Their first fight took place inside of the MGM Grand and saw Pacquiao storm out of the gates with three first-round knockdowns before Marquez regrouped to take command in the middle rounds. The second fight was just as wild, as Marquez again overcame a third-round knockdown before turning the tide of the fight only to see Pacquiao close a bit stronger in the championship rounds. Now the two fighters will meet again on November 12 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao vs Marquez 3, is this a competitive fight or a mismatch? If its a competitive fight, you believe that Marquez has proven his style gives Pacquiao fits, and it’s a style unlike anything Pacquiao has seen since his one-point split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008. If you say its a mismatch, you believe that Pacquiao has outgrown Marquez since their last fight and, at a contract weight of 144 pounds, Pacquiao will be at his most effective and Marquez will be at his least effective.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather have seen the fighters agree to meet at 140, a weight I firmly believe Manny can still make it. But to me, it’s more about what Marquez weighs than what Pacquiao weighs. Marquez, regardless of the contract weight, should still train to be about 135 pounds or so—in shape and comfortable. The better condition Marquez is in, the quicker he’ll be, and the more he can offset whatever poundage he’s giving away.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather have seen the fighters agree to meet at 140, a weight I firmly believe Manny can still make it. But to me, it’s more about what Marquez weighs than what Pacquiao weighs. Marquez, regardless of the contract weight, should still train to be about 135 pounds or so—in shape and comfortable. The better condition Marquez is in, the quicker he’ll be, and the more he can offset whatever poundage he’s giving away.
This is an unusual situation in that almost nobody is picking Marquez to win, but many of us endorse the fight anyway. But what I see here is an opponent who, at any weight, knows how to time and hit Pacquiao. Yes, it’s possible the size difference will influence each man’s ability to take the other’s punch. It’s possible Pacquiao will blow Marquez out, as he nearly did in their first meeting seven years ago. But whatever the outcome, I want to see Pacquiao face someone with a style that isn’t made to order. Marquez might give Pacquiao fits again. That’s good enough to get me supporting Pacquiao vs Marquez 3.
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