This Saturday on HBO Pay Per View, will be host to the most anticipated rematch of the year. The Filipino Destroyer Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao, whose legend grows by the day, will face off against another Mexican Champion, this time against Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez and Pacquiao fought four years ago in a memorable encounter. Pacquiao knocked down and badly stunned Marquez three times in the first round, yet Marquez somehow survived and controlled most of the later parts of their first fight. The judges scored the fight a draw, although not without controversy.
Manny Pacquiao is prestigiously considered to be the second best pound for pound boxer in the world behind only Floyd Mayweather. He has garnered that reputation by taking on the best fighters in the world, most notably the great Mexican warriors of his generation. With his success against men like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, many are now calling Pacquiao the ?Mexican Assassin.? Marquez is also a highly respected boxer, ranked by many as the third best pound for pound fighter in the world. Juan Manuel has a recent decision win over Barrera, but perhaps is greatest achievement so far was his draw against Pacquiao four years ago.
Pacquiao the offensive juggernaut will square off against Marquez the supreme counter puncher in a battle of epic proportions. The team of writers at RSR offer their expert predictions on this Super Featherweight Championship bout.
Jose Antonio Rivera
Pacquiao is in another level right now and I think that this time around Pacquiao avenges the draw and finishes Marquez once and for all. Pacquiao 8th Round TKO victory.
Mike ?Rubber Warrior? Plunkett
This one could go either way but I’m going with the decided underdog here to upset the applecart. Marquez via split decision after a shaky first few rounds.
Roger T. Tubajiki
I think Manny Pacquiao will win this one with an 8-round TKO.
Russ Greenspan
How nice to have another pick ’em/fight of the year candidate on my ring calendar. There’s not much to distinguish these two elite level competitors, so let’s go back to their 1st encounter; Manny ambushed Marquez in round one, but three knockdowns and one broken nose later, Pacquiao still couldn’t bring down the curtain. Marquez resolutely dragged himself back into the fray and managed to salvage a draw (admittedly by scoring SNAFU), and will most certainly not be fooled/lulled again. Pacquiao is a bull, but I’m giving this one to the Matador. Marquez by close 12 round decision.
Peter ?The Emperor? Stitt
There is really nothing between these two guys as their records attest. I didn?t like Manny?s approach to the last Barrera fight but we all know how great he is. Who knows the result of this one? It is so very even. If asked to make a pick, which obviously I have been, I go with Pacquiao simply on nothing more than gut feeling. What really matters is the fact that the recent trend of the best fighting the best is continuing and that has to be good for boxing. Not all of these fights are going to be barn burners but that probably reflects the respect the combatants have for each other. After his torrid 1st round experience with Manny before, expect Marquez to open cautiously and that may be the key to this fight. You cannot take the pressure off Pacquiao because he will take over and you will not be able to get back into the fight. Expect a Manny stoppage win around the 10th or 11th round. Alternatively, I could be completely wrong! These fighters are that evenly matched.
Daniel ?Tex? Cohen
Pacquiao-Marquez II is a fight that the fans have waited four years to see. After the first fight, both men were on top of their game. They had the heat of the draw left over from the first card. A fight series was set for full swing. Alas, promotional struggles kept them apart.
Back then, it appeared that Marquez had discovered the game plan for beating Pacquiao: measured aggression. His counter punches were perfectly timed and his body movement was difficult to read.
Since then, plenty has changed. Pacquiao has become the bigger man and he has learned to box enough to greatly lessen the gap between the two men in that category. His punches are faster and stronger than ever. On the other side of the hill, Marquez has seemed older and slower in recent fights with Barrera and Juarez. His movement is not as good as it once was.
Anyone that looks unstoppable can still be stopped, as was proven against the Baby Bull last week. However, Pacquiao looks as unbeatable as anyone in the universe. Expect him to turn on the guns and outland Marquez. Pacquiao by TKO 11.
Geno McGahee
This is a very tough bout to pick because outside of the first round of their fight, Marquez used his boxing ability to nullify the Pacman. Now, we have a rematch and the plan has to be to keep him under control from the start. I don’t think that Juan Manual Marquez can do it at this stage of his career. Manny may not be the whiz that he used to be, but he’s the one with the big punch and if Marquez is a step slower then he was when they met in 2004, and he is, we will see Pacquiao find a home for that straight left hand. It’s been shown that Marquez can’t take that shot and the fact that Marco Antonio Barrera had him hurt and down at that late stage of his career doesn’t make this fight a promising one for him. Pacman is quicker and hits harder than Barrera and will be on the attack. Pacquiao wins by late KO…9 or 10 rounds if Marquez plans on winning. Pacquiao by UD if Marquez plans on surviving as Barrera did in his rematch.
Daniel Hernandez
I will stay with Pacquiao because I am a loyal fan, however, Marquez is very good and can topple the Pacman if he is at all off his game. I’d like to see the ferocity in Pacquiao that was so evident in his earlier fights. That would be hard to beat. If this goes 12 I’d be surprised. Pacquiao wins via stoppage.
?Bad? Brad Berkwitt
Pacman by 10th round TKO.
Antonio Santiago I don’t want to doom the Marquez brothers to back to back losses on big fights with this prediction. That said, I saw the HBO special and based on what I saw I get the idea Pacquiao is the stronger of the two. Pacquiao will win by tenth round knockout.
George Diaz Smith
JM Marquez will be in a war with Manny Pacquiao, but the Pinoy is so up for this fight that I think Pacman will use unlimited right hooks over time to eventually wear Marquez down. Juan Manuel will be looking for the straight bullet left, but it will be the Pacquiao right hand that?ll set things up. Manny Pacquiao by KO 11, time 1:07.
Brian Wilbur
If Manny Pacquiao is as improved as the Pacland fans think and hope that he is, then this will be an easy fight for Pacquiao. However I believe that Manny?s progress has been greatly exaggerated. Although I do think that Manny is better, he has not transformed himself into a completely new fighter since the first fight. Marquez is still a better technical boxer and has the poise to outbox Pacquiao. I pick Marquez by decision.
RSR Message Board Moderators
Old School
I feel that this is going to be another close fight with Marquez controlling the pace of the fight, whilst Pacquiao lands the more telling blows. Marquez SD Pacquiao.
Ring Rat
Dreams do come true. Marquez deserves this opportunity; he is one of the most underappreciated boxers going right now. JMM mixes it up well, and will usually have the final say when it comes to punching. Pacman is an all out buzz saw, non-stop aggression and carries a heavy hand. This kid is so explosive it is impossible for me to pick against him. I believe this match will be highly contested with Pacman putting the finishing touches on Marquez in about the 10th round, truth is it could go either way as both men are proud warriors with high determination factor.
Ghoster
For this long overdue rematch I expect a continuation of their first match. I expect Marquez to overcome any early rocky moments and control the later part of the bout. I think the advantage will be Marquez’s as he will not make the same mistake he made in the first round last time. He will box his way to a unanimous decision victory.
Final Tally
Manny Pacquiao – 11
Juan Manuel Marquez – 4
