By on October 28, 2011
Filipino superstar and pound-for-pound leader Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38KO) will make his return to the ring on Nov. 12th versus a familiar foe in Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38KO), who is jumping up 10 pounds in weight to face an opponent he has come close to defeating on two different occasions.
Their first two meetings were memorable bouts with two very different results. What will the third bring us?
In the first bout in 2004, Pacquiao made a statement early, dropping the Mexican fighter three times in the first round. Marquez showcased the heart of a champion and fought back to earn himself a draw after 12 rounds.
The rematch took place in 2008, and had it not been for a single knockdown suffered by Marquez in Round 3, he may have come away with the victory. Marquez out-landed Pacquiao in the bout, but it was not enough to earn the win, losing a split-decision many had thought he won.
Let the countdown begin!
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Their first two meetings were memorable bouts with two very different results. What will the third bring us?
In the first bout in 2004, Pacquiao made a statement early, dropping the Mexican fighter three times in the first round. Marquez showcased the heart of a champion and fought back to earn himself a draw after 12 rounds.
The rematch took place in 2008, and had it not been for a single knockdown suffered by Marquez in Round 3, he may have come away with the victory. Marquez out-landed Pacquiao in the bout, but it was not enough to earn the win, losing a split-decision many had thought he won.
Let the countdown begin!
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During the past two months, HBO pay-per-view has hosted two anticipated matchups that were nothing short of a letdown.
In Sept., Floyd Mayweather Jr. improved his undefeated record to 42-0 after knocking out Victor Ortiz with what commentator Larry Merchant called "a legal sucker punch." It occurred after Ortiz attempted to hug and make up for headbutting his opponent just moments earlier.
An Oct. matchup between light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson was cut 10 rounds short when Hopkins was pushed to the canvas by "Bad" Chad Dawson. An injured shoulder kept Hopkins from fighting, and the PPV ended on a very low note.
Pacquiao-Marquez will have to make up for the recent disappointments, and they should be able to do it without even really trying.
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In Sept., Floyd Mayweather Jr. improved his undefeated record to 42-0 after knocking out Victor Ortiz with what commentator Larry Merchant called "a legal sucker punch." It occurred after Ortiz attempted to hug and make up for headbutting his opponent just moments earlier.
An Oct. matchup between light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson was cut 10 rounds short when Hopkins was pushed to the canvas by "Bad" Chad Dawson. An injured shoulder kept Hopkins from fighting, and the PPV ended on a very low note.
Pacquiao-Marquez will have to make up for the recent disappointments, and they should be able to do it without even really trying.
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It might be one of the biggest mismatches in recent memory, but WBO Light Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO) will put his title on the line against former lightweight champion Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KO) on the undercard.
After a lackluster performance against Devon Alexander, Bradley returns to the ring for only the second time in 2011. After declining to fight top light welterweight Amir Khan, Bradley accepted the fight with Casamayor.
Other undercard bouts include Mike Alvarado (31-0, 22 KO) vs. Breidis Prescott (24-3, 19 KO) and Luis Cruz (19-0, 15 KO) vs. Juan Carlos Burgos (27-1, 19 KO).
Three undefeated fighters on an undercard could mean someone's "0" will go, and it's not certain whose it will be.
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After a lackluster performance against Devon Alexander, Bradley returns to the ring for only the second time in 2011. After declining to fight top light welterweight Amir Khan, Bradley accepted the fight with Casamayor.
Other undercard bouts include Mike Alvarado (31-0, 22 KO) vs. Breidis Prescott (24-3, 19 KO) and Luis Cruz (19-0, 15 KO) vs. Juan Carlos Burgos (27-1, 19 KO).
Three undefeated fighters on an undercard could mean someone's "0" will go, and it's not certain whose it will be.
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It may not be the best trilogy ever, but it's certainly one of the better ones in recent memory.
Over 24 rounds boxed, Marquez can make the argument he has won more rounds against his opponent, but he has no victory to show for it.
After being knocked down three times in the first round of their first bout from 2004, Marquez fought back to earn a split-draw with the scores 115-110, 113-113 and 110-115.
Their 2008 rematch featured the Mexican boxer getting dropped one more time in Round 3. After fighting back valiantly for the next nine rounds, Marquez lost a split-decision with the scores 115-112, 112-115 and 113-114.
If their first two fights were of any indication, the third promises to be more of the same. That's good news for boxing fans because both of their first two fights were fight of the year candidates. If this one produces a knockout, it will make the ending even that more special.
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Over 24 rounds boxed, Marquez can make the argument he has won more rounds against his opponent, but he has no victory to show for it.
After being knocked down three times in the first round of their first bout from 2004, Marquez fought back to earn a split-draw with the scores 115-110, 113-113 and 110-115.
Their 2008 rematch featured the Mexican boxer getting dropped one more time in Round 3. After fighting back valiantly for the next nine rounds, Marquez lost a split-decision with the scores 115-112, 112-115 and 113-114.
If their first two fights were of any indication, the third promises to be more of the same. That's good news for boxing fans because both of their first two fights were fight of the year candidates. If this one produces a knockout, it will make the ending even that more special.
Recently, the post-fight interviews of HBO pay-per-views have been more interesting than the actual fights. Will there be any more drama this time around?
Nobody will expect fireworks to come out of the mouth of Manny Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez, but there is a certain type of energy that comes out of the words "Mayweather vs. Pacquiao," and it's something that Pacquiao is continuously pressured about.
If Pacquiao is victorious, expect to hear those words from the commentator in the post-fight interview. Pacquiao might not curse out the commentator as Mayweather did after his bout with Ortiz, but it should be interesting to hear what he has to say nonetheless.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Nobody will expect fireworks to come out of the mouth of Manny Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez, but there is a certain type of energy that comes out of the words "Mayweather vs. Pacquiao," and it's something that Pacquiao is continuously pressured about.
If Pacquiao is victorious, expect to hear those words from the commentator in the post-fight interview. Pacquiao might not curse out the commentator as Mayweather did after his bout with Ortiz, but it should be interesting to hear what he has to say nonetheless.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Pacquiao is more than just the best pound-for-pound boxer in the sport. He is also the best fighter of the past decade, and his record proves it.
Since avenging his only loss in the past 12 years to Erik Morales, Pacquiao has gone on to defeat Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Oscar De la Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Marquez, Joshua Clottey, Jorge Solis and David Diaz.
Of those nine opponents, he has knocked out five and won three fights with at least one scorecard reading 120-108.
To add to his accomplishments, Pacquiao has won six world titles and is the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He is also a three-time fighter of the year.
Since avenging his only loss in the past 12 years to Erik Morales, Pacquiao has gone on to defeat Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Oscar De la Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Marquez, Joshua Clottey, Jorge Solis and David Diaz.
Of those nine opponents, he has knocked out five and won three fights with at least one scorecard reading 120-108.
To add to his accomplishments, Pacquiao has won six world titles and is the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He is also a three-time fighter of the year.
There have been many great fights this year, many of which came on the latest season of Friday Night Fights, but now it's HBO's turn.
HBO gets a chance to throw their fight of the year candidate into the bunch when Pacquiao and Marquez finally face off, and it's a good guarantee it will be everything it's anticipated to be and more.
The two fights that earned fight of the year during Pacquiao and Marquez's other two meetings were Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales III (2004) and Israel Vasquez vs. Rafael Marquez III (2008).
Juan and his brother, Rafael, share three fight of the year contenders in a row from 2007 to 2009. Marquez's fight versus Juan Diaz was voted 2009's fight of the year.
Pacquiao has yet to be involved in one, due to most of his fights being one-sided, but Marquez is the only man to test him in half a decade and that makes this third matchup more intriguing than ever.
HBO gets a chance to throw their fight of the year candidate into the bunch when Pacquiao and Marquez finally face off, and it's a good guarantee it will be everything it's anticipated to be and more.
The two fights that earned fight of the year during Pacquiao and Marquez's other two meetings were Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales III (2004) and Israel Vasquez vs. Rafael Marquez III (2008).
Juan and his brother, Rafael, share three fight of the year contenders in a row from 2007 to 2009. Marquez's fight versus Juan Diaz was voted 2009's fight of the year.
Pacquiao has yet to be involved in one, due to most of his fights being one-sided, but Marquez is the only man to test him in half a decade and that makes this third matchup more intriguing than ever.
Controversy can sometimes be good for boxing, but it has to be for the right reasons.
In a close bout that could have gone either way, discussion about who deserved the victory will be talked about for days, weeks and months to come.
There is no reason to think if Pacquiao doesn't knock out Marquez that this bout won't be close, and Marquez's heart and determination to win is something that cannot be second-guessed. He will be there from the first bell to the last, and he will think he won whichever way the decision goes.
It will be left to the fans to decide on who they really think won the fight.
In a close bout that could have gone either way, discussion about who deserved the victory will be talked about for days, weeks and months to come.
There is no reason to think if Pacquiao doesn't knock out Marquez that this bout won't be close, and Marquez's heart and determination to win is something that cannot be second-guessed. He will be there from the first bell to the last, and he will think he won whichever way the decision goes.
It will be left to the fans to decide on who they really think won the fight.
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