The boxing world hopes for a sense of finality, a definitive conclusion, when welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao meets his bitterest rival, Juan Manuel, Marquez, on PPV from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Twice these proud warriors of the ring have fought down to the wire in compelling 12-round fights. Pacquiao has scored four knockdowns over Marquez, but the durable and accomplished Mexican veteran scored with such efficiency that an argument can be made that he was twice unlucky against Pacquiao ? a draw and a heart-breaking one-point defeat.
Pacquiao?s trainer, Freddie Roach, tells me he expects Pacquiao to get Marquez out of the fight inside six rounds. This, to me, is highly unlikely, but I do think that the Filipino powerhouse can win before the final bell rings.
The first two fights between Pacquiao and Marquez were desperately close, and, from ringside, I had Marquez the narrow winner each time.
Those fights, though, were fought at 126 and 130 pounds respectively. Saturday?s fight is made at a catchweight of 144 pounds, and I believe that Pacquiao ? who scaled 143 pounds at today?s weigh-in to Marquez?s 142 ? will possess a significant power advantage at this weight.
Marquez looks strong in HBO?s 24/7 training-camp footage, having brought a somewhat controversial strength and conditioning coach on board, and the Mexican veteran has clearly bulked-up in a much more scientific manner than when he lost widely on points to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a welterweight mismatch two years ago.
The impression one has, though, is that Pacquiao is the faster man, more explosive and naturally stronger at this weight. Pacquiao was hurting Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley in dominating displays as a welterweight: I just cannot picture Marquez having anything like such overwhelming success against these fighters.
