As I mentioned in my Lee vs. Martinez article, there is still a matter of ?unfinished business.? When Marquez and Pacquiao finally meet for their coveted 3rd fight rubber match, I can only pray to the boxing gods that the fight will last longer than 3 rounds.
Oh, Pacquiao. Oh Marquez. Given the recent debacles with Hopkins and Mayweather, will someone, anyone please save my beloved sport of boxing? Pacquiao vs. Marquez. Let the drama unfold.
But, let?s get back to the sport (if we can call it that) of boxing. I still maintain my love for the sweet science. I?m loyal that way. In November, Marquez finally gets his rematch against Pacquiao and while it?s hardly a case of revenge for Marquez, it will put to rest, in his own mind, a final imprint of his career. It would be one thing to say that he had lost to Pacquiao once, but really, it?s a matter for him, for any boxer to say that he BEAT his opponent. I?m not talking beat as in Margarito beat. I?m talking about BEAT on all levels ? left his opponent disheartened, took the fight away, fought 12 tough rounds and elevated his fight. To win by unanimous decision for any boxing fan?s taste, can be expected. But to beat ? something entirely different. And, this is what Marquez must do. Marquez must beat Pacquiao.
Marquez and Pacquiao first fought one another back in 2004 ? as featherweights. They each weighed in at 125 for the WBA Super World Featherweight and IBF Featherweight titles. Marquez went down 3 times in the first round. Marquez always gets his knockdowns early in his fights and then shakes it off so brilliantly that he actually fights better. This fight ended in a draw.
Four years later, the two fought for the WBA Super Featherweight title, which ended in a split decision loss for Marquez. I had to watch this fight again. And again. RSR might be hit hard with this, but it should have been a draw again. A split decision over 12 rounds is always suspect, but sometimes a fighter can be given a decision because he looks better shaking off power shots or recovered well during the course of the fight. But enough time has passed since this last fight. I watched the fight and it was so reminiscent of the first fight. It was a draw. I still disagree with Marquez that he won the fight ? I don?t think he BEAT Pacquiao enough to get the decision.
