Bob Arum gave his opinion after Manny Pacquiao narrowly came away with a win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their third fight. A fourth fight with Pacquio and Marquez will generate a lot of revenue. So there is the answer. Pacquiao has only one option left, either Marquez or Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Photo: Chris Farina/ Top Rank
In the end in what was a thrilling fight, Pacquiao was not effective and had problems putting combinations together. Marquez once again went the 12-round distance and did not fight like a 38-year old washed up fighter. You have to believe that Pacquiao would not defeat Mayweather if the fight were held tomorrow.
And, once again, ponder a thought as to what is wrong with boxing? As subjective as the sport is, Marquez clearly won the fight. And at the least, if the judge wanted to keep the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight alive they could have all agreed that this was a draw. So, there is no resolution as to who the better fighter is. The scorebook and the annals of boxing will show Pacquiao has the advantage taking two of the three fights, all controversial.
Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank
The crowd, surprisingly more Mexicans there for Marquez, gave their opinion and threw bottles that reportedly injured a ringside reporter. Marquez walked out of the ring a dejected fighter and wondering what is his next option. Had the scorecards been different in the three fights, perhaps Marquez is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, even if he lost a decision to Mayweather.
And if two of the three judges not scored the final round for Pacquiao, there is another draw in the books.
But that Is, neither here or there. Pacquiao could not get to Marquez. The first half of the fight was Marquez, and then Pacquiao, told he needed to step it up a bit, made the outcome interesting. It was enough of a comeback to make one judge score the fight even. You look at the expression of Pacquiao, the trainer Freddie Roach, and they appear to be surprised about the outcome.
Pacquiao knows he did not win the fight. Arum was by his side before the in- ring interviews and was hesitant. Once again, he said the right thing. ?I leave that to the promoter,? meaning Arum will dictate where Pacquiao goes from here. So expect Marquez to get a call about the willingness to have a fourth fight with Pacquiao.
And if Marquez declines the offer, then Arum will have no alternative, Mayweather will get the call and the May 5th date of 2012, one that was mocked by Arum last week, could become reality. If Mayweather is serious, and if they can agree to the financial terms, then we have the fight that should have been made two years ago before steroids and drug testing came into the picture.
So this was boxing theatre at its best Saturday night. HBO Pay-Per-View will gladly book whatever fight Arum chooses for Pacquiao. A fourth time for Pacquiao and Marquez could gross as much money as a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. But the legacy of Pacquiao is not etched in stone until Pacquiao meets Mayweather, and every attempt will be made in the next few weeks to solidify a deal.
There was no difference about how the fight transpired. It was conceived to be another good one. Two future Hall of Fame fighters gave boxing fans what they wanted, and Marquez never bowed down to the skeptics that made him a major underdog. His fight plan almost worked, and Pacquiao could not find a way to use that powerful right and finish off Marquez.
?It?s so hard when you are fighting against a rival and the three judges,? said Marquez. He came into the fight with a strategy of having to win every round. Some believe he won a majority, but again, with the magnitude of this fight and with boxing a subjective, the fight could have gone either way as one judge scored it for Marquez.
Pacquiao sustained a small cut over his right eye from good clashes in the ninth round. That did not have an impact on the outcome. ?I thought I was robbed,? commented Marquez later on, as he came to a realization that a resolution of this trilogy was not to be. ?It happens again and again,? he said. ?I don?t know what else I can do to win.?
However, Arum knows what to do. The controversial ending, now three consecutive HBO PPV fights with ending questions, will result in more money for Pacquiao and Arum. The legacy of Pacquiao continues because it is either Marquez again or Mayweather.
Pacquiao would not be an option for the undefeated Mike Jones, or for Timothy Bradley who had an impressive Top Rank debut with a win over Joel Casamayor. The only option is another meeting with Marquez or the fight with Mayweather. It was the second fight for Marquez as a welterweight and he handled the weight well.
Perhaps boxing fan want to see a fourth fight, and Mayweather will find another option for May 5th. The ball is on the court for Arum and Pacquiao to decide. They both had another successful outcome, even if many will offer opinion as to what Marquez said that the judges continue to favor Pacquiao.
One thing is certain. Manny Pacquiao continues to be the face of boxing. But to debate if he is indeed the best pound-for-pound fighter will continue unless he meets Marquez again and scores the knockout.
Or will it be Pacquiao and Mayweather next? Either way, Arum is the winner. He will make the final decision because Manny Pacquiao is the money maker for him and the sport of boxing.
