Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez: Why a 4th Fight Isn't Necessary

After the third bout between Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) and Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO) ended in controversy Saturday night, many have come to the conclusion that all three bouts could have ended in a draw or gone to either man.

If there is no legitimate winner after 36 rounds, what would another 12 really prove, and are they necessary?

Going into the third fight, which Pacquiao would end up winning by a majority decision, the main questions that were asked were would Pacquiao need a knockout to get the definitive victory he had been looking for, and if he couldn't knock down Marquez like in the first two fights, could he manage to still win a decision?

The second question was answered, and a fourth fight would only be done for one reason—for Pacquiao to get the KO.

What will the fans think when they are looking for the wrong man to get the knockout when it's really Marquez who needs it?

Marquez's style has always given Pacquiao the same problems, and it seems like no matter how flawless or technical his counter-punching is, the judges will never give him the benefit of the doubt in close rounds.

Unless he really thinks he can get the knockout over his Filipino rival, there is no reason to accept a fourth fight unless it's in Mexico where a hometown decision might be looming.

Really, the only difference between the third fight and the first two was that were no knockdowns, and it still didn't matter for the Mexican lightweight champion. He got up from four knockdowns in the first two bouts to earn a draw in the first and lose a split-decision by one point in the second.

Their three-fight rivalry should stay where it's at because of the controversy that surrounds it and the questions that it will always leave unanswered. It should be left up to the fans to decide who they thought won while both move on to bigger and better things before their careers are over.

There is nothing Marquez can do to change his style, and it's one that the judges will never favor, especially against someone as aggressive, energetic and fast-paced as Pacquiao