I can?t remember the last time the slogan for a major fight was recycled in such a short period of time. For those of you that don?t recall, this past May 5th , the fight between Oscar De la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was labeled as ?The World is Waiting?. While it certainly had a catchy title and was marketed to all hell, it was a bout that the boxing public truly never clamored for. It didn?t have the true build-up to even some of the great bouts that have taken place in recent times such as Taylor-Pavlik, Calzaghe-Kessler, and this weekend?s Soto-Guzman.
Manny Pacquiao has unfinished business with the last person outside of Erik ?El Terrible? Morales to give him a run for his money within the past seven years. This person is none other than first ballot hall-of-famer and Mexico City?s, Juan Manuel Marquez. For those of you that recall, May 8, 2004 marked the day in which Pacquiao and Marquez would tangle in an unforgettable battle that solidified ?Dinamita? as a true Mexican warrior and the ?Pacman? as an offensive juggernaut.
Pacquiao came into the first round guns ablazing? no not guns ablazing, the man came into that initial stanza throwing hydrogen bombs. He caught and almost finished the legendary tactician knocking him down three times and breaking his nose in the process. Heroically, Marquez was able to maintain his composure and fought his way back into the fight during the mid and final rounds. The bout ended in a draw which had supporters from each side arguing that their warrior was indeed the victor.
Pacquiao supporters would state, ?That first round was incorrectly scored 10-7 by one of the judges. If it had been scored 10-6 as it should have, Pacquiao would have received the victory.?
Marquez supporters would retort, ?Marquez clearly out-boxed and schooled the one dimensional Pacquiao in virtually every round outside the first. There is no doubt who was clearly the better and more well-rounded fighter after the fight!?
Let me say something regarding that unforgettable night? ?There were no losers that night. The fans won and both men catapulted themselves to a level never seen before in either of their careers.?
As boxing fans have become accustomed to, usually leading up to most super-fights, there is a lot of posturing being done by virtually everyone in the equation; promoters, managers, trainers, and fighters. They make it seem as though it?s virtually impossible to make the fight that boxing fans have been clamoring for day in and day out. We?ve seen it occur with Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright in which Taylor?s promoter Lou DiBella claimed that his prize ?Bad Intentions? would never lock horns with the St. Petersburg southpaw. The fans cried and clamored that Team Taylor was ducking the defensive specialist and crucified him to no end.
Guess what?
Several months later the fight everyone was asking for was eventually made and it made the build-up that much more dramatic.
Bob Arum has made it quite clear to Boxingconfidential that it is not up to him, Freddie Roach, or anybody else as to who Manny Pacquiao will fight next. It?s completely up to the ?Pacman? as to who he will decide to do battle with on March 15 and I for one will be severely disappointed should he not go ahead and opt for a rematch with Marquez. While many detractors of that bout will point that ?Dinamita?s? skills have deteriorated to the point that he?d be ?easy work? for Manny, I completely disagree.
Marquez has done nothing but remain undefeated (outside his allegedly controversial loss to Chris John) since his draw with Pacquiao in addition to showcasing a more crowd pleasing offensive-minded style. It?d be a disservice to the boxing public and Juan Manuel to not see the rematch happen as ?The World Has Been Indeed Waiting? for this bout for over three years.
In a time when supposed ?super-fights? are shoved down are throats without any true rhyme or reason other than money, this is a bout that could be marketed quite easily? just show the first bout over and over again.
All I know is that not only Mexican fight fans but also Filipino, American, and from what I hear fight fans across the world will be ready to execute the ?Pacman? should he go with anybody else besides Marquez for his March 15 battle.
Let?s cross our fingers that the Pacquiao still has his ear to the street and will do what his fans have been clamoring for on an everyday basis. It?s a chapter in his career that needs some closure to before he decides to start a new and potentially ?Golden? one?
