Pacquiao-Marquez 3 the final chapter?

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I’M making this piece two days before the much-awaited and much-ballyhooed Pacquiao-Marquez boxing trilogy. And by the time you read this I surmise that talks about this boxing blockbuster could still be in progress. But as of this writing my survey says our Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao continues to lord over the betting lines. Ten-to-seven last week and now ten-to-six the latest that I gathered from Cebu boxing fans up to Pangasinan. Pacman is the overwhelming favorite to win and to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

I can’t blame them. That’s my prognosis too, despite my amity with the Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.

Yes, the two world boxing legends already met twice. Their first showdown held in 2004 was declared a draw with Pacman flooring Marquez three times in the first round but unable to finish him off. Marquez, using his perfect counterpunching weapon, rallied in the succeeding rounds and successfully forced a stalemate. I believe Pacman should have won that battle by split decision. One of the judges named Burt Clements erred in scoring the first round at 10-7, which was supposed to be 10-6 because of those three knockdowns. Clements later admitted his fault. ‘Too late the hero’ I would say because the verdict was already announced and could not be changed, according to the rule.

The second clash was a narrow victory for our hero. You saw it and I saw it, too, five times through my DVD machine. I meticulously scored that bout 114-113 for Pacquiao, the same score of judge Tom Miller. If not for that knockdown scored by Pacman in the third round, Marquez would have been the clear winner. That was the ‘missing link’ for Marquez. That was also said by boxing experts like Recah Trinidad, Al Mendoza, Hermie Rivera, Dennis Principe and Jun Velasco. Amen.

There are two huge reasons why I believe Pacman will win their third clash on November 13. First is the weight factor, which the two agreed to fight at a catchweight of 144 pounds. Pacman has the edge here being familiar with this weight, demolishing the likes of Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and the last Shane Mosley. Marquez, on the other hand, was badly beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 145 pounds. In other words, Marquez is not used to this load.

Second, age aspect will play a big role in this brawl with Marquez already at 38, which I guess is nearer to the twilight zone of his career while Pacquiao, 32 (and turning 33 on Dec. 17), is still at the peak of his profession. Pundits say Pacman has three more sterling years to reign before hanging his gloves. Observers say he’ll run for governor in 2013, senator in 2016 and president in 2022. What a promising future for the guy.

The best weapon for Marquez is his patented counterpunching technique and his sturdiness to last the complete 12 rounds. Like Pacquiao, parang hindi siya napapagod ‘ika nga kaya match na match sila as far as stamina is concerned.

Pacquiao’s other advantage is his speed. He’s very agile like a snake, can easily move side to side, forward and backward. He displayed these budges during his previous fights, especially against Cotto, Oscar de la Hoya and Margarito. “Mahirap siyang hulihin ‘ika nga” said Engr. Rodolfo Dion, a boxing fanatic and an avid admirer of Pacquiao.

But the question now is this: “Will there be a fourth fight in case Marquez emerges as the victor on November 13?” I asked this question to Marquez during my fourth meeting with him last September 3 at the Manila Hotel. He unabashedly said there will be because that’s what he signed in the contract and very few know it.  And so in case Marquez wins, obviously the November 13 collision is not yet the final chapter. For sure there will be fourth encounter. Amen.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me the command what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command has everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” JOHN 12: 47-50

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