Previewing the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez fight
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Look Ahead: Pacquiao vs. Marquez III
HBO Boxing commentators Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward preview the upcoming HBO pay-per-view event, Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, which happens Saturday.
The widely anticipated bout is the third between the two men.
‘There are personal feelings here,’ Pacquiao told The Times’ Lance Pugmire recently after 15 rounds of sparring at a Hollywood gym. ‘I’m not saying I’m angry, or that I hate him, but those feelings give me more motivation in training, and they’ll inspire me to fight as hard as I can, because I’m expecting him to be at his strongest.’
The 32-year-old Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) has risen to become boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter with 14 consecutive victories that included knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales and Ricky Hatton.
Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) has been the gritty counterpuncher who seems to have Pacquiao’s number. Sure, Pacquiao knocked him down three times in the first round of their 2004 bout, but Marquez won nearly every round after and their first bout was called a draw.
In 2008, Pacquiao scored another knockdown of Marquez, but he was left bloodied in a back-and-forth 12-round battle. Pacquiao won the split decision by one point on the deciding judge’s scorecard.
‘They were wars,’ Marquez said. ‘You know you’re not going to be short-changed watching us fight.
ALSO:
These bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing
Hearing will be required to clear Antonio Margarito to fight
--Houston Mitchell and Lance Pugmire
