The somewhat cloudy prospect of the February 26 showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez yesterday took a positive turn following a credible on-line poll conducted by ESPN showed that the match-up is actually considered by fans across the globe as the most-anticipated bout in the early part of 2005.
In the poll, ESPN posed the question, “Which fight in early 2005 are you most interested in seeing?” the fans were asked to choose among three Ring Magazine champions and one hugely-popular fighter against respective foes, and the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch came on top of the choice.
Pacquiao-Marquez 2 edged out other big match-ups, garnering 42 percent of the 6,513 votes cast worldwide as of 3PM yesterday.
Coming in second is the February 5 rematch between WBC/WBA/IBF and Ring Magazine welter king Cory Spinks and Zab Judah, which took 30 percent of the total votes cast.
At far third is the showdown between the hugely popular warrior Arturo Gatti, the reigning WBC junior welter champ, who will defend his title on January 29 against Jesse James Leija. Gatti-Leija took in 18 percent of the votes.
Ring Magazine and WBO lightweight king Diego Corrales, who is vastly popular among American and Mexican audience, was no match against Pacquiao, as his March 5 unification with WBC champ Jose Luis Castillo bagged only 10 percent of the total votes.
Pacquiao-Marquez is currently facing rough sailing, as the Mexican dual champ is playing hard ball owing to what he calls in “injustice” concerning his $700,000 purse. Marquez wants no less than $1.5 Million, insisting that he will be risking two belts against Pacquiao.
