DEBATE will continue for a long time but I am convinced that no controversy, specifically in scoring, happened during the rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.
Quite frankly, my hats off for judges Jerry Roth, Tom Miller and Duane Ford for scoring the bout the way it should be scored. Though Roth differed with Miller and Ford with the outcome, the three of them agreed it was a close contest based on their official tally.
Many times I was tempted to watch the fight on tape and score it round by round, with the freest option to watch a round as often as I wish to get a better assessment of the winner.
Eventually though I felt it would be unfair to the three judges hired to score it based on what they saw in their angle in real time.
Why unfair?
The three gentlemen had every inch of pressure in them, what with a drawback of having only one angle of the fight despite sitting at ringside and the thought of being ridiculed if they erred.
Now unlike the judges, I would have all the comfort of watching the replay while drinking my favorite brew with barbecue and chips on the side, being alone in my modest room and best of all with the remote control within reach.
See the difference?
Having said that my verdict is to live with the official decision because the ruling may be debatable but definitely not controversial.
All about money
An immediate rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez is not far-fetched especially of course for avid boxing fans whose only interest is to see great match-ups regardless of how much purse fighters get.
But we always have to remember that in general, boxing is all about business and business-wise, Pacquiao stands to earn more money by ignoring a trilogy with Marquez.
True, Pacquiao, for his next fight, will most likely get a bigger purse facing Marquez a third time than challenging WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.
What?s in it for Pacquiao if he fights Diaz?
Apart from winning the world lightweight crown, it is his only stepping stone in challenging British superstar Ricky Hatton for a first-ever eight figure fight purse for the Filipino phenom. And a bout with Hatton will probably be the only way to realize what a lot of people think is a ridiculous bout between Pacquiao and Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya.
Pacquiao versus Dela Hoya preposterous?
Pacquiao may not stand a chance against an even fading but bigger Dela Hoya but I believe the Filipino sensation has that puncher?s chance of winning against Diaz and Hatton.
Now, if Pacquiao wins against Diaz and Hatton do you think the Pacquiao camp will say – ?Nah, we won?t fight Dela Hoya because physically he will be too big for Manny,? – with $20 million or more on the table?
So where to Marquez?
Probably the only chance of Marquez is in the hands of Diaz. The dethroned Mexican must pray hard Diaz will beat Pacquiao convincingly and if that happens expect Team Pacquiao to call Golden Boy Promotions and ask, ?you offered us $6 million, right??
