Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Why Marquez Has Clear Advantage over Pac-Man

Forget everything you think you know, because Manny Pacquiao might as well be the underdog heading into his epic third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Despite being listed as the underdog, Marquez is gaining immense support heading into this fight. He has a clear advantage against Pacquiao this time.

Physically

Pac-Man may be the man with the fastest hands inside the squared circle, but Marquez has been able to withstand the punishment through two bouts already.

Now, Juan Manuel comes to the big stage at 38 years old looking better than he did when he was 28 years old.

Marquez put in the work to train for this bout. He packed on much-needed muscle, which will help him continue to withstand Pac-Man’s fists of fury.

More importantly, the added mass will aid Marquez’s generally impenetrable defense. The knockout eluded Pacquiao in the first two fights and will elude him in Part III.

Marquez is in much better shape to make a knockout attempt this time. He isn’t as quick as Pacquiao, but his added muscle will give him more knockout potential. As Pacquiao becomes frustrated, Marquez may be able to catch him with a jawbreaker late in the fight to drop him.

Unlikely? Yes.

Still, I have more faith in Marquez to land a knockout punch than Pac-Man on Saturday.

Mentally

Marquez has been in Pacquiao’s head for years. Whether it's Pac-Man's inability to knock him out or the T-shit propaganda, Marquez has been as cerebral as any of Pacquiao’s previous foes.

Marquez is clearly in Pac-Man’s head, which might be the biggest reason we’re even having a third fight in the first place.

Nobody has stood up to Pacquiao as well as Marquez. There is clearly doubt in every fan’s mind—and even Pac-Man’s—about who will win this third encounter.

You would never know this series is 1-0-1 by the way Marquez gloats—because Marquez knows he’s teetering on the brink of a major upset.

Manny knows it, too.

Floyd Mayweather X-Factor

We all know who Floyd Mayweather is rooting for—Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather needs Pacquiao to win in order to cash in for the Fight of the Century.

Still, you would think he was in Marquez’s corner after spouting a May 5th fight date with Pac-Man.

He’s taken the attention away from the Marquez fight and put it back on him. In the process, he has become a distraction for Pacquiao and his promoter, Bob Arum.

Mayweather is an even better cerebral assassin than Marquez. For all we know, he wants Manny distracted and actually lose to Marquez.

If Pacquiao can’t beat Marquez again, Mayweather would be the clear cut best boxer in the world today. It would end the debate without Mayweather ever having to touch Pacquiao.

“Money” would hold all of the leverage in negotiations with Pacquiao. Mayweather wouldn’t need Pac-Man, but Pac-Man would certainly need a bout with Floyd to save his career and restore his legacy.

Mayweather’s rise from the shadows following his controversial fight with Victor Ortiz hurts Pacquiao and helps Marquez.