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PACQUIAO WON BY SPLIT DECISION BUT TEAM MARQUEZ CLAIMED THERE IS MYSTERY IN WIN An In-Depth Report with Photos By Rod Mijares PhilBoxing.com Mon, 17 Mar 2008 
LAS VEGAS -- The judges have spoken and there was integrity in three of them and that is what boxing is all about. If the other two couldn?t decide who won, the third one would do it for them. And that?s what characterized and decided the epic rematch between the defending Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Filipino challenger and superstar Manny Pacquiao for the WBC and Ring Magazine?s super featherweight titles. Only a point difference that separates the winner from the loser. Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino idol and the darling of the worldwide press, came out victorious on a split decision and captured his third world title in three weight divisions. Judge Jerry Roth scored it 115-112 for Marquez, judge Duane Ford scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao and Tom Miller scored it 114-113 for the new champion, Manny Pacquaio. His first world title was captured via an 8th round knockout over Chatchai Sasakul on December 4, 1998 for the World Boxing Council?s (WBC) flyweight title in Thailand. To the American media and boxing fans, Manny Pacquiao?s rise to stardom and maybe to immortality came on their backyard for his second world title on June 23, 2001 at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the International Boxing Federation?s (IBF) super bantamweight title where he won over South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on a 6th round TKO. Thus, a superstar was born. From the start of the first round until the final bell, 11,061 boxing fans in attendance at Mandalay Bay Resorts & Casino got their money?s worth which amounts to being the top gate grosser of all or any of Manny Pacquiao?s fight and translates to 3.348 million dollars as announced by Bob Arum. Not to mention the lucrative HBO pay-per-view receipts where millions watched in the convenience of their homes. Even before the bell rings to sound the start of the first round, Pacquiao positioned himself almost at the center of the ring on a fighting stance ready to pounce on Marquez maybe over eager to repeat history on their first fight wherein he was able to knockdown Marquez three times on the first round. He opened the first round with a right jab to Marquez. Marquez returned with a left job of his own. With the raucous crowd chanting MANNY, MANNY the first round went on with Manny on the offensive and Marquez counter punching. The first round ended with Marquez throwing a right hook to the air. Pacquiao won the first round. In the second round, Pacquiao aimed at Marquez body most of the time but was stunned with a left-right-left combination of Marquez that sent Manny staggering almost losing his balance but eventually recovered. Mexican fans cheered but the Filipino fans were relieved. Marquez won the second round. Marquez opened the third round with a good right to the face of Pacquiao. The fight went on with good exchanges until a left cross by Pacquiao floored Marquez to the canvas for a knockdown. Pacquiao tried to follow-up chasing Marquez to end the fight, but Marquez was too great a warrior to just fold and lost, especially, with the Mexican honor on his shoulders to fight for. He fought back and ended the third round standing. This round that gave the Pac-man two points eventually spelled the difference between winning and losing as some of the rounds, thereafter, were too close to call. The 7th round was highlighted with an accidental head butt to Marquez. Marquez put a dent on Pacquiao?s face producing a cut below the right eye. Pacquiao was on the receiving end of a power punch on the right face that saw him grimaced in pain. With the Mexican fans chanting MEJICO, MEJICO on the 8th round, Marquez went on a rampage sending Pacquiao defending himself on the ropes. Clearly, the 7th and 8th round belongs to Marquez. On the 9th round, with the crowd chanting MANNY, MANNY, Pacquiao went on the offensive. The Mexican fans not to be outdone chanted back MARQUEZ MARQUEZ. The referee, Kenny Bayless, has to stop the fight for the second time to have the ring doctor checked the cut on Marquez?face but allowed the fight to continue. By this time both boxers are bleeding and put more color in red, literally, on an epic battle between two great warriors. Marquez landed a right to Pacquiao?s face. He answered with quick punches of his own that startled Marquez and followed this up with another platoon of punches to the face. With the crowd chanting MANNY MANNY, the 10th round belongs, no doubt, to Pacquiao. On the 11th round, Marquez opened with a combo with Pacquaio answered back. Marquez was given a warning for hitting Pacquiao below the belt. Marquez was on the offensive with good combinations and the 11th round clearly belongs to him. Marquez opened the 12th round with a right miss. Then a good left to Pacquiao. Pacquiao answered back to the body of Marquez and another left to the face. Marquez with a right to Pacquaio. The epic battle ended with both fighters on an almost even exchange trying to put another down but in vain. On CompuBox statistics, Pacquiao connected 114 power punches out of 305 he thrown while Marquez landed 130 out of 310 power punches he thrown. Pacquiao connected 43 out of 314 jabs thrown while Marquez landed 42 out of 201 jabs thrown. All in all, Pacquao connected 25% of his punches thrown by connecting 157 out of 619 thrown while Marquez landed 34% of his punches by landing 172 out of 511 thrown. Who would ever think that there is a great mileage left on Marquez 34-year old knees? He just proved in a tough loss what a great fighter he is and is worthy of another rematch with Pacquiao. If the first fight ended in a controversy because of a draw decision, this time around, the second fight which is supposed to finish whatever unfinished business there is, also ended on a bitter controversy because of a split decision in favor of Pacquiao. Top photo: Hall-of-fame trainer Nacho Beristain, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and former WBC super feather title holder Juan Manuel Marquez show displeasure of the result of the fight during the post-fight press conference. 
Top Rank's Bob Arum talks on the podium during the post fight press conference. 
Pacquiao speaks to the media at the post-fight press conference. 
Marquez at post-fight presscon. 
From left, Roach, Michael Koncz and Wakee Salud, all members of Team Pacquiao, at the post-fight press conference. Unlike the fight of Pacquiao with Barrera on the same arena that was punctuated by two boxing fans who fought somewhere on top of the bleacher, this time, the unforgettable ?Unfinished Business? that just happened in the ring between two great warriors spilled over to the post fight press conference between team Pacquiao headed by Bob Arum and team Marquez headed by Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. Although, it took Marquez almost an hour and Pacquiao over an hour to appear in the post fight press conference, the throng of media was treated to a heated exchange of arguments and discussions between Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Arum on who really won. Richard Schaefer mentioned that in his eyes and to a number of media that he talked to, his prot?g?, Marquez won the fight. He said he found it strange that a referee was changed a week before the fight. ?The new judge, guess what, scored it for Pacquiao.? Bob Arum defended the changing of the referee by thanking Freddie Roach, Pacquaio?s trainer, for his honesty. As it was Roach who called Bob Arum?s attention that Dick Flaherty should be removed from judging Pacquiao?s fight as he is a good personal friend of Bob Arum?s family. Dick Flaherty was eventually assigned instead to the under card in the WBO featherweight title bout between Steven Luevano and Terdsak Jandaeng which Luevano won on a unanimous decision. Further, he said that judges were selected by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and WBC and therefore were sanctioned by them and in no way selected by either side. One point of contention is if Bob Arum will agree for a rematch. Richard Schaefer even offered $6 million dollars on the table for it to happen. However, Bob Arum thinking as a promoter said, ?I have to protect Manny. You have to give more air between the two protagonists. You can not maximize the revenue that way. People will say I already seen their fight and I don?t want to watch it again too soon.? So, he was suggesting a fight between David Diaz and Manny Pacquiao in the lightweight division on June 28, 2008 and possibly, a rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez in the fall. Jaime Quintana, a co-manager of Juan Manuel Marquez with Nacho, when given the podium said that ?We are not happy. We will not cry about it but this is a great fight that was given to Manny wrongfully.? ?It is bad and an embarrassment for boxing.? Marquez said that he was so disappointed. He said, he was clearly a better fighter because he kept on pushing the fight round after round. ?The judges don?t know what they are looking for. They have taken the victory which I clearly won. Although, I?m happy because of the performance of this old man is good. I gave everything for my people. The people knew who won. We owe it to the public for a third match,? he said. ?While in the ring, I asked Pacquiao for a rematch and he said, No.? When asked if he is willing to fight at 135 or 140 pounds, he said ?Of course, I don?t care just to fight him again.? Michael Koncz of Team Pacquiao clarified that Manny did not answer ?No? for a rematch but he said, ?Talk to my team. Talk to my promoter.? At one time, Bob Arum, burst into anger cutting Jaime Quintana, Marquez co-manager because Quintana kept on repeating that what just transpired was an embarrassment to boxing. Short of saying that Marquez was clearly robbed and cheated of the title. This prompted team Marquez minus Richard Schaefer to sort of taken a walk out as Manny Pacquiao entered the press conference. Manny, according to Dr. Jeffrey Roth who is a plastic surgeon, had two superficial cuts that heals from inside to outside. He has two lacerations not very deep that required few stitches on the inside and few on the outside, all told 10 stitches. However, they will heal in 6-8 weeks and usually will not preclude Manny from any training and for fighting. Dr. Frank Ryan from Beverly Hills will follow up on his condition and will continue to advise him. All told what happened in the post fight press conference only validated the fact that the ?Unfinished Business? did not settle who is better and the split decision controversy will lead to ?Unfinished Business II? in the future. Meanwhile, Diosdado Gabi who was overweight by 1.5 pounds at 119.5 pounds on the official weigh-in the day before came in at 135 pounds for the fight. That was a clear 15.5 pounds heavier than the day before for a 5? 2? frame. He was so out of condition that he was an easy target for the defending NABO bantamweight Mexican champion, Abner Mares, who knocked him down in the first round and again in the second round. Mares won by TKO 0.49 seconds of the second round. On another happy note, Filipino Michael Farenas, the promising star prot?g? of WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa, won by TKO at 2 minutes 41 seconds of the 3rd round over Mexican Baudel Cardenas in their scheduled 8-round super featherweight fight. He now has a career 20 wins (18 KO) with 2 lost and 2 draws. The fight was one of the three under cards that were not shown on HBO. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.  |
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