My wish for Pacquiao in 2012

By Al S. Mendoza

MANNY Pacquiao fought twice in 2011.  No knockout.  Only victories on points.

He defeated Shane Mosley by unanimous decision in May and Juan Manuel Marquez by majority decision in November.

To those not in the know, a unanimous decision means all three judges of the fight see only one winner.

In the Mosley encounter, Pacquiao decked the American in the third round.

When everybody thought the end was near for the former world champion, the shocker came:  No knockout at all.

When the experts reviewed the pre-fight hoopla, they found out Pacquiao spoke very kindly of Mosley.

Verdict:  When Pacquiao finds you nice and friendly, he fights you so kindly and nicely.

So, Mosley survived Pacquiao’s wrath.

Mosley was spared the knockout everybody had been expecting to happen.

It was different in the Marquez fight.

Because Marquez is a certified braggart, Pacquiao wanted to knock the Mexican out.

Alas, Pacquiao couldn’t do it.

Digging deep into his arsenal of shots, Pacquiao still failed to accomplish his mission.

The experts had a solid reason:  Marquez isn’t cut out for a Pacquiao knockout.

In their first fight in 2004, Pacquiao knocked down Marquez three times in the first round. No knockout.

Marquez hung on for 12 rounds and escaped with a draw decision.

In their second fight in 2008, Marquez kissed the canvas anew – nay, just once this time. No knockout.

It was that knockdown that earned Pacquiao a split decision victory.

In their third fight on November 13, 2011, Pacquiao never knocked down Marquez in a close fight.

Pacquiao eked out a majority decision victory.  Meaning, two judges saw Pacquiao the winner.  The third judge scored it a draw.

I saw Pacquiao the winner in that fight – as in their two previous fights.  My score was 115-113 – the same tally of judge Dave Moretti.

History is replete with stories about great boxers being unable to defeat with decisiveness a particular foe.

Sugar Ray Leonard had Marvin Hagler for a boss.

Roberto Duran had Thomas Hearns as his Chief Conqueror.

And Mike Tyson bowed pathetically twice to Evander Holyfied.

Despite his vaunted lethal fists that virtually destroyed the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, Pacquiao never defeated Marquez with authority.

In local parlance, we call Marquez as Pacquiao’s “contra-pelo.”

As in Muhammad Ali being George Foreman’s “contra-pelo” too.

In 2010, Pacquiao fought twice and won twice – both on points (Joshua Clottey and Margarito).

The year past also saw Pacquiao fight twice and win twice  — both on points, too (Mosley and Marquez).

What’s in store for Pacquiao this year?

No one can tell.

My wish is for his “knockout slump” to end in his next fight, possibly in May.

Otherwise, he should seriously consider hanging up his gloves.

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