LONDON ? Boxing News editor Claude Abrams said yesterday the ability to take a punch, mood or conditioning and power are the three critical factors that will determine the outcome of the 12-round fight between defending WBC superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and challenger Manny Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15.
Abrams will be at ringside to cover the bout for the London-based weekly 48-page newsmagazine, the world?s pioneer boxing publication established in 1909. He often travels from here to wherever there are major bouts around the globe.
He said Marquez? chin will be put to a test and whether or not he survives Pacquiao?s power punches is a factor that could be decisive.
?Can Marquez take Pacquiao?s power?? he wondered. ?Will Pacquiao be more fired up than he was against (Marco Antonio) Barrera? Can Marquez compete with Pacquiao at 130 pounds??
Four years ago, Marquez went down thrice in the first round but recovered to hold Pacquiao to a split 12-round draw in a featherweight contest where the limit was 126 pounds. In the rematch billed ?Unfinished Business,? the limit is 130 pounds.
Abrams enumerated the three things Pacquiao must do to win.
?Don?t give Marquez time to think,? he said. ?Make it a brawl and not a boxing match. And set a fast pace.?
For Marquez to prevail, Abrams said he shouldn?t be goaded into engaging Pacquiao in a toe-to-toe slugfest, he should be guarded in the opening rounds ? ?he can?t afford to be knocked down three times again? ? and he should start in the groove he was in when he finished strong in their first fight.
Abrams said Marquez is probably Pacquiao?s most dangerous opponent yet.
?Marquez is intelligent and as shown in their first fight, has tremendous heart, technical ability and the experience of having outboxed Pacquiao before,? he explained. ?That offers Marquez psychological strength (which is) so important for any fighter.?
Abrams went on to analyze how both fighters performed in their last two outings ? Pacquiao halted Jorge Solis and outpointed Barrera while Marquez decisioned Barrera and Rocky Juarez.
?Marquez has had the tougher fights,? said Abrams. ?He had too much skill for Juarez and proved against Barrera (that) weight wasn?t too great a problem though Barrera doesn?t hit quite like Pacquiao and isn?t as unpredictable. However, that victory signalled a changing of the guard in Mexico. It showed that Marquez is now the top Mexican (fighter). Barrera is an intelligent boxer but Marquez outfought him. Marquez is probably on top of his game, showing that he has bounced back from the loss to Chris John in Indonesia.?
As for Pacquiao, Abrams said his win over Solis was not a real test. ?It didn?t mean much,? he continued. ?It was to keep him busy and in shape. He was always favored to beat Barrera in the rematch. Barrera looked happy to lose on points and Pacquiao, content to cruise to victory. That surprised a lot of people. I started to wonder if Pacquiao has maybe lost his fire.?
As far as age is concerned, Abrams said the disparity won?t make a difference.
?Marquez is an excellent 34,? he noted. ?He has been around a long time but makes up for his age in years by being more seasoned and smart. Pacquiao, because of his lifestyle, could be an old 29. But he always gets himself in tremendous shape and I have no doubt he will be for Marquez, especially knowing what he could be up against.?
Aside from the rivalry between the fighters, Abrams said he will also track how the opposing strategists work in the corners ? Ignacio (Nacho) Beristain for Marquez and Freddie Roach for Pacquiao.
?Beristain is a real thinker, very technical (as) all his boxers are clever, stylish, have good defense and usually counterpunchers,? he said. ?Roach tends to work with different styles of fighters. Like a lot of top American trainers like Emanuel Steward, he works with big-name fighters. It says a lot about Beristain that so many of his champions have been with him from the beginning of their careers to the end.?
Regarding future plans for Pacquiao to take on lightweight David Diaz and junior welterweight Ricky Hatton, Abrams said he should take care of ?unfinished business? with Marquez before looking ahead.
?I think Hatton is too big (for Pacquiao),? he said. ?Diaz is less skilful than Ricky, easier to hit and a southpaw. I think Pacquiao will beat him. But while a Hatton fight is possible, Ricky would like to be the bigger man for a change. I?d be surprised if Bob Arum went for it before seeing how Pacquiao does against Diaz.?
