Newly-crowned WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao admitted that he lost control of the 12-round fight against Juan Manuel Marquez after the Mexican connected with a punch that opened his eyebrow in Round 4.
“I thought at that point I was in control of the fight,” Pacquiao told The Associated Press. “But when he cut my eye in the fourth round, he made it more difficult for me, and I couldn?t take control of the fight.”
“I wasn?t sure [heading into the 12th round], but I always treat the final round as the most important. I don?t take any chances.”
Marquez, for his part, said he is unconvinced with the verdict.
“I don?t like the decision,” Marquez told AP. “I still feel I am the champion. It was a bad decision. That first knockdown, he got me cold, but then I adjusted my game plan and I thought from then on, I dictated the whole fight. ? The people are the best judge, and the people are booing him. I won.”
Pacquiao snatched the WBC super featherweight belt after outpointing Marquez via a controversial split at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada, Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Two of the judges saw it 115-112, 114-113 for Pacquiao, while the third scored 115-112 for Marquez.
Aside from being crowned as WBC super featherweight champ, Pacquiao will be awarded with the Ring Magazine super featherweight belt.
The Filipino bomber had an awkward start during the opening rounds, absorbing a couple of straight right hands to the face. The second hit had him wobbling in Round 2.
Pacquiao, however, charged back in Round 3 by knocking down the Mexican champ with a left straight to the face. Marquez beat the count and survived the round.
The Mexican fought on, cutting Pacquiao just above his right eyelid in Round 4. Marquez also relied on his counterpunching skills to score a right hook and a right straight against the Filipino in Round 5.
The fighters clashed heads in Round 7. This time it was Marquez who suffered a nasty cut below the right eyebrow.
Both fighters were bleeding in the next two rounds, with referee Kenny Bayless sending the Mexican to the ring doctor twice.
Pacquiao upped the tempo in Round 10, wobbling Marquez with a hard left.
Marquez rallied during the last two rounds. He, however, failed to get the nod of the judges.
Marquez erred? Boxing analyst Ed Tolentino, meanwhile, cited Marquez?s mistake that cost him his crown.
“Unfortunately Marquez played it safe too much. He decided to settle in a particular mode. He thought, ?I might as well box him because I?m already winning,’ ” said Tolentino.
Tolentino said the judges probably wanted the Mexican to display the “hunger of a champion.”
“This is Vegas and people gamble with their lives. And Marquez played it safe to my mind. That?s the downfall,” he said.
With the win, Pacquiao improved his boxing record to 46-3-2 while Marquez added a loss on his list with 48-4-1.
Prior the rematch, Pacquiao was coming of a win over Marco Antonio Berrera, whom he defeated via unanimous decision in October 2007.
Marquez, on the other hand, successfully defended his title against Rocky Juarez in Novermber 2007. He won the title from Barrera in March 2007.
The rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez took four years in the making since the two fought into a controversial draw in 2004.
Following Saturday’s rematch, Pacquiao said he will no longer fight Marquez a third time.
