For the past two years, I have been very dismissive of the idea of a third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. I always viewed them as great rivals at the 126 and 130 pound weight classes. But in recent times, Pacquiao has proven that he belongs at 147, as he has faced and defeated all of the best opposition available to him. And when Marquez tested the waters in the 140?s when he fought Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in September of 2009, he looked soft and sluggish. Marquez is now thirty-eight years old and many believe that he is past his best, while Pacquiao is still in his prime. When this fight was first announced, I was fairly disenchanted with the promotion and I have been taking it for granted that Pacquiao will win by knockout. But now that the moment of truth is near, I?ve become a little nervous about my prediction, though I?m sticking to my guns.
Unlike the night he fought Mayweather, Marquez looks ripped and ready and completely legit at this new weight (which can be credited to his new strength and conditioning coach, Angel Hernandez). And when you see Pacquiao and Marquez standing face to face, they look the same size. Marquez?s best days might very well be behind him. But sometimes aging fighters are able to put everything together for one more great effort. Marquez believes that it his destiny to prove that he is a better fighter than Pacquiao. And I believe that this is going to be the most focused and fired up that we?ve seen him since his 2008 rematch with Pacquiao (a fight that he lost via split decision).
