A Rivalry Unsettled: Pacquiao Takes Third Marquez Fight By Controversial Decision

LAS VEGAS, NV – Fans rained down boos on Manny Pacquiao as he tried to justify a highly unpopular majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday
night (November 12) in what was supposed to be the final chapter of their famed rivalry.

The early tactical rounds found Marquez making a concerted effort to work the body with digging hooks from both hands. Pacquiao sparingly landed his famed straight left, but was thwarted by Marquez counters when he attempted to push forward with combinations.

By round six, Freddie Roach advised Pacquiao they were falling further behind and implored him to reverse the Marquez favoring slowed pace. The Filipino champion landed several right hooks before Marquez came back with hooks to the body to stifle any prolonged Pacquiao rally. Marquez would also come back strong in the seventh and eighth, catching Pacquiao with accurate straight rights out of clinches.

Pacquiao upped his workrate if not his accuracy in the championship rounds. A hook would briefly stun Marquez in the 10th. Pacquiao’s left cross would also
reemerge in the 11th. However, Marquez also scored well in the round with a four-punch combination and slashing left hook. Neither man took any serious chances in the 12th as the crowd roared loud chants for Marquez, sensing his long-awaited Pacquiao victory had finally been achieved.

The Marquez celebration was not to be, as one judge scored it even (114-114) with the remaining two favoring Pacquiao by scores of 116-112 and 115-113.

A livid Juan Manuel Marquez would leave the ring in disgust after stating that even “Pacquiao knows he lost this fight.” Pacquiao would say just the opposite in his
post-fight interview, causing the first ever chorus of boos to be directed at him by fans.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum affirmed that he believed Pacquiao won the fight, but also felt a fourth fight should be made for May 2012.

The win improves Manny Pacquiao’s record to 54-3-2 (38 KOs) and makes the third defense of his WBOwelterweight title. Juan Manuel Marquez’s record falls to 53-6-1 with 39 KOs.