FightFan.com’s Ace Freeman looks at Manny Pacquiao’s win over Juan Manuel Marquez, and what it means for him in the big picture. Only on FightFan.com!
At the end of the day, Manny Pacquiao won his rematch over Juan Manuel Marquez by one point on one card last Saturday night. Ironic, since his draw with Marquez four years earlier was a missed victory by just one point on one card. Yet despite these facts there are a substantial number of media members and fans who think Marquez won this recent rematch and they may be justified in thinking so. It was a close fight, with several rounds that could be scored in either fighter?s favour depending on what you prefer in your scoring.
However, one thing that?s not open for debate (no matter how narrowly scored the fight was) is the solidification of Manny Pacquiao?s status as a member of boxing?s pound-for-pound elite. He is every bit as deserving as any champion to be mentioned as one of boxing?s premiere talents. Coming off that controversial draw with Marquez four years ago, it couldn?t help but be speculated that Pacquiao?s lack of versatility as a fighter saw Marquez win a strong majority of the rounds in which he remained on his feet. It was that same technical brilliance in Marquez that raised some doubt (by contrast) about Pacquiao?s true supremacy at an elite level.
Much of this has to do with the tremendous talent of Juan Manuel Marquez. Although this has been evident throughout his career, within the last two years his aggression and textbook, mechanical, power-punches have caught up with his incredible sense of timing and his ability to counter punch. Add to that a world-class jab, and there is no denying Marquez has firmly reached a level of greatness held by such Mexican heroes before him as Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Of course the likes of Barrera and Morales also served to measure the skill of Manny Pacquiao. As Pacquiao blew in like a hurricane on the world scene it was a series of fights with these two proven warriors that solidified Pacquiao?s status as a pound-for-pound fighter. Beating both Barrera and Morales twice and scoring six knockdowns for good measure, Manny Pacquiao became the highest money making attraction in the lower weight classes.
Yet doubt remained. Both Barrera and Morales, for all of their individual acclaim, were regarded by many as declining talents. Early on in his career Pacquiao was labeled a one-handed fighter who relied too heavily on his straight left. Even with the improvements in his right and better defence, many still considered the powerful Pacquiao a somewhat one-dimensional fighter, a fast and explosive puncher, but a glorified slugger nonetheless.
That all changed last Saturday. In his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez many questions were answered. Marquez looked every bit as confident and difficult for Pacquiao as he did in the latter stages of their first fight. However, it was Pacquiao?s adjustments and improvements that stood out the most early on. Suddenly, Pacquiao was much more difficult for Marquez to find with his counter-punches. Pacquiao?s footwork had him moving in and out of range while still enabling him to find ways to land his big left hand. The simple act of throwing the left hand disturbed Marquez?s game plan, and Pacquiao?s in-and-out foot speed coupled with his newfound ability to bring his left hand back defensively to block oncoming counters had this looking like a new style matchup.
Marquez started out fighting at his best, and the fact that the majority of the bout was fought on par and so many were split on the end result is a testament to Manny Pacquiao. He fought a truly great fighter at his absolute best and matched him the whole way. This just so happens to include another brutal wrecking ball to Marquez?s chin in Round 3 that may have ended the night had it occurred earlier in the round. Despite Marquez?s gallant rise to continue, Pacquiao wasn?t discouraged this time. He continued to press forward confident in his power and kept a brilliant counter-puncher guessing and missing on many of his trademark shots.
While Marquez did find the mark on many occasions, he was largely taken out of his game. It was Manny Pacquiao?s will to keep attacking in a clever rhythm and his improved ability to block oncoming counters that made the difference in this fight. This particular story almost always sees the boxer pull away from the puncher, but it was Pacquiao?s ability to stay in the fight and make it close that spoke the loudest in the end.
The slugger got in with the counter-puncher and fought a thinking man?s fight while maintaining his attack. Pacquiao?s growth as a fighter added to his heavy hands and blinding speed and showed the world he is a force to be reckoned with, even (most significantly) in the face of a perfect opposing and contrasting style.
Manny Pacquiao?s one-point victory over Juan Manuel Marquez was well earned. He showed that he is more than just perfection in a singular style of fighting and added a rare mix of skill and savvy that sets him apart from the other punchers in boxing. Moving forward, it?s that which was his biggest victory in this most recent fight.
