THE debate rages on.
Was it really a lucky punch or not?
I maintain it was.
A lucky punch happens when defense is virtually absent.
That was the case when Manny Pacquiao got knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I?ve said it before but I?ll say it again: When a fight is all offense as usually happens when two boxers decide to mix it up in the last 10 seconds of a round, that?s when the lucky punch has the strongest chance to find its mark.
With a mere tick left, Marquez landed the haymaker that felled Pacquiao in the sixth.
There was no science in that shot. Only luck. Pure luck.
Before the lucky punch came, Pacquiao led in all scorecards of the three judges. He was also ahead in my scorecard?with Round 3 going to Marquez after knocking down Pacquiao.
On the lucky punch in the sixth, here?s reader Mike Boylan?s e-mail:
?Al, it wasn?t a lucky punch and your column had more holes than Swiss cheese. Marquez had been setting it up all night. It was the same scenario as the first knockdown. Pacquiao shuffled in with a weak right jab trying to set up the straight left but it was (inexplicably) a half-hearted attempt, which left him with both hands down, coming in wide open. Marquez countered from a half-crouch, giving him maximum torque. It was utter carelessness for Manny, excellent execution for Marquez.
?Marquez may have trained longer but one of the biggest mistakes a fighter can make is overtraining. It?s crucial to time your training correctly, if not, you will burn out. If it was just a matter of more training, every fighter would train non-stop, wouldn?t you for these obscene amounts of money? And Marquez?s face wasn?t rearranged. He had a broken nose, it will always bleed profusely. He wasn?t really hurt.
?Give Marquez credit. He knew Paquiao?s weaknesses and came in much stronger. Manny would be the first to agree.
?I enjoy your column?Mike.?
Brilliant, Mike, and thank you, too, for mentioning the hole-laden Swiss cheese. I?m buying one block now as Swiss cheese is my favorite. Make that Gouda.
