LAS VEGAS ? It seems that whenever Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez fight, the outcome is never convincing. That?s because their styles are almost made for each other. Marquez is a counterpuncher while Pacquiao likes to initiate and come forward.
In their first meeting in 2004, they fought to a split 12-round draw. In the rematch in 2008, Pacquiao won via a split 12-round decision. And in what was supposed to put a closure to the trilogy at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila), Pacquiao beat Marquez once more, this time on a majority 12-round decision.
Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach sighed and said, ?what can you do, that guy (Marquez) has our number? but in three fights, he still hasn?t beaten the Filipino ring icon.
Marquez made each of the three encounters close, forcing Pacquiao to the limit thrice. Still, he fell short of a victory. Of course, the Mexican is crying foul and claiming he was robbed. Nobody ever said he isn?t a sore loser.
Roach appeared disappointed with Pacquiao?s performance, hinting that he could?ve done more to seal a decisive win.
?I?d rate his performance a six or seven on a scale of one to 10,? he said. ?But I?d rate Marquez? performance a six. It was close but Manny won it, for sure. Marquez never came forward. He hung around. Manny made the fight. He took it to Marquez.?
What bothered Roach in the early going was Pacquiao?s inability to slip away from Marquez? pumping right hand.
?Manny?s a left-hander and if you?re fighting a right-hander like Marquez, you don?t slide to his right because he?s hit you every time,? said Roach. ?It took Manny about four rounds to make the adjustmen t. Once he did, he was okay. I thought Manny could?ve worked the right hand more. When he threw it, Marquez got hit. Manny cramped in the fourth round. Buboy (Fernandez) started the fight to Manny?s right on the ring apron in the corner during the timeouts in between rounds. When the cramps set in, Buboy moved to his left to attend to the foot. It wasn?t the calf, it was more like the arch. I saw that it bothered Manny.?
Pacquiao, however, will never use it as an excuse for failing to knock out or even floor Marquez.
Roach said a fourth fight against Marquez would likely produce a similar result ? a close decision in Pacquiao?s favor because their styles lead to it.
?I don?t know if there will be a fourth fight,? he said. ?I don?t think Manny has anything more to prove against Marquez who hasn?t beaten him in three fights. So who?s next for Manny? Maybe, it could be (Floyd) Mayweather. Maybe, he?ll think Manny?s beatable and finally do the fight.?
