Later this year, Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez finally gets his third shot at Pound-4-Pound King Manny Pacquiao and a chance to avenge his razor-thin split decision loss to the Filipino slugger back in March of 2008.
Marquez insists that he won both his previous fights against Pacquiao, which resulted in a draw and loss on his record. Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has said time and time again that he thinks Marquez is the one fighter that has Pacquiao's number, and expects another transcendent war between the two.
But this isn't the Pacquiao of 2008 now is it?
The last time both men fought, it was at 130 pounds. That was the last time Pacquiao fought at that weight, and aside from cameos at 135 and 140, he has fought mostly at 147 and has grown into a legit welterweight, and has not looked back since. Marquez, who will be 38-years-old by the time he squares off against Pacquiao in November, is the lineal champ at 135 and will be fighting Pacquiao at the catchweight of 144 pounds. Unlike Pacquiao though, he has not been able to carry the extra weight as efficiently, and was blown out by Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in September of 2009 when they fought at a similar catchweight. Although Mayweather did not honor that 144 limit and came in at 146 against Marquez at the weigh-ins, Pacquiao still has the significant advantage because of the 144 catchweight, because he can make that limit comfortably as he has not weighed-in more than 145 in any of his fights ever. Honestly, despite what history suggests, I do not give Marquez much of a chance at beating Pacquiao.
Yes. Styles do make fights. And as much as Marquez's style has given Pacquiao fits, this upgraded version of Pacquiao punches harder, is much stronger, and is more skillful and elusive than the one that dropped 'Dinamita' four times in the past. With that said, I expect nothing less than a knockout win for Pacquiao, unless Marquez decides to pull a 'Shane Mosley' and not fight at all. I, however, have far more respect in Marquez's breed to think he would lay an egg like that and simply cash his check. Besides, how stupid would he look if he won't even put up a fight after calling out Pacquiao on numerous occasions and claiming he won each time they fought?
Anything less than a Pacquiao KO win can be chalked up as a disappointment.
If Pacquiao fans truly believe Pacquiao can beat Mayweather, how can they expect less either, when Mayweather simply toyed with Marquez? Yes, Mayweather's style forced Marquez to fight uncharacteristically and take risks. Instead of being the counterpuncher that he usually is, Marquez became the aggressor, and dramatically failed in trying to do so against the defensive wiz that Mayweather is.
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