AFTER finally scoring a win over Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao says there will be no more fight with the Mexican pug.
“This business is over,” Pacquiao said after his split decision win over Marquez Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino that earned him the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight title.
Pacquiao is known in Mexico as the “Mexican Assassin” for his impressive dominance over the boxing-mad nation’s best fighters.
Among Pacquiao’s victims other than Marquez are Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a classic draw in May 2004 and their second encounter was also an epic battle with both boxers exchanging bombs.
Pacquiao entered the ring to thousands of cheering fans and a Filipino rapper who incited the crowd with a live performance.
Marquez had a white-suited mariachi band waiting for him in the ring, and his fans drowned out the sizable Filipino contingent.
After a cautious start, both fighters showed glimpses of their fearsome potential in the second round. Pacquiao won several tough exchanges, but Marquez wobbled Pacquiao with a three-punch combination in the final seconds.
The third round was nonstop action, with both fighters trading quality punches before Pacquiao put Marquez on the canvas. Marquez was holding onto the ropes by the bell, but wouldn’t go down. (CRAM with a report from AP)
