FIGHT PACQUIAO VS. MARQUEZ

Johanna Louise B. Neri

Pacquiao vs. Marquez

is now just few nights away. Two of the world's greatest fighters are about to go head to head with each other for the 3rd time in the name of glory and respect. Pacquiao, the pride of the Philippines, started his training a few weeks earlier unlike his previous fights against Margarito and Mosley, where he only spent 7 weeks of training.

Pacquiao and Marquez bare their fight plans

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and his Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez gave hints about the fight plans they’re putting up for this weekend for their third fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I’ve changed a lot, my style. I think I’m more improved right now, compared to three years ago, four years ago,” Pacquiao said in ESPN.com.

In the latest fights, Pacquiao said he has improved and developed more techniques, especially his lateral movements and timing.

Pacquiao, a southpaw, added that he can now use his right hand and as lethal as his left.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III May Change Boxing Forever

In today’s cartoonish boxing world, it’s a little staggering when you see a pre-fight press conference that doesn’t devolve into a pretend fight that was choreographed beforehand. And yet, when Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez met for a recent press conference to hype their November 12 showdown, there were none of the usual shenanigans.

Needless to say, it was very refreshing.

Manny Biography Emmanuel Dapidran

Pacquiao, (born December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines) is a Filipino professional boxer and reigning WBC International Super Featherweight champion. He is a former world champion at IBF Super Bantamweight, and WBC Flyweight divisions. Pacquiao has a record of 45 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 35 wins coming by way of knockout. His brother, Bobby Pacquiao is also a Super Featherweight boxer.

Pacquiao started his professional boxing career in 1995 at 106 pounds at the age of 16. His early fights usually took place in small venues and were shown on Vintage Sports’ Blow by Blow evening boxing show (hosted by John Ray Betita). His first professional fight was a four-round bout against Edmund Ignacio on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, thus becoming an instant star of the program.

His weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round technical knockout (TKO). As well-known sportscaster Joaquin “Quinito” Henson observed, Pacquiao clearly had not made weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting Pacquiao at a disadvantage.

Pacquiao went on to defend his title four times before the match that many consider to have defined his career, against the Mexican boxing idol, Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico. Pacquiao, moving up in weight and in his first fight ever in the featherweight division brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via a TKO in the 11th round at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

Trainer Freddie Roach had previously voiced concerns about the late night lifestyle and warned that the boxer was in danger of losing both his edge and focus. Roach noted that there are too many distractions surrounding Pacquiao in the Philippines.

At the end of 2006, he was named by both HBO and Ring Magazine as the fighter of the year, with HBO also naming him as the most exciting fighter of the year.

In The Ring magazine, Pacquiao (45-3-2) remains at the top of the junior lightweight division (130 pounds). He had been in the ratings for 108 weeks. Pacquiao is also at No. 2 in the pound-for-pound category behind welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather.

Juan Manuel Marquez Biography Juan Manuel Marquez

comes from a strong boxing pedigree. His brother, Rafael Marquez, is a former world champion who has won world titles at the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions. Marquez had an amateur record of 35-1 that included two Golden Glove tournament wins. He made his professional debut at the age of 19 on May 29th, 1993 and lost his first bout by way of disqualification to Javier Duran.

Marquez wouldn’t lose again for another six years as he compiled a record of 29-1 that included a win over future champion Agapito Sanchez, and former champion Julio Gervacio and Alfred Kotey. In 1997, Marquez won the NABO featherweight title, which he defended seven times.

Marquez earned his first shot at a world title on September 11th, 1999, when he lost a controversial 12 round decision to then unbeaten champion Freddie Norwood.

On November 20th, 1999 Marquez stopped Remigio Molina in eight rounds. In August of 2000, Marquez defeated former champion Daniel Jimenez and five fights later, he stopped future champion Robbie Peden in ten rounds for the NABF and USBA featherweight titles.

In May of 2004, Marquez fought the man recognized as the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao to a draw; in the fight Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round. Marquez was never able to overcome those early points deficit which many believe is the reason the fight ended in a draw. The result was controversial as judge Burt Clements scored the first round as 10-7 for Pacquiao instead of what normally would have been 10-6; this was the anomaly that caused the fight to be called a draw instead of a split decision for Pacquiao. The final scores on the judge’s cards were, John Stewart had it 110-115 for Marquez, Guy Jutras had it 115-110 for Pacquiao and Burt Clements had it 113-113.