THE best round that Manny Pacquiao has ever fought against Juan Manuel Marquez was the first round of their very first encounter.
We all know this and so does Manny.
Just before the bell rings to summon the hostilities for today?s seminal fourth fight, Pacquiao will be looking back to that round and hope to at least approximate that level of success.
After that round, Manny?s performance against his arch-rival has dipped, while in contrast, Marquez only seemed to get better. The last fight was the most controversial, as by most accounts Marquez deserved the nod.
STYLE. Many fight game cognoscenti have called for a return of that old Pacquiao. They claim that that version was the most effective and if Manny wants a definite and dominant win, all he has to do is to simply revert back to that style and even possibly score a knockout.
I am inclined to only partially agree.
If you revisit that fight, you will notice that after the initial shock and surprise in adapting to Manny?s southpaw stance, Marquez willed himself back into that fight, by out-boxing Manny. Sure, the scoring was erroneous and Manny deserved to win that fight, but even so, you cannot deny that the cards were close, despite Manny earning a four-point advantage in the first round.
This simply means that in order to overcome that advantage, Marquez won majority of the rounds, simply by fighting a smart fight, boxing and counter-punching his incendiary, brutish opponent.
And that is where I part ways with the experts.
First of all, Manny is not anymore the feral young man he was back in 2004. In their first fight, Manny threw 630 punches. In their second fight, he unleashed 619 and in their third encounter last year, the punch output went down to 578.
To sustain that high level of activity might be asking too much of our fighting Congressman.
Secondly, a wild, anarchic approach might be too dangerous at this point, as Marquez is just too good and accomplished a fighter.
Remember that Manny surprised Marquez in that first round, but afterwards, the latter has managed to figure out Manny?s style a lot better than any of his previous opponents, save for Erik Morales.
But where I am in partial agreement with the pundits is the need to be aggressive.
Manny has to dictate the pace and initiate the exchanges. He cannot just afford to turn the fight into a box-off as Marquez has demonstrated the ability to control the fight via his superior counter-punching.
Where we are all in agreement is the fact that Manny has the ability to hurt Marquez with a single punch. The evidence shows he has been able to inflict four knockdowns in 36 rounds. In contrast, Marquez does not carry that torque, and while he has stunned Manny on a couple of occasions, he has never hurt him.
Ergo, Manny can very well afford to become the antagonist. Nothing too wild as to leave him defenseless, but what I am advocating for is controlled and sustained aggression.
He has to push the pace, and be obdurate. He should force Marquez into exchanges where the latter is least comfortable with. I don?t know what game Marquez is playing by coming in too light (he was 143 pounds at the weigh-in), but that could backfire against him once he gets tagged by a Pacquiao power punch. If needed, Manny has to endure the return artillery so he can score with his harder blows.
Marquez has never been stopped and is known for his tremendous recuperative powers. But there?s a first time for everything, and so I?m predicting a Pacquiao TKO win in the 11th round.
UNDERCARD. Please say a good word to the Man up there for the other Pinoys fighting on the undercard.
Mercito Gesta is getting the chance of a lifetime as he fights Miguel Vasquez for the IBF lightweight crown. Vasquez has a significant height advantage but isn?t much of a puncher. Mercito?s best chance is to attack the body and hurt him early.
Michael Farenas is up against the formidable Yuriorkis Gamboa. The mercurial Farenas has been inconsistent in his performances, but Gamboa can be a bit chinny and in boxing, all it takes is one sweet punch.
The world also takes its first glimpse at Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. who will be facing Jesus Lule.
So there you have it. Three boxers with names starting in M with two having surnames that begin with P.
Go, go, go MP!
LAST ROUND. It?s on Isaiah B. Tero who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!
