Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3: Conspiracy Talk Unfair to Pac-Man and Marquez

Anytime there is a close fight and the popular fighter comes out on top, there is always going to be talk of controversy. This is what has happened to Manny Pacquiao after he was awarded a close majority decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night. 

The controversy is being overblown, and it does a disservice to what was a terrific night of boxing. This fight was unbelievably close and you could have made an argument for Marquez. However, Pacquiao winning the decision is not as egregious as some would have you believe today.

There is talk that because a fight with Floyd Mayweather is likely on the table that the judges were going to give Pacquiao a win even if he had an eyeball hanging from its socket. 

From Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times: 

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The usual chat about the integrity of boxing will now begin in full volume. So much was at stake. Had Pacquiao lost, the pot of gold at the end of boxing's rainbow, the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. matchup, would have gone away, at least for the moment. Pacquiao would have, most likely, invoked a rematch clause with Marquez that was in the contract.

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You can't pretend that boxing is a clean sport, because there is definitive proof in the past that it is not. But to say that Pacquiao pulled off the ultimate screwjob is just trying to bring down one of the great champions in the sport today. 

Pacquiao was more precise with his striking and landed more power punches. Marquez probably did slightly more damage, but in a round-by-round situation, you could have made an argument for either fighter going over. 

The controversy that has overtaken the fight is doing a disservice to both men. It was an extremely close contest that could have gone either way. Ultimately, the judges gave it to Pacquiao. You can't say that was the wrong decision. 

If it was completely obvious that Marquez won and he did not get the decision, then, yes, you would have an argument, but it wasn't.