Pacquiao/Marquez III: The picture is finally framed

By Boxing News - 11/14/2011 - Comments

Image: Pacquiao/Marquez III: The picture is finally framedBy Babatis Banda: I have consistently pointed out a few facts about Manny Pacquiao’s ascendancy to star-dorm in this sport. Before I dwell further into this thought, allow me to comment on the Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez III first.

I am not very surprised with the outcome of this fight. I personally think it did not live-up to the fight hype and expectations of millions of people for a few reasons. The main reason is that Manny is a perfectly over-sold product in terms of hype. With a good opposition, he barely meets the quality test. Marquez is a pure boxer and a good counter puncher and he did well to avoid Manny’s left through-out the fight and that put off Manny’s game.
Marquez landed the clearer punches, and in my opinion, the harder of the punches. In my view what cost him the fight was lack of aggression, but again, with somebody else, Marquez could have gotten the decision. Manny was stung several times in the fight and that sums it all.

I have time and again said that Manny’s ascendancy to the helm was a combination of factors. The Gods looked down on him favourably, and it was a perfect timing, when the lions of the sport were in decline and only carried their names from past glory. Floyd Mayweather Junior, the undisputed P4P champion then, was in retirement and a clever Arum ensured the Manny brand was sold with some-what, easy manipulated fights in terms of in-house fighters and catch weights.
Pacquiao/Marquez III proved that Manny is by and large, the same old fighter with just minor adjustments. The picture I have always painted about Manny was finally framed. Manny is a B+/A fighter with only a powerful straight left as major weapon. If you negate the straight left, you have Manny in dis-array. In other words, Manny is still the single handed fighter he has been.

Marquez understood that he lost the past fights because of the knock-downs. This time, he was able to avoid the straight lefts that took him down in the past and in part, that inhibited him from being very aggressive to get the win he easily could have gotten. Apure boxer has fewer problems with Manny. Disable the straight left and counter with clever shots and you have Manny tamed. Oscar, Cotto, Magarito, Clottey and Hatton all either closed their eyes and covered up, and with poor footwork when Manny threw the so called combinations. Some thought they could out-muscle Manny, all that were mistakes.

I am left wondering what Mayweather would do to Packman when they finally meet, because what I have always pointed out was brought to light in the Manny/Marquez fight. With the picture finally framed, I am wondering if Arum is eager to put up a fight with the best in the business, Floyd Mayweather junior. Those still in denial will do better to watch Floyd versus Marquez again, to see how Floyd neutralized Marquez and make your own informed judgements.



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