MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank chairman Bob Arum called the third meeting between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Juan Manuel Marquez a climactic end to an exciting trilogy that will go down in boxing history as one of the most gripping three-fight duels ever.
Pacquiao and Marquez slug it out in their third encounter in Las Vegas on Nov. 12. Their first meeting ended in a split draw in 2004 when they battled within the featherweight limit of 126. Pacquiao, however, should?ve won by a split decision if only judge Burt Clements didn?t make a mistake in scoring the first round 10-7 instead of 10-6 to account for Marquez? three knockdowns. In 2008, the archrivals clashed in a rematch and Pacquiao eked out a split decision, buoyed by a knockdown in the third round. They fought within the superfeatherweight limit of 130 pounds.
For the third face-off, Pacquiao?s WBO 147-pound title will be at stake but the fighters agreed to a catchweight limit of 144 pounds. Marquez, the WBC lightweight champion, is jumping over the lightwelterweight division for the chance to earn a guaranteed paycheck of $5 Million in fighting Pacquiao.
?Their first two fights were close and people had different views on who deserved to win,? said Arum during a visit to Manila last week to kick off the World Press Tour for the Nov. 12 bout. ?No two fights between the same two fighters could?ve been closer. They were as close as you could get. Some fans think Manny won both fights but barely. Marquez, of course, thinks he won both. Finally, the third fight will once and for all settle who?s s the better guy.?
