Marquez Feels Short Changed Again Exclaiming,

“This Is Just Like 2004, That Was Just One Round”

By William Trillo

In another close and thrilling bout that was filled with both blood and drama, Manny Pacquiao was victorious in a close split decision over dethroned WBC Super Feather Champ Juan Manuel Marquez. The difference once again in this razor close fight was the third round knockdown, Manny put him down with one hard shot directly to the chin.

As expected, this bout was a roller coaster ride for the fans as each fighter took their respective turns dishing out the damage on each other, and there was plenty of it to go around.

Both fighters were cut, both fighters were bleeding, but most importantly, both fighters were doing everything they had to in order to secure the victory.

It was clear from the start that Marquez's game plan was to box and counter Pacquiao and let Manny’s own over aggressiveness work against him, and for the first 2 rounds it looked like it was working. Marquez was landing and he even had Manny’s knees wobbling a bit in round 2.

Turn about became fair play in the third round as it was Manny who let his counterpunching do the talking. After Marquez threw a right hand that was blocked by Pacquiao, Manny threw a right hand that missed and followed it with a left hand that hit it’s mark perfectly and Juan Manuel went down like a sack of wet cement. He made it back to his feet to finish an exciting round, but the damage was done, and it was inevitably the deciding factor in this barnstorm affair.

After that it was one round after another of seesaw action that had fans on either side of the arena and Pacific buzzing with excitement. Marquez was cut by a headbutt in the seventh and the site of blood got Manny pumped and he exploded with a flurry. The very next round Marquez busted Pacquiao with a right hand that opened a vicious gash and now it was “Dinamita’s” turn to inflict the damage. Pacquiao was clearly troubled by the heavy flow of blood and Marquez took full advantage. The very next round another gash was opened up right next to the first one Marquez suffered and the double trouble wound forced referee Kenny Bayless to stop the action to let the Doc have a look. It was nasty but you don’t stop a fight like this, and the Doc made the right call by letting things go on.

This thing was getting bloody and we weren’t done yet.

Round 10 began with a huge haymaker by Pacquiao that caught Marquez flush and sent him stumbling into the ropes. It seemed as though Manny could capitalize but the tough Marquez survived and although this was a round in the bank for Pacquiao, Marquez forced it to come down to the championship rounds.

Round 11 was a close round that could have gone either way, it was iffy close and there was only 3 minutes left.

It is the opinion of this writer that Marquez came out to win the round convincingly while Manny seemed to be only going through the motions for most of the round, and in a fight this close, one had to wonder what Pacman was thinking? Unless of course he assumed that 3^rd round knockdown assured him the victory.

Round 12 came to an end and it seemed to be Juan Manuel's round all the way.

As the judges cards were announced no one in the house really knew which way it would go.

When the first card was announced 115- 113 for Marquez it seemed as though his counterpunching style was going to earn him the victory. But that was followed with the same score only this time it was Manny's fury that impressed the judges.

One card was left and low and behold, 114-113 in favor of Pacquiao, the knockdown was in fact enough and that one 10-8 round sealed Juan Manuel’s fate no matter how much he wants to say one round doesn’t make a fight, just like it did in 2004, one round did make the difference and it kept him from victory again.

After the fight Manny spoke about the cut, “The cut really bothered me and I could not see his left hand coming, I feel I won the fight, I knew it was going to be a hard fight tonight.”

A disappointed Marquez said, The cut did not bother me, it was from a headbutt! We thought we won the fight! We pressed him and we hurt him, but just like in 2004…It’s just one round, (referring to the round 3 knockdown).”

I haven’t lost anything,” exclaimed Marquez, “The people saw, they know we won the fight!”

Yes Juan Manuel, the people saw, many at ringside including a bevy of reporters feel you may have won the fight too. But the fact is the judges gave it to Manny via split decision and there is nothing that can change that score.

It was a great fight and both fighters gave everything they had; they left nothing in the ring.

As clearly as that left hand connected and dropped Marquez, it is just as clear, that moment of the fight was the deciding factor, we can go back and forth about who thought who won for years but the fact remains it was in the hands of 3 judges and had it not been for that 3^rd round……..well…….coulda, shoulda, woulda….