Pacquiao vs. Marquez: The Experts' Picks

Folks, we're not that far away from Manny Pacquiao defending his WBO World Welterweight Title against Juan Manuel Marquez. 

Have you decided what you think is going to happen? Well, if you haven't, take a look at what some people in the boxing world have to say about the fight. 

Obviously, this doesn't detail everyone's opinions, but it's always nice to take a look at what the experts have to say. 

Mike Jones via Mark Abrams (Knockout):

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It’s going to be a great war, but somebody’s going to go down and stay down. Both of those guys got bigger, got stronger—obviously Pacquiao got bigger and stronger. I believe it’s going to be a great fight for the fans.

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If you're trying to figure out who is going to win and who won't, this opinion won't help you. But if you're looking at betting on the fight, know that most places (like Bodog) have an option of betting on the length of the fight.

Who wins makes no difference.

Now, Pacquiao's countryman Nonito Donaire agrees with Jones that we'll see a knockout. He's just a little more sure of the winner.  

Nonito Donaire via WBN (Late-Round Pacquiao Knockout):

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I don’t think this is a defining fight for Manny because he’s already defined himself as one of the all-time greats, but he wants to end this trilogy with Marquez in a decisive way. It’s a personal thing. He’s focused on knocking out Marquez...You never count out a guy like Marquez but from all indications, Manny will win by knockout in the late rounds.

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Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports also thinks that we'll see a knockout. He feels that Marquez fighting out of his weight class will cost him this fight.

Kevin Iole via Lem Satterfield (Pacquiao TKO in Round 8):

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Juan Manuel Marquez isn't a welterweight, plain and simple. Manny Pacquiao has developed as a fighter since they last fought, and he's become an even harder puncher...Marquez couldn't take the power of a guy who was 130 pounds. He's never going to take it from the Pacquiao who is a full-fledged welterweight.

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The overwhelming majority of predictions are favoring Pacquiao. Still, nothing is quite a consensus. Trainer Virgil Hunter believes that Marquez will win in a decision.

Virgil Hunter via Satterfield (Marquez Split Decision):

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I think that the competition and the different styles that Marquez has fought since their last fight has maybe given Marquez a better perspective to be in this fight...So I think that if the fight goes the distance, that Marquez wins a split-decision. That's if it goes the distance. So if you want me to give my final verdict, then I will go by split decision.

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I actually don't agree with any of the men quoted here. I certainly understand the arguments of those who feel that this fight will end in a knockout, but I just don't agree.

Quite simply, these two men have fought two times and given us two epic battles. Both have gone the full 12 rounds. So, I really can't go against this one to follow suit.

My prediction is for a Pacquiao win by unanimous decision. I don't think he'll really go for a knockout unless Marquez gives him a golden opportunity. 

Rather, I see Pacquiao jumping out to an early lead, playing back after that and winning by an easy decision. If he gets that early lead, there will be no reason to go for a knockout. He's more than good enough to protect a lead.

Pacquiao's recent fights have just not ended in a lot of knockouts, and this one will be no different.