 against WBA featherweight titlist Freddie Norwood.

Norwood snatched victory from Marquez via hard-fought unanimous decision despite Marquez out-throwing and out-landing against Norwood.

Marquez was knocked down in the second round, yet Norwood was knocked down in the ninth round. The referee unfortunately only awarded Norwood's knockdown of Marquez and had not called the later.

Marquez and Pacquiao would continue to beat world contenders well into their pivotal 2003.

Pacquiao-Marquez: 2003 Featherweight World Champions

In 2003, Marquez looked past his defeat to Norwood by challenging Manuel Medina for his IBF featherweight world title and WBA featherweight world titlist Derrick Gainer.

Both were highly decorated foes that Marquez made to look like they weren't on the level of the Mexican fighter. Medina was knocked out in Round 9 to give Marquez his first world title and Gainer was beaten by decision to award Marquez his first unified world title.

Pacquiao also jumped up to the featherweight division first testing himself out against a featherweight contender to see how he'd handle the weight.

Pacquiao made one final defense of his super bantamweight world title before vacating for featherweight titles.

Pacquiao fought for a world title against his first legendary opposition in Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao opened up a world of hurt on Barrera, knocking him out in Round 11 to win The Ring's featherweight championship.

As Marquez and Pacquiao closed out two separate, but great, star-making turns in the year 2003.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Round 1

Pacquiao and Marquez were set to unify their featherweight world titles in 2004. MGM Grand was the site of the venue and the Grand could add another classic to its long list of great fights.

The fight started as if it would become a blowout in favor of Pacquiao. Marquez was severely hurt, surviving three knockdowns in the first round.

After surviving such a tumultuous round, Marquez snatched most of the remaining rounds to score a major comeback with his counter-punching style that rocked Pacquiao all night long.

In the end, the judges scored the bout a draw. Pacquiao's significant lead in the beginning wasn't strong enough to hold. Marquez's comeback wasn't big enough to win.

Both men would have to concede to being each other's equals.

Pacquiao-Marquez: Losing and Rebounding

After the draw, Pacquiao and Marquez would both be tested greatly.

Marquez was stripped of his IBF title before losing his WBA belt to an undefeated Chris John in a very close and controversial unanimous decision in the victor's home country of Indonesia.

Pacquiao defended his featherweight belt once more before vacating to fight at super featherweight where Erik Morales would cut and thoroughly beat Pacquiao by unanimous decision.

Both men would go through war over their next series of fights to redeem themselves.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Redeemed

Between 2006 and 2007, both Pacquiao and Marquez embarked on a winning streak to erase their recent losses.

Marquez would knockout young Filipino Jimex Jaca before winning decisions against fellow Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and tough Mexican-American Rocky Juarez.

Pacquiao would avenge his loss to Erik Morales twice over with two knockouts. The first in Round 10 and the last in Round 3.

Pacquiao won the Ring's fighter of the year award for 2006 and then proceeded to beat Marco Antonio Barrera in 2007 in a rematch of their 2003 battle.

After Pacquiao defeated Barrera and Marquez had acquired a WBC super featherweight world title, there was only one thing left to do, fight each other.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Round 2

Juan Manuel Marquez came out doing better in his rematch with Pacquiao. He wasn't dropped in the first round, but Pacquiao was certainly stinging the Mexican with quick combos before evading counters.

The in-and-out style of Pacquiao was better adapted this time for Marquez, yet Marquez continued to have his moments.

Both fighters looked ravaged by the war they waged but Marquez's inability to stay on his feet during Round 3 gave Pacquiao the one point he needed to secure a split decision victory.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Chasing the Third Fight

With only one knockdown separating Pacquiao from another draw, Marquez felt he should have a rematch.

Pacquiao decided not to grant him his wish and instead moved up to lightweight after becoming the first Asian to win a world title in four weight divisions.

Marquez would face Joel Casamayor at lightweight, becoming the first person to knock the cunning Cuban warrior out.

Pacquiao laid waste to David Diaz to pick up a fifth world title and then moved on to a showdown with Oscar De La Hoya at the welterweight division.

Marquez was left fighting and defending his world title at lightweight as Pacquiao made history climbing multiple weight divisions.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez: A Lesson in Weight

Juan Manuel Marquez agreed to become Floyd Mayweather's comeback opponent after a two year layoff.

The catch? Marquez would have to come up to welterweight—147 lbs—to face him. Marquez had been conquering the lightweight—135 lbs—division earlier that year, but a move up two more divisions seemed handicapping.

But considering his rival Pacquiao had blown through De La Hoya at welterweight and Ricky Hatton at junior welterweight, Marquez felt he could do the same to Mayweather, especially a Mayweather that hadn't fought in nearly two years. Right?

Marquez turned out to be pretty wrong. Mayweather dominated him, even knocking him down in Round 2. Though Mayweather didn't press significantly for the stoppage, he proved he was back and better than ever.

Marquez was out-sized, out-sped, and out-thunk. Marquez would go back down to lightweight the following year to rebound from his loss by defeating young opponents Michael Katsidis and Juan Diaz and exciting fight-of-the year caliber matches.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. Negotiations Break Down

Mayweather and Pacquiao became all anyone could talk about as soon as it was announced that Mayweather had returned.

Then there was talk of random drug testing as brought up by Mayweather and cautiously resisted by Pacquiao.

Negations would repeatedly break down over cut-off dates, how many times testing could be performed, and which facility would perform testing.

Pacquiao began to blow through more opponents, become the first boxer in history to win a world title in eight weight divisions against Antonio Margarito in the fall of 2010. 

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez: Round 3

Pacquiao and Marquez finally came together to deliver Marquez his highest payday guarantee ever of $5 million in 2011.

The fight will be contested at the welterweight level at a catchweight of 144 lbs. Marquez claims he's building weight smarter and learning from past mistakes.

Marquez is older, but also wiser.

Pacquiao is bigger but also the more complacent fighter.

As time has passed, Pacquiao's competition of fearsome giants have become sad walking statues of crumbling stature just in the ring for a wealthy retirement check a Pacquiao fight provides.

If Marquez is as hungry for victory as he says he is, then Pacquiao beware. A fight is going down November 12 at the MGM Grand and it will bet brutal and there will be blood.