Las Vegas, NV-Usually when two fighters engage a second time, there is a level of dominance by one man or the other. Rarely is the second time around a ?close encounter? of the fistic kind. That being said, the first Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez match was indeed close. Dropped thrice in the opener, and hurt again the second round, Marquez came back and outworked Pacquiao down the stretch, thus enabling the Mexican counter puncher to secure a majority draw.
PACMAN NO LONGER ?ONE DIMENSIONAL? PUG
And while I?ve taken heat for being of the opinion that Manny at 29 has improved, while Marquez at 34 has declined, I’m going to tell you why I’ve come to the conclusion that Pacquiao will bust up his Mexican counterpart tonight on PPV from the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Pacquiao of 2008 is not the “one-armed” bandit that he was some four years ago when the pair first tangled.
MORE WEAPONS FOR PACQUIAO THIS TIME
It boils down to the fact that the Filipino southpaw has developed his right hand. In the first go around, all Pacquiao did with his weak hand was “paw” at Marquez, this as he tried time and again to land his money punch, the left cross. Trainer Freddie Roach realized the limitations of Pacman being a one-handed boxer, thus he went to work on Pacquiao’s weak side.
IMPROVEMENT SEEN IN ALL BUT ONE FIGHT
The result has been apparent in all of his fights since Marquez. Instead of just looking to hit home runs, Pacquiao has made the right hook a weapon that can set up the “money” punch. And while his jab is not like that of “Sugar Ray” Leonard’s, it does what it is supposed to do by being both a range finder, as well as landing on occasion. The only fight since Marquez where Pacman didn?t use the right hand was the first Erik Morales clash.
GIVE THE MIGHTY FILIPINO HIS DUE
Regarding the right hook, this is what has made Pacquiao the complete fighter he has become. Having grown into the 130 lbs. weight class, after his debut at 107 ?, Pacquiao is peaking, while Marquez is on the downside. The fact that Manny?s arsenal is both potent and diverse, instead of just being all about that ?money? punch, this why I?m picking him to romp all over a game, but outgunned Marquez tonight on pay per view.
ONE MORE THING TO SHUT SOME OF YOU UP
Fans of Marquez, predominantly Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, they’ve been posting a lot of comments since yesterday’s story where I questioned the level (second tier) of opposition Juan Manuel has faced since 2004. Time and again, the Marquez backers kept saying the same thing: “Pacquiao built his reputation by beating two shot fighters in Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.” Let me remind you that when Pacquiao, a decisive betting underdog, kicked the living spit out of Marco Antonio Barrera in November 2003, Marco wasn’t even remotely close to being shot!
