In the wake of Pacquiao-Marquez III, many have called the fight a ?robbery.? The outrage at the MGM was evident, as Marquez fans slung allegations of corruption. The anger is understandable to a certain degree.
After all, Marquez has fought Pacquiao 3 times in fights with little separation between the two and has scored zero victories. You can sense the anger about the two previous fights resonating in their protest about the third fight?s result. Their belief that Marquez deserved one of those fights is within reason. Is it right for Pacquiao to just so happen to get the nod in all those close fights? Maybe not.
But let?s not get carried away.
Credit: Chris Farina – Top Rank
It just sounds a little strange to hear people saying the fight is a robbery then quote their 115-113 scorecard in favor of Marquez. A refresher course in what constitutes a ?robbery? might be in order Go watch Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez or Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield I and you will see what a ?robbery? is all about.
You can say that Marquez should have won. But a robbery? It does a disservice to those who have truly suffered robberies.
Is giving the benefit of the doubt to a mega-superstar something new? Did Marquez just stumble upon an unfortunate new phenomenon that began with the Pacquiao era? Just about every transcendent boxing star has been the beneficiary of this type of treatment. We can debate the merit of the unspoken rule in boxing which states that you must clearly beat ?the man? to become ?the man.? But it is a standard practice that was begun by men who are no longer with us. It?s part of the game–like it or not.
And it?s not as if the judges are even cognizant of this phenomenon. It?s subconscious to a large degree. You can?t expect boxing judges to be nonhuman and be able to look at Manny Pacquiao like he?s just some regular pug. He?s been the face of this sport for several years. That comes with a lot of spoils–one of them being that you get the benefit of the doubt from time to time.
And Marquez? chief second Nacho Beristain should know this. Any late advice short of ?put the petal to the metal? was highly inappropriate under those conditions. For the record, the only time when Marquez wasn?t losing the fight on the cards was after the 8th round, at which point the fight was a draw.
