I was definitely off in my assessment that Ricky Hatton would provide Manny Pacquiao with the type of test he hadn?t had since his last fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Last night Manny drove home the point that you aren?t going to defeat him if you have a porous defense and zero Plan B. Pacquiao simply made Hatton appear unworthy of being in the same ring as him. Pacquiao was just on another level.
Manny Pacquiao is a phenom, one of the best fighters you?ll ever see. I?ve known this for quite awhile, yet I?ve continuously underestimated him throughout his career. Perhaps, this stems from my opinion that Juan Manuel Marquez has defeated him in both of their meetings. And that?s not to detract from Pacquiao. Marquez is a great fighter in his own right. The Mexico-City born boxer?s intelligent counter-punching style has simply been the only formula to consistently make Superman look vulnerable, human.
One cannot deny the facts though. When Pacquiao is not fighting Juan Manuel Marquez, he looks as dangerous and as powerful as a young prime Mike Tyson. It?s truly a great pleasure to watch him at work.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Juan Manuel Marquez Set for July 18
Marquez is now set to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a great battle of boxing technicians. Marquez will be looking to pull off the monumental upset vs the ?Pretty Boy? to force a third fight with Pacquiao. On the other hand, Mayweather looks to get through The Ring Magazine?s current #2 p4per leading to a Fight of the Decade matchup against The Ring Magazine?s current #1 p4p fighter, Manny Pacquiao.
Initially I hated this fight. I hated it because I saw it as a cheap way for Mayweather Jr. to get back to the top. Instead of facing off against the world?s top welterweights like he?s never done, he?s going after a 35 year old fighter who was just a featherweight a few years ago.
I no longer feel that way though. I think it?s a good fight for Mayweather if he?s serious about taking on the most compelling matchups around. Sure, Marquez isn?t a young natural junior welterweight, but he?s still considered by many as one of the top two fighters in the world. It just depends on whom you ask. Many rate Pacquiao as the top fighter, but others rate Marquez at the top because in their eyes they saw Marquez defeat Pacquiao in their last encounter. In fact the same Ring Magazine that rates Pacquiao #1 in the world, had Marquez winning their second fight by the slightest margin.
For Marquez this is also a smart move because he will again put himself in a situation to one-up Pacquiao, and many will argue that a victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr., would be bigger than defeating Manny Paquiao ?officially.? At 35 years of age, Marquez really has no choice. Aside from a third fight with Pacquiao, what other fight would earn him as much dough and recognition? Pacquiao has already attempted what we thought was impossible several times and prevailed. It?s now Marquez?s turn again.
