Next step for Manny Pacquiao uncertain after being floored by Marquez

The first reporter to ask a question at a Manny Pacquiao post-fight press conference never had to search for a topic.

Pacquiao was undefeated for a seven-year stretch until last June and arguably was one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters. Like clockwork following each of his dominating victories, one of the first questions asked of promoter Bob Arum always involved a potential mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

After Saturday night, however, the window to create that fight — a showdown several fans have long said is the only one they’d be interested in seeing — has soundly closed.

Pacquiao’s future in boxing is uncertain after being knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in the sixth round of their welterweight fight. As he lay on the canvas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena following a knockout — a powerful right hand from the Mexican Marquez with one second left in the round — everything quickly changed when talking about Pacquiao’s next match.

His future, you see, might not include another fight.

The 32-year-old has repeatedly said his career would only last a few more fights, and considering how his performances have gradually declined in recent outings, you can easily assume it’s time for Pacquiao to call it a career. He’s just not the same fighter who enjoyed the seven-year winning streak in placing his name among the all-time best. He lacks punching power and hasn't enjoyed the same dominance as his glory years. The streak was snapped in June when he dropped a controversial decision to Timothy Bradley despite dominating the fight.

Saturday, there was no question: Pacquiao was out cold after a solid right, giving Marquez the victory he long desired. It was the fourth meeting between the rivals.

Not only did the blow by Marquez, whose knockout capped an exciting back-and-forth fight where Pacquiao led 3-2 entering the decisive sixth round, end Pacquiao’s night; he may have also closed the books on Pacquiao's career. Pacquiao was transported to UMC for precautionary observation following the fight and was released early Sunday in good condition, according to reports. He wasn’t able to attend the press conference

His only communication with the media came through his handlers. He said he wanted to fight again but first planned on a break to recover.

“I will take some time off and come back and fight,” Pacquiao said, relayed to media by his team.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said he wouldn’t hesitate telling Pacquiao to call it a career if he wasn’t in top form when they return to the gym. Pacquiao, who reportedly earned $26 million for the fight, likely is financially set for life. His plate has become overly crowed in recent years with being a Congressman in his native Philippines, among other distractions, which several say led to his decline.

Despite all this, Pacquiao was beating Marquez in the early rounds.

He won the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards but was knocked down by Marquez in the third round to even the score at 28-all entering the fourth. It was the first time Pacquiao was knocked down by Marquez in 39 rounds of their rivalry.

Pacquiao returned the favor in the fourth round by knocking Marquez down. Marquez caught his fall by placing his hand to the canvas to limit the damage.

After a back-and-forth fifth and sixth round, it appeared the momentum was on Pacquiao’s side as he pressured Marquez near the ropes toward the end of the sixth. Then, with one punch, Marquez got the victory he so desperately wanted.

After the disappointment of what he believed were poor scoring decisions in the previous fights with Pacquiao, this one wasn’t going to the judges. Marquez got the closure he wanted with a punch that took several by surprise. Pacquiao was that close to ending the fight.

“He just walked into one, you know,” Roach said. “I didn’t think (the fight) would last much longer on our side.”

The event was sold out, with more than 16,000 fans in attendance, including several pro-Marquez supporters who chanted his name throughout the fight. Notables in the crowd included Magic Johnson, reality show personality Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi from the “Jersey Shore,” basketball player Metta World Peace, talk show host Montel Williams, rapper/newbie boxing promoter 50 Cent and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Romney met Pacquiao prior to the fight in the locker room. He and his wife, Ann, sat ringside and were feet away from where Pacquiao was knocked out.

“Everyone was shocked, including the guy running for president,” Arum said. “Manny went down almost in front of him.”

Marquez clearly added more bulk to his frame for this fight, leading some — especially Roach — to speculate this week the newfound muscles were reportedly the result of performance-enhancing drugs. Whatever the case, Marquez’s punches were clearly more effective.

“I didn’t think he would be as heavy-handed as he was,” Roach said. “He hurt Manny more than in past fights.”

Questions were also asked about Marquez’s future. The 39-year-old considered retirement in November 2011 after dropping a majority decision to Pacquiao, saying the disappointment of losing on the scorecards left him lacking motivation to continue. He soon was rejuvenated and took the fourth fight, knowing it would be one last chance to get redemption for past defeats.

But what about a fifth fight?

“A fifth fight: Why not?” Arum said minutes after Saturday’s fight ended. “Have you seen a more exciting fight in years?”

Marquez, who some speculate could retire (can’t get much better than Saturday, after all), said his immediate plans include celebrating with family and friends in Mexico. He’d address his future later — much later.

For now, there’s a party to attend where he’s the guest of honor. The streets in his hometown of Mexico City were crowded with supporters wildly celebrating a victory Marquez said also was for the people in his country.

“It’s better to celebrate late than not at all,” Marquez said referring to the past close calls with Pacquiao. “So, I’ll do it late.”

source: lasvegassun.com

Fourth time is a charm for Juan Manuel Marquez against Manny Pacquiao

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

Pacquiao versus Marquez 4 - Much more than just a fight

Boxing is just boxing. Two fighters put on gloves and punch each other. However, there are some select moments when boxing is so much more than just boxing. Such is the case for the fourth battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. They will step up to the ring to renew their rivalry on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), and what’s at stake is more than just a win because this one is more than just a fight.

Marquez believes Pacquiao took everything away from him. In their series, Marquez has a draw and two losses to show for. “He feels that he has been wronged all this time,” said Marquez’s trainer. If Marquez managed to win two or three of the fights against Pacquiao as he claims he did, he would have been the one who was catapulted into superstardom. Maybe he would have gotten all those juicy matches against the likes of Oscar de la Hoya and Miguel Cotto. Maybe he would now be the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

The losses to Pacquiao did not only stain Marquez’s record. Those losses have cost him a lot both financially and in terms of legacy.

For Pacquiao, it’s hard to accept that a lot of people still think Marquez is better than him. He won twice but people still feel that he needs to prove himself against Marquez. The eight-division world champion is in a weird situation. He needs a dominant unanimous decision win or a knockout for this fight to be considered a success from this end. For Marquez, he only needs a win, no matter how he gets it.

Sometimes boxing fights transcend boxing and this is one of those rare times. The rivalry between the Philippines and Mexico has been on fire as of late. The results have been pretty even, so Pacquiao and Marquez will ultimately decide which country will be the winner.

This fight is different because it feels like what’s at stake is more than just one win. The fighter who wins the match wins the rivalry. That’s why they’re doing it again. That’s why another epic battle should be expected tomorrow.

Will Marquez finally get the win he’s been dreaming about for the past decade or will Pacquiao prove once and for all that he is the better fighter? All the questions that have lingered throughout this tremendous rivalry will all be answered tomorrow. - AMD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Pacquiao, Marquez make weight for Saturday’s sold-out welterweight fight

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez made weight today for their welterweight fight Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Marquez took to the scales first at the MGM Grand, weighing in at 143 pounds. Pacquiao followed at 147 pounds — the welterweight maximum.

This is the fourth, and likely last, fight in a heated series — some boxing experts call it one of the sport’s all-time rivalries — between two fighters that history has proven are evenly matched.

Their inaugural fight in 2004 was ruled a draw. Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) won by split decision in 2008 and by majority decision last November. In the majority decision, one judge scored the fight a draw and another scored it in Marquez’s favor at 115-113. But the third judge saw it 116-112 in favor of Pacquiao to give him the majority decision by one round.

Yes, it’s been that close.

The weigh-in, which was free to the public, was attended by about 6,000 fans — a majority of whom cheered loudly for the Mexican Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs). The event also was attended by several boxing legends, including former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, former five-division champion and Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard, and HBO commentator and former champ Roy Jones Jr.

The list of notables also included newbie promoter 50 Cent. The rapper was on stage when his fighter, undefeated Cuban defector Yuriokis Gamboa, weighed in for his undercard fight.

Officials from Top Rank, which is promoting the event, announced earlier Friday that the 16,000-seat arena has been sold out. They said the gate will exceed $10.5 million. The card will be televised on closed circuit at several MGM properties on the Strip, and Top Rank officials also expect those seats to sell out.

“Manny and Juan Manuel may have unfinished business in the ring, but as far as the live box office, it’s business as usual — another sellout,” Bob Arum, the Top Rank president, said in a statement. “I encourage boxing fans in Las Vegas to go to their favorite MGM Resort International property to purchase their closed-circuit seats today because the projections are looking like a sellout there, too.”

Pacquiao, who in June lost a controversial decision to Timothy Bradley for his first loss in seven years, is a heavy betting favorite at the MGM sports book. Pacquiao is a -370 favorite (bet $37 to win $10) while Marquez is listed at +280.

source: lasvegassun.com

JuanMa to earn more in fourth showdown

LAS VEGAS – It may not be too hard to lure Juan Manuel Marquez into another fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, boxing’s greatest promoter, said Saturday’s fight was a huge success that setting a fourth fight wouldn’t be as difficult as making the third one.

Arum said gate receipts at the MGM Grand will hit as high as $1.7 million based on the crowd figure of 16,368. There were also 16,000 closed circuit seats sold in the different MGM Properties.

“You can’t do better than a sellout, and that’s music to my ears,” said Arum.

Marquez will get his share in the gates, as well as the pay-per-view sales, and counting his guaranteed purse of $5 million he stands to get as much as $10 million.

“Marquez should be making $9 million to $10 million, and that’s a lot of money. So I will sit down with him,” said the chief of Top Rank Promotions.

Pacquiao was guaranteed $22 million for the fight, and Arum said it may hit $30 million once everything comes in.

Under the fight contract, Marquez will receive a guaranteed purse of $10 million in case a fourth fight between him and Pacquiao happens.

And by announcing his plans to retire, Marquez may have just upped his personal value.

He can easily ask more than what’s stated in the contract just to make a fourth fight happen.

Arum said the pay-per-view numbers for Saturday’s fight are promising as well.

“We are tracking near 1.5 million (hits at $54.99 each),” he said.


Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao escapes with controversial win

MANILA, Philippines - WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao retained his title with a questionable majority decision victory over nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas today.

The three judges had scores of 114-114, and 115-113 and 116-112 for Pacquiao, who had himself on the receiving end of Marquez's brilliant counters throughout the fight.

Philstar.com had it 115-113 for Marquez, who once again left the ring in frustration after a night on which he appeared to have solved the Pacquiao puzzle.

"It's clear that I won the fight," Pacquiao said as he was met by jeers from the crowd.

Marquez displayed his fine counterpunching skills to frustrate Pacquiao for most of the fight.

The Filipino icon occassionally landed several left straights to his foe's head and body, but Marquez always came back with a response.

Asked if he would grant Marquez another crack at him, Pacquiao said: "It's up to my promoter. I will fight anyone, anytime."


Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao hopes to end Marquez nightmare in ‘fight for the ages’

LAS VEGAS – The pronouncements he keeps hearing in his head. The newspaper clipping pasted on the wall he faces when pounding the speedball. The face he sees when crushing sparring partners in training. All that becomes flesh Saturday night for Manny Pacquiao.

And it will stand before him on a ring at the MGM Grand’s Garden Arena, all 143 pounds – and maybe more – of bulked-up muscles and counterpunching accuracy as Pacquiao hopes to finally chase off a three-named nightmare that has hounded him since 2004?

Pacquiao faces Juan Manuel Marquez, his Mexican archnemesis and perhaps the only other boxer to leave him perplexed – and bruised – since 2004. It is the third match of their compelling rivalry, one already being lined up among the great trilogies of the sport’s history and one that could end up the most remembered.

“You’re going to see a fight for the ages,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum, both fighters’ promoter, assured the packed and screaming throng that gathered at the Garden Arena Friday for the weigh-in.

Even from someone prone to occasional lapses of hard-sell, Arum’s statement did sound more newsboy holler than carnival-barker bluster – if only for the effort both fighters have put into their respective training camps.

Nacho Beristain, Marquez’s trainer, minced no words when asked about the magnitude of this fight for his ward.

“It means everything,” he said Friday, and his ward concurred.

“I trained hard for this fight because this is the biggest fight of my career,” Marquez said after tipping the scales at 142 pounds, two under the catch weight stipulated for this bout.

Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) came in at 143 and has said this fight is personal, constantly reminding himself during training of the disrespect he felt Marquez threw his way when the three-division champion flew to Manila wearing shirts proclaiming he won their two previous bouts.

“Respect is important to me,” Pacquiao said when he met journalists a final time before the bout.

“When Marquez came to Manila wearing those shirts, it was a slap to Manny’s face. And payback’s a bitch,” said renowned trainer Freddie Roach. “I have to thank [Marquez] for that. He made it easier for me to motivate Manny.”

Former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield, a confessed Pacquiao fan, said in an interview with a television reporter that the Filipino “only has to be himself” to win the bout, while urging Marquez to “keep the faith.”

Pacquiao toned down on the revenge angle, saying, “inside my heart, he is a friend. But we have business to do in the ring.”

By then though, he had already put in hundreds of rounds of sparring, oftentimes hurting his simul partners with his unrestrained gusto. Reports came out of the Wild Card gym in Hollywood about partners who didn’t return to the $1,000-a-week sessions and others who buckled their knees and twisted their ankles at the weight of the Pacman barrage.

When he hit the speedball, the Sarangani congressman would face a clipping of Maruez wearing a shirt proclaiming he won the two previous bouts against Pacquiao.

Oddsmakers believe that training will come to fore, listing Pacquiao a 10-1 favorite for the fight.

Marquez (53-5-1 39 KOs) doesn’t care.

The 38-year-old veteran, reaching the tail end of a decorated career that features titles in the featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight divisions, will earn his biggest paycheck yet. And although his guaranteed purse of $5 million-pay-per-view and gate shares excluded – pales in comparison to the $22 million Pacquiao will be getting, the fight could set him up for one final financial windfall.

If Marquez wins and Pacquiao will seek redemption through a rematch clause inserted in the fight contract, the Mexican will be guaranteed $10 million.

With all the money involved, though, both fighters aren’t talking paycheck. Neither has bothered to delve on the fact that Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight crown – which he won from Miguel Cotto in 2009 to write his name in history as the first seven-division champ of the sport (he is currently an eight-division king) – will be at stake on fight night.

Instead, both fighters are talking validation.

“Everybody knows I won both fights,” Marquez said. “I just did not get the decisions. I want to show I’m the better boxer.”

Marquez, though, paid homage to Pacquiao when he said part of his motivation for training hard was because he “wants to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter [in the world].”

But it may have been too late for that. The only thing ringing in Pacquiao’s ears will be Marquez seemingly incessant claims of victory in their first two fights. Those claims had him training harder than when he prepared for Oscar De La Hoya, his first foray into the sport’s mainstream consciousness.

“I believe I will win this fight,” said Pacquiao. “The question is what I have to do to prove I really won.”

The answer to that would be a smashing knockout, something Roach pointed to when he declared: “Don’t be surprised if this bout ends in the first round.”

Roach’s confidence stems from two reasons. Marquez, a peerless warrior in the lightweight ranks, made only one attempt at the welterweight class and got thoroughly schooled by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Also, Roach feels that Marquez bulked up too much too soon to be able to match Pacquiao’s power.

“You don’t add those muscles for speed,” said Roach, saying Marquez will likely engage Pacquiao right from the opening bell – something that favors his volume-punching ward.

Marquez trainer Nacho Beristain thinks the Mexican will be able to handle the added weight.

“It’s going to be a great fight and we will try our best to beat the best fighter in the world,” he said.

Pacquiao and Marquez first fought in 2004, when the Filipino ring icon knocked the then WBA featherweight king down thrice in the first round, only to watch him rally back to forge a controversial draw. The pair fought four years later, with Pacquiao leaning on a third round knockdown to hammer out a narrow split draw.

In between 2004 and today, Pacquiao’s only blot was a defeat to Erik Morales, one which he avenged with two decisive triumphs in their own trilogy. His second meeting against Marquez was the last time Pacquiao lost a round in the cards of all three judges.

Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/24369/pacquiao-hopes-to-end-marquez-nightmare-in-%E2%80%98fight-for-the-ages%E2%80%99