Juan Manuel Marquez defied all odds. Not only did he survive the latest installment of his trilogy with Manuel Pacquiao, he may have won this one but for the judges who again disagreed with him.
Many fellow Mexicans who saw the fight believed their countrymen had finally nailed this one.
But Pacquiao?s corner gave a face of relief when he was declared the winner.
Marquez lost this one via a majority decision and the crowd was obviously not happy with the verdict. Boos and catcalls were heard all over the MGM Grand Resort and Hotel Arena.
Pacquiao rallied in the last four rounds after falling behind in the middle rounds from Marquez? effective pinpoint counterpunching to get the nod of two of the three judges. The other judge saw the fight dead even.
Marquez proved Sunday that he still what it takes to compete with the world?s number pound for pound king, never falling into the traps laid on him by Pacquiao.
Nobody was seriously hurt and Marquez, for the first time in his three fights with the Filipino boxing idol, did not kiss the canvass for a change.
But he gave all the troubles Pacquiao could handle for the night.
