LAS VEGAS?And so it came to pass that the final scene of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy is upon us after a lengthy wait of almost eight years.
Marquez?s quest for ring greatness has finally been granted.
A privilege of challenging Pacquiao?s World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
Be careful what you wish for Juan. It might not come the way you?ve planned it.
For one, Marquez?s fellow Mexican Jose Luis Camarillo of El Esto is seeing history repeating itself (as it tends to do) with a beatdown ala Erik Morales III.
?For me, the easiest win by the Pacman in his colorful career was his two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton. Juan Manuel is a close second. Manny will have a slightly difficult take against the counter-punching challenger, but will stop him nonetheless,? Camarillo emphasized.
?No way Marquez can beat Pacquiao,? echoed ESPN?s Deportes broadcaster Jaime Motta. ?Pacquiao can take him out either on the eighth or ninth rounds.?
Since the bookies opened business for the year-ending thriller, Marquez lovers have been observed shying away from the betting tills.
True, fans profess their support, but the Mexicans (who know their boxing) aren?t betting on Marquez.
Compadres are entertaining an upset of the highly favored defending champ, but that?s how far it goes.
Most of the distaff side of the large Mexican contingent covering the trifecta we chatted with expressed misgivings on their compatriot?s chances against the Pinoy idol.
Erika Montoya of Milenio Diario said an upset is difficult due to a decline in JuanMa?s firepower that surfaced in his recent outings with Joel Casamayor and Michael Katsidis.
Throughout much of boxing?s existence, mighty men have met their foil.
Marquez is banking on it.
Will the Mexican?s investment pay off in a counter-punching coup?
Pacquiao, the Pinoy idol doesn?t think so. He?s invested three years of his crowded sked studying ways of coping with established counter punchers.
Regardless of JuanMa?s state at the end of the fight, whether hand raised in victory or looking up from the canvass at those lovely colors and stars, Marquez?s bank account will fatten like a pregnant bison. More so with the boxing congressman?s coffers.
Tomorrow at the plush MGM Grand Arena, Marquez engages Pacquiao in a fight?one the Pacman hasn?t had to deal with for quite a while. His last four outings against Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley produced lopsided wins.
Carl Roberts, Pacquiao?s resident artist, is emphatic ?this one has knockout painted all over it.?
Third-round KO, Carl?
