Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez will meet for the fourth time on Saturday night once again at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boxing fans have voiced varied opinions regarding the bout. Some are absolutely tired of this pugilistic saga, claiming that a fourth bout will not provide anything we haven?t already seen before. Others, like myself, are quite optimistic that the fourth installment of this classic series will finally bring a definitive victory one way or another which will end all debates.
Whichever side of the fence you?re on, facts are facts. A great deal of fight fanatics are split as to who deserved the nod in each of the previous three bouts. Hence, the need for a fourth and hopefully final clash between two of the greatest fighters of our era. Pacquiao/Marquez IV may not sound as appetizing as Pacquiao/Mayweather, but this bout is still “must-see” unfinished business.
A convincing victory for Pacquiao will remove any semblance of doubt pertaining to the first three encounters while a victory for Marquez will bring the proud Mexican warrior the validation he has sought since his first bout with Pacquiao back in 2004. Either way, even with their careers winding down, both fighters stand to gain a lot from a clear ?W.?
Judging by how both combatants have looked in their respective camps, this encounter will almost certainly be as exciting and drama-filled as the others. For this camp, Pacquiao has seemingly focused on a strategy which is focused on being more aggressive while Marquez appears to have placed more emphasis on strength and conditioning in hopes of bringing the type of power that will finally put Pacquiao on the deck.
In the first 15 rounds of this storied series, Pacquiao managed to knock Marquez down a total of four times. However, in the last 21 rounds they?ve shared together, Marquez has not hit the canvas. This is a particularly important factor, considering that Marquez has proven to be quite the pest when Pacquiao can?t put the hurt on him. Both fighters have promised to shoot for the knockout, but that is unlikely considering how familiar they are with one another at this point.
Prior to the third bout, Marquez was a 9-1 Vegas underdog. This time Vegas odds have been much kinder to him ? Marquez currently sits as a 3-1 underdog. The fact that he?s being given much more respect this time is not the least bit surprising. Marquez looked much better at the welterweight limit in their last contest and appears to be even more acclimated to the division this time around. That said, the ring technician known as “Dinamita” is 39 years of age, and boxers sometimes get old overnight. That, of course, is always a possibility.
As for Pacqiuao, many believe he deserved to win his last bout against Timothy Bradley, but in that contest he appeared to lack the fire of old even fading a bit down the stretch against an injured opponent. Questions linger whether his heart is still in it with everything he has going on outside of his boxing duties.
Considering the judges have favored Pacquiao?s more aggressive style in the past, one would assume the same would hold true for this bout. However, with more aggressiveness may come more counter opportunities and that?s exactly what has transpired when Pacquiao has previously faced certain stylists in the ring, particularly one named Juan Manuel Marquez.
I may be in the minority, but I believe this bout will turn out to be one of the best in the series. I expect both fighters to keep true to their word and display more aggressiveness. Ultimately, I believe a fight of that mold favors Marquez, who has shown he has Pacquiao?s distance and timing down. As Pacquiao loses a bit of steam down the stretch, I see Marquez cranking it up a notch like we?ve never seen before. And it?s that late surge which I believe will be the difference in a memorable bout.
Marquez SD12
Miguel Vasquez (32-3, 13 KOs) vs. Mercito Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KOs)
Current IBF lightweight champion Mexico?s Vasquez looks to notch the fifth defense of his title against lightweight contender Filipino Gesta. Vasquez has shown he can consistently win bouts by staying on the outside, moving side to side, often times literally running to stay out of harm?s way. This style has worked for the most part, but in several of his bouts at least one judge favored his opponent?s aggressiveness. If Gesta wants to walk away with Vasquez?s strap, he?s going to have to do just that, be very aggressive and score telling punches. From the looks of it, Vasquez has faced much more aggressive, harder-hitting fighters (Breidis Prescott, Ji-Hoon Kim, Ricardo Dominguez, Leonardo Zappavigna, Marvin Quintero) all of whom failed to defeat him. Barring a controversial decision, Vasquez should be able to effectively utilize his physical advantages (height/reach) and slickness in the process handing Gesta his first professional defeat.
Vasquez MD12
Yuriorkis Gamboa (21-0, 16 KOs) vs. Michael Farenas (34-3-4, 26 KOs)
Gamboa, the Cuban sensation, defends his interim WBA super featherweight title against Farenas, a Filipino looking to pull out the biggest victory of his career. Unfortunately, Farenas has never fought or defeated a high quality fighter to give us any indication that he can compete with the lightning quick, powerful force that is Gamboa. Although Farenas has yet to be stopped in his career, it appears that streak will be broken shortly.
Gamboa TKO10
Javier Fortuna (20-0, 15 KOs) vs. Patrick Hyland (27-0, 12 KOs)
In an intriguing ?somebody?s ?0? must go? bout, the Dominican Republic?s Fortuna faces Ireland?s Hyland. Fortuna looked absolutely impressive in his last outing when he blew away a typically durable Cristobal Cruz in two quick rounds. Hyland is a relative unknown with no significant victories on his ledger. My gut says Fortuna is as good as he looked the last time out and this match will prove to be a step too high for the relatively untested Irishman.
Fortuna TKO8
