Juan Manuel Marquez won’t have to worry about this one going to the judges’ scorecards. This time, once and for all, Marquez took matters into his own hands against Manny Pacquiao.
His right hand, actually.
Marquez’s straight right at the 2:59 mark of the sixth round, one second before the round ended, knocked Pacquiao out cold to the canvas to give the 39-year-old Mexican Marquez revenge against his nemesis and the knockout victory.
Marquez, after arguably winning the other three fights against Pacquiao dating back to 2004, won’t have to worry about those past disappointments after tonight. With one punch, you see, he’ll be considered the better fighter by the boxing public.
He and Pacquiao fought to a draw in 2004. Pacquiao won the other two meetings by controversial decision — first, a split decision in 2008 and then, by majority decision in November 2011.
Marquez was so disappointed with the majority decision he nearly walked away from the sport, feeling helpless after failing to win another close call against his rivals. Several observers thought he had won the last two meetings, but Marquez wasn’t satisfied. He took the fourth fight with one goal: having his hand raised by the referee.
Around 9:50 p.m. in Las Vegas, in the same ring he left from in shock November 2011, Marquez celebrated his biggest win ever. The pro-Marquez crowd of his countrymen continued chanting and singing long after the outcome. Redemption, after all, is sure sweet.
"I threw the perfect punch," Marquez said in comments relayed to media on press row.
Marquez hadn’t knocked down Pacquiao in their three previous meetings. That changed in the third round when Marquez, who likely dropped the first two rounds, connected with a powerful right to send Pacquiao down. The shot came from over the top of Marquez's head and had a lot of power.
Pacquiao returned the favor in the fifth round when he knocked down Marquez. It barely hurt Marquez, however, who touched the canvas with his glove to spot his fall to signal the official knockdown.
Marquez made his last stand in the sixth round, putting an exclamation mark on their rivalry. They likely won’t fight again, meaning Marquez’s right that knocked Pacquiao out cold will be the lasting image in the rivalry. Pacquiao was up and aware after a few minutes, but for the second time in six months, he was a loser.
“In the last rounds, I felt Pacquiao coming on and trying to knock me out,” Marquez said. “I felt a lot of danger. I knew that if I knocked him down early, I could knock him out.”
Pacquiao led by one point on each of the three judges' scorecards entering the sixth round, connecting on 95 of his 256 total punches thrown, according to CompuBox stats. Marquez connected on 52 of the 246 punches he attempted and only landed 11 of 96 jabs. But he landed the one big punch that counted, ending the match in dramatic fashion.
"I got hit by a punch I didn't see," Pacquiao said.
Check back later for full coverage.
Pacquiao records knock down in classic fifth round :
If you had to rank each of the rounds in the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rivalry, the fifth round Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Pacquiao-Marquez IV is easily in the top three.
The back and forth action had fans on their feet, including Pacquiao pulling even with a knockdown early in the round. Marquez was barely hit, but his gloves hit the canvas to officially count as a knockdown.
The fighters each landed significant blows in the final minutes of the round, each applying pressure with a combination of punches. Marquez likely took the worse and his nose is clearly bleeding. His eyes are swollen, too.
Pacquiao appears to have the upper hand, but if this rivalry has taught us anything, don’t count out Marquez. I have Pacquiao up one rounds. So does the reporter next to me.
You can’t blame Juan Manuel Marquez for not wanting to go to the judges’ scorecard.
Marquez, who feels he was cheated on the decision in his three previous fights with Manny Pacquiao, recorded his first knockdown in series with about 1:10 left in the third round. Marquez hammered Pacquiao with a heavy right hand — it traveled a long way from the top of Marquez head — to steal the early momentum in the welterweight fight at the MGM Grand.
Pacquiao likely won the first two rounds, but give the third to Marquez in bringing the score even at 28-all. But if Marquez connects like that again, this one could be over fast. Again, that’s first time in 39 rounds his has sent Pacquiao to the canvas.
Until then, I felt Pacquiao was in control. Another classic is unfolding, folks.
Pro-Juan Manuel Marquez crowd loud in opening round, which likely went to Pacquiao :
Make no doubt about it, Juan Manuel Marquez is clearly the fans choice here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for his welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao.
The pro-Marquez crowd provided much enthusiasm for the opening round with chants of “Marquez, Marquez” as the fighters go re-introduced to each other. This is the fourth meeting in their rivalry, with all four being evenly contested.
The opening round, which produced little action, was spent by the fighters feeling each other out. Pacquiao got in a few good licks, and at least to these amateur eye, won the round.
Looks like we are in store for another classic. Keep everyone posted.
Pacquiao, Marquez fighting for pride, bragging rights as they continue their rivalry:
A quick look at the numbers tells the entire story for tonight’s welterweight boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
It’s the fourth, and likely last, meeting in their heated rivalry, which has been defined by virtually even matches and close scoring decisions.
Some are calling this one of the sport’s all-time great rivalries, claiming it will be mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier.
That’s what happens when you’ve fought a combined 36 rounds and the public still wonders which fighter is better. The initial meeting in 2004 was scored a draw, and Pacquiao posted wins in the second and third meetings by controversial decision, including in November 2011, when he won by majority decision to send most of the sellout crowd at the MGM into a chorus of boos.
Pacquiao has won 19 of the 36 rounds, narrowly outscoring Marquez on the judges’ scorecards 1,024-1,017. Pacquiao landed 481 total punches in the three fights; Marquez 468. Marquez landed 352 power punches and connected on 31.3 percent of his attempts; Pacquiao's numbers are 331 and 26.2 percent.
That’s means tonight’s winner, regardless of the past three meetings, will be considered by many as the better fighter in the series.
The scene in the arena will be colorful all night with fans vocal in support of their countrymen — Pacquiao, the best fighter ever from the Philippines, and Mexico’s Marquez. The fight sold out Friday to bring in more than $10.5 million.
BREWER’S PICK: I’m going with Pacquiao by knockout in the eighth round. I know several say the 33-year-old Pacquiao, whose past five fights have gone the distance and who doesn’t have a knockout since beating Miguel Cotto in 2009, has shown signs the past two years that the tread is coming off the tires on his career. Tonight will be different. Pacquiao looked awesome in training and scored four knockdowns during camp — the first time he’s had a sparring knockdown since, you guessed it, preparing to fight Cotto. And this isn’t the same Marquez. He’s clearly added much bulk to his frame, meaning his speed — a strength in previous fights — could be in question.
source: lasvegassun.com
