Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: Limiting Distractions

Manny Pacquiao has acknowledged on numerous occasions that he wasn’t at the top of his game last November when he last fought Juan Manuel Marquez. For an assortment of reasons, both professional and personal, he came into the proceedings lacking the focus and concentration necessary to beat an opponent of Marquez’s caliber.

He vows to do better this time.

Thanks to a somewhat shocking and extremely unfair loss to Timothy Bradley this past June, Pacquiao’s back is against the wall. Folks could forgive a defeat to Bradley that wasn’t really even a defeat. If Marquez gets the better of him, however, there will be no excuses left for the Filipino champ.

During a recent interview with PhilBoxing, Freddie Roach expounded on why Marquez gave Pacquiao so much trouble on the last go-round.

"We had a great camp last fight (against Marquez) and everything fell apart before the fight, distractions of course. Manny got rid of all that stuff in his life. It's not going to happen this time," Roach said.

And how is the actual training process going to be different this time? Roach covered that, too.

"We'll have a great camp and Manny's attitude is great. I see no problems. I have to come up with a different type of strategy for Marquez. We decked him three times though, we had some success but not as much as I want. He told me that he will knock him out this time and I am going to hold him to do it," he said.

So all involved understand what the stakes are right now? According to Roach – yes.

"Manny understands that he needed that killer instinct back and that firepower. And that people want to see knockouts and not decisions. So, Manny knows that and he promised me a knockout for the first time ever and I'm going to remind him that every day."

December 8 is going to be very interesting.

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Manny Pacquiao and his camp are well aware of what’s on the line this December when they face off against Juan Manuel Marquez. Whereas the Filipino champ’s previous loss was disregarded because of the porous judging that bout will be remembered for, expecting the same sort of treatment this time around is unrealistic. If the unthinkable happens and Manny ultimately falls to Marquez, there will be no more excuses.

Given the stakes, Pacquiao (understandably) doesn’t want to leave anything to chance on this go-round. Even though he hasn't recorded a knockout in nearly three years, putting Marquez down for the long count is precisely how he is planning to win his next match. His trainer, Freddie Roach, confirmed this much during an interview with Boxing Scene this weekend.

“It’s always going to be a competitive fight,” he said. “Manny told me he needed a knockout to win. I’m going to hold him to it, and we’re going go in there looking for a knockout. Something we didn’t do before, we need to do now, because we’re not going to win a decision.”

He’s right. Last June’s Timothy Bradley fight made it okay for judges to rule against Pacquiao. He will no longer get the benefit of the doubt that he has gotten in the past; anything other than a clear-cut victory could be construed as a loss.

With everything that’s on the line, Pacquiao must be training like crazy for his upcoming bout, right? He must have gotten to the U.S. early, just to get a head start on all the work that he needs to do, right? Right? Wrong. Yesterday, reports surfaced that the champ put off his trip to the U.S. because of some pressing political issues that had come up.

You will recall, Bob Arum was less than pleased with this latest development.

"Manny has to decide whether he is a boxer or he's a politician,” he said.

For, for what it’s worth, Roach was much less animated about the delay.

“He’s going to be a couple days late,” Roach said in that same Boxing Scene interview. “I talked to him this morning. He’ll be here by the mid-week.”

“We have eight weeks until the fight. I’m not really worried about it. He’s running now. He’s getting in shape, and that’s all we do the first couple weeks anyway. The sparring won’t start until about six weeks out, so it should be no problem.”

Let’s hope not.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV goes down from the MGM Grand on Dec. 8.

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Juan Manuel Marquez Doesn’t Just Want to Beat Manny Pacquiao, He Wants to Make a Point

When Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez square off this December, you will see two guys who couldn’t care less about the lasting ramifications from their bout. Neither will be concerned with what it does to their wins and losses totals. Neither will be concerned with the amount of damage they inflict or personally take. Neither will be concerned with what the future holds. Both will be out to do one thing and one thing only: make a point.

Even though Marquez has never actually beaten his Filipino arch rival, he has come a lot closer to doing it (legitimately, not with the help of horrible judges) than any other fighter has in eight years. There are a lot of boxing fans out there, in fact, who believe that he was the rightful winner of their November 2011 showdown. And because he has come so close, the fact that he couldn’t actually pull out a win officially must be killing Marquez inside.
On this go-round, he is going to come with some aggression. He isn’t going to be relying on judges to hand him a victory he doesn’t deserve a la Timothy Bradley – he’s going to take that victory himself.

During a recent interview with the good folks at Boxing Scene, Marquez’s trainer, Nacho Beristain, made it abundantly clear that his guy was coming after Pacquiao.

"We want to gain a little more speed. In the third fight we were able to keep up with him, and we want to use that approach again to see if we can put him down on the canvas at least once," Beristain said.

"I would like to believe, and hope to God, that we put him down once or twice - but it is a bit difficult because the Filipino is also a warrior and a very tough fighter. Last time we thought we had the fight in the bag, but look at what happened...you can never tell what the judges are thinking."

Can you believe that? Most guys who have taken on the same foe on multiple occasions and yet never actually won just want that elusive W – not Marquez, though. He is an old school fighter who values pride and respect above all else. And that’s why he has the take no prisoners attitude heading into this one that he absolutely has to have.

He understands the stakes. So does Pacquiao.

This is going to be a great fight.


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Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. Scared of Manny Pacquiao?

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have been discussing a potential Dream Match for three years now. When their talks began, it seemed inevitable that the pair would come to an understanding sooner rather than later and ultimately give the fans what they so desperately wanted.

Seemed is the key word there.

Instead we got legal drama, back-and-forth sniping, and bunch of different fights against an assortment of foes that nobody actually cared about.

Last month, Pacquiao made a pretty big gesture when he offered to give Mayweather 55 percent of the purse from their super fight. Seeing as purse split had been major point of contention between them in the past, this was seen as a somewhat monumental turning point. We’ll see, though. Mayweather hasn't really offered much of a reaction to date.

Earlier today, HBO’s Larry Merchant appeared on ESPN’s First Take and offered his take on all things Pacquiao versus Mayweather. And while a lot of people have obviously weighed in on the topic before, what made Merchant’s opinion all the more interesting is the fact that it a.) came bias free and b.) addressed the question: is Mayweather truly afraid of his Filipino counterpart?

“Mayweather thinks he can defeat Manny Pacquiao, and he would be the favorite leading into that fight should it ever take place. But what Mayweather is more afraid of than anything is getting that ‘L’ on his record,” Merchant said (via Joseph Herron of Eastside Boxing who was cool enough to transcribe the interview).

“He has marketed himself as this undefeated and unbeatable fighter. And to a lot of new boxing and unsophisticated fight fans, this is a big, big deal. To anyone who is familiar with the history of the sport, a single loss has never been a big deal. Because if you fight enough good, young fighters, history tells us that eventually someone’s going to beat you.”

So does that mean Mayweather is scared? According to Merchant – no.

“The problem is not that Floyd’s afraid of Pacquiao, but he does recognize Pacquiao as being the greatest threat to him at this time. So considering the Risk vs. Reward equation, why take a risk fighting a tough style match-up who will demand an equal amount of money, when you can make 40 million dollars fighting a more favorable style match-up who will only demand maybe 3 or 4 million dollars?”

And therein lays a great point. It’s not so much that Mayweather is afraid of getting beat up by Pacquiao (like Miguel Cotto was when they were discussing a rematch), he just doesn’t view the reward as something that is worth the risk. He thinks that the damage a loss would do to his legacy and bank account is greater than the damage not fighting would do. Is he right? Who knows. A fighter’s legacy is determined at the end of his career, not during it.

What do you think: is Mayweather scared of Pacquiao? Or does he simply think that it’s a dumb business move (because of the risks involved) to fight his arch rival? Or is that a distinction without a difference?

(Kudos Eastside Boxing)


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Freddie Roach Acknowledges that Manny Pacquiao Needs to be More Impressive

Manny Pacquiao’s wins and losses record from the past two years doesn’t really tell the whole story. If you just look at the numbers, here is what the Filipino champ’s totals over the past 24 months look like: three wins, one loss. Of course, anyone who actually saw those four fights would tell you that it's not really that simple.

For one thing, Pacquiao absolutely dominated Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley in November of 2010 and May of 2011, respectively. The beating he handed Margarito was so bad, in fact, that Margarito had to be transported to the hospital immediately afterward because there was so much concern about his fractured orbital bone. It never got as gruesome in the Mosley fight – but only because Mosley spent most of it running away from Pacquiao. It was a shameful display, really, but it did go some ways in reaffirming how dominant the champ was at that time.

Unfortunately, things took a turn for the not-so-good last November when Pacquiao accepted a third fight versus his arch rival, Juan Manuel Marquez. Although Manny ultimately emerged from that bout victorious, he did not emerge unscathed. A lot of people felt as though he should have lost the match and, more importantly, his lack of dominance throughout made some fans question whether or not he was beginning to slow down.

This past June, Pacquiao was handed his first defeat in about eight years when a couple of inept judges gave Timothy Bradley an undeserved victory over him. While nobody doubts that Pacquiao deserved to win that match, there is also no denying that he didn’t look as crisp as he used to. He should have knocked Bradley out early. The fact that he didn’t (or couldn’t), says a lot about where he is right now.

During a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, broke down his guy’s upcoming showdown versus Marquez. In doing so, he also acknowledged that Manny needs to make a statement in this one – something he hasn’t done in a very, very long time.

"[Marquez] will be more hittable and not so much a counter-puncher. I think we need a knockout to secure his number one spot in the world. He needs to be impressive and a knockout would be impressive," Roach told Boxing Scene.

"In the first one [Pacquiao] was aggressive in the beginning of that fight. In the second fight we had one knockdown and in the third fight we had none. He just lost that killer instinct. In the first fight he was trying to knock him out, but Marquez is very resilient also. You have to take that factor in also. We need to bring back that killer instinct where he finishes guys like he used to."

He’s right.

One way or another, Pacquiao will send a message with how he performs on Dec. 8. That message will either be that he is still the most dominant pound-for-pounder in boxing today, or that he is passed his prime and needs to retire ASAP.

Which one will it ultimately be? We’ll all find out together in slightly less than two months.

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Freddie Roach Explains Why Manny Pacquiao Chose Juan Manuel Marquez over Timothy Bradley

Manny Pacquiao is a better fighter than Timothy Bradley. Everyone knew that heading into the pair’s June 9 bout, and everyone knew it coming out. Two judges inexplicably ruling that Bradley won a match that he clearly hadn’t won did not change anyone’s perception of either man. All it did, really, was create a terrible excuse for a rematch – a rematch that 99 percent of the boxing world didn’t want to see.

Thankfully, Pacquiao decided against fighting Bradley again this December. When presented with the option of either squaring off against Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time or Bradley a second time, he opted for option No. 1. And while seeing the same fight four times obviously has its drawbacks, most boxing aficionados recognized that this was the best option available.

The one sticking point about Pacquiao’s decision, however, was nobody really knowing why he made it. Whereas the general consensus was that Marquez got the nod because of what a weak pay-per-view (PPV) draw Bradley is, Pacquiao’s advisor, Michael Koncz, fought back against that reasoning. He maintained that Manny made the decision that he made because he wanted to put on the best fight possible for fans.

“It’s all about the fans,” Koncz said last week. “Styles make fights. Manny felt there’s more entertainment value for his fans fighting Marquez rather than Bradley.”

Most fans took that with a grain of salt. Athletes love their fans, sure, but they love their money a lot more. The only thing about fans that Pacquiao and his team contemplated prior to deciding on Marquez was how many of them would be willing to dish out dough for PPVs – not what the best course of action for maximum fan enjoyment would be.

During a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Freddie Roach more or less confirmed that notion.

"[I wanted Pacquiao to face] someone else. To me [Marquez] was the third [choice]. I'd like to get that Bradley [rematch] out of the way and redeem ourselves there and all we need to go is get two new judges," Roach said, admitting that he was hoping for a different Dec. 8 showdown.

"This does [make more business sense]. Bradley sold six tickets last time and he'll sell less next time. That's about [the size] of his audience. That's why we are not fighting him, there's no business [in that fight]. There is no money in that fight.”

And there it is – the Marquez fight is happening because it makes more business sense. Not because it will be more entertaining for the fans. If the situation were reversed and Bradley was a great PPV draw but Marquez would make for the more interesting opponent, who do you think Pacquiao would have selected as his next foe?

Again, it’s fine. We all understand that this is a business. But it would just be nice if these folks didn’t put on an act. Everyone knows what’s what. Everyone knows that money is the most important thing.

Just be honest with the fans – they won’t hold it against you.



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Manny Pacquiao Looks Past Juan Manuel Marquez, Sets Date for Potential Floyd Mayweather Fight

Manny Pacquiao is already looking past his upcoming showdown versus Juan Manuel Marquez and towards a potential super fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Even though the Filipino champion has pledged on numerous occasions not to take his December 8 bout against Marquez lightly, it appears as though he is a lot more confident about it than he may have initially let on.


On Wednesday, Top Rank boss Bob Arum came out and said this in an interview with Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin: “I have talked with Manny and we agreed to hold his fight on April 20.”

Why April? Because, according to Arum, the fight would fit in perfectly between March Madness and the 2013 elections.

While Arum was reluctant to expound on who Pacquiao would fight next year, he did narrow it down by mentioning that Marquez definitely wouldn’t be one of the options.

“Neither fighter wants a fifth fight,” Arum acknowledged.

Understandable. Although, it is worth noting: for all of the gripes and all of the complaining about Pacquiao-Marquez IV being repetitive, tickets for it are being sold at a ridiculous rate. ESPN’s Dan Rafael reported recently that there were only 3,000 remaining...for a fight that’s still two months away.

As far as next April’s showdown – we can all read the writing on the wall at this point. Pacquiao wants Mayweather. The only possible alternatives would be Miguel Cotto and Timothy Bradley, and it’s hard to imagine either one really motivating the champ enough to commit to a fight. If Pacquiao is looking to throw down next year, he’s looking to do it against the only guy out there that’s worth the training and devotion it will require.

Is Pacquiao making a mistake by looking past Marquez? Will he be able to lock Mayweather down for an April showdown?

We’ll find out the answers to both questions soon enough.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: The Floyd Mayweather Factor

Manny Pacquiao’s fourth fight versus Juan Manuel Marquez is significant for a lot of reasons, but perhaps none moreso than the impact it will have on his possible Dream Match versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. You will recall, he and Mayweather have been going back and forth regarding a potential fight since 2010. However, for all the talk, their showdown never really felt like it could realistically happen until just a few weeks ago.


In September, right around the time he announced that he would be fighting Marquez, Pacquiao also extended a pretty huge olive branch to his undefeated arch rival. After the pair struggled to come up with a fair purse split and drug-testing guidelines that they could both agree on for the better part of two years, Pacquiao realized that somebody had to make a concession. Once he realized that, this ultimately wound up happening (via Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports:):

Pacquiao agreed Thursday during appearances on two separate television shows on ESPN to give Mayweather a 55-45 advantage on a financial split should they fight, as the public has been demanding since late 2009. A match between them is expected to be the most lucrative bout in boxing history.

…

The other major hurdle blocking the fight between the two men regarded by many as the two best in the world was Mayweather's demand for Olympic-style drug testing. Initially, Pacquiao balked at the testing. He has since changed his stance and has said repeatedly over the last year he would fully comply with the tests, just as Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz and Miguel Cotto have done in Mayweather's last three fights.

That decision to give Mayweather 55 percent of the split was huge. Huge. Unfortunately, it didn't (and still doesn’t) mean that a super fight is imminent.

One thing still stands in the way: Marquez.

After three consecutive failed attempts at victory, Marquez is coming for blood on this go-round. He will leave every little bit of himself on the canvas this December and, given the success he’s had against the Filipino champ in the past, his ability to do damage should not be taken lightly. If he is ultimately able to avenge his past losses and actually beat Pacquiao, that will kill any and all reason to have a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

Plain and simple – Manny has to emerge victorious in order to pass Go, collect $200 and get a golden ticket to fight his undefeated arch rival. If he doesn’t, this thing won’t happen.

There is going to be a lot on the line when Pacquiao and Marquez meet for the final time. Pride. Respect. Potential retirement. The way each fighter’s career is going to be viewed once they retire.

And, of course, a $100+ million fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Could the stakes possibly be any higher? (Hint: No.)

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: People Care

Nobody wanted to see Manny Pacquiao fight Timothy Bradley again. The pair’s June bout was horrendous in every way imaginable, and that was before it ultimately ended in the Filipino champion getting robbed of a victory that clearly should have been his. From the very first round to the very last round, aside from a few minor hiccups, Pacquiao controlled the action with surprising dominance. Everyone who saw that fight came away with the same conclusion: we don’t need to see a repeat of this massacre.

So, yeah – the general public’s attitude towards that potential rematch was totally understandable. What was less understandable, however, was the apparent reluctance some had regarding a fourth showdown between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Obviously seeing the same fight four times is never ideal – but if any rivalry is worthy of that sort of repetitiveness, it’s most definitely this one. Even though Marquez has never actually earned a victory over his Filipino counterpart, he has kept it a lot closer than any of Pacquiao’s other recent opponents. And, really, there is a very reasonable case to be made that he won the pair’s third fight last November.

Either way, though, regardless of where you come down on who the true winner was last time, the idea of Pacquiao versus Marquez always seemed much more palatable than Pacquiao versus Bradley, or Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto part deux, or Pacquiao versus anyone-not-named-Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It just seemed clear that this was the best fight available. And because it seemed so obvious that this was the case, it was mildly surprising when a bunch of fans voiced their displeasure after it was officially announced.

Well, as it turns out, even though that group was loud, they apparently represented a tiny minority. Overall there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for this December’s showdown – and the event’s ticket sales reflect that assessment. As noted by ESPN’s Dan Rafael:

The tickets for the fight went on sale Friday, and promoter Top Rank announced that 13,000 were sold in the first few days, leaving fewer than 3,000 for a fight that is still more than two months away. If the numbers are legit, that's a big opening sale.

"We are ecstatic with the response," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said of the initial ticket sales.

Numbers don’t lie.

Again, even though this fight may not be ideal, it was the best option available. And seeing as it is actually a really good match-up, too, you can probably expect to hear more headlines just like this about ticket sales and PPV intake doing really, really well.

This fight will deliver in terms of revenue. Now it’s on the fighters involved to do their part and deliver the fans a good return on their money spent.

(Kudos ESPN)

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: What a Difference a Year Makes

Manny Pacquiao will head into his fourth and final showdown versus Juan Manuel Marquez riding something of a cold streak. Last November, in a match-up that a lot of people presumed wouldn’t even be close, he earned a very narrow, very controversial victory over Marquez. Then, this past June, the Filipino champ suffered his first defeat in more than seven years when he fell to Timothy Bradley.

Now, before proceeding, obviously there are certain footnotes from both bouts that need to be addressed.

For instance, even though a lot of people felt as though Pacquiao didn’t deserve his last victory over Marquez, a lot of people of people felt as though he did deserve it, too. There was no general consensus. The stats painted an equally blurry picture. Marquez landed fewer total punches at a higher efficiency, but Pacquiao landed more power punches at a higher efficiency. The Filipino champ also threw more total punches, which does say something about his aggressiveness and tenacity throughout.

On the flip side, Pacquiao’s loss to Bradley left no room for ambiguity. He was robbed – plain in simple. He landed more total punches and more power punches, and he did both at a higher efficiency. There was no justification whatsoever for that end result, regardless of what spin some folks have tried and continue to try to put on the situation.

Either way, though, it doesn’t matter how we got here – we’re here. Nearly a year after heading into his third fight versus Marquez as a heavy favorite, Pacquiao comes into the fourth showdown with a noticeably less impressive odds. (Last time, he was listed anywhere from from -700 to -1200 in some sportsbrooks. This time, he’s at -400.) Obviously events from the past year have eroded the confidence that oddsmakers have in the Filipino champ.

As we’ve learned over the past 12 months, however – nothing is etched in stone. A lot of the same people who wrongly believed that Pacquiao would destroy Marquez last time are now preparing to bury him. Things change that quickly.

Twelve months from now, if he beats Marquez and then maybe Floyd Mayweather Jr., perhaps the same people will anoint him as the greatest of all time again.

That's how this stuff goes.

Pacquiao can change a lot of minds over the next year, but he has to do it starting Dec. 8.

Stay tuned, it’s going to be an interesting ride.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: A Fitting Conclusion

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will be fighting for more than just pride this December. Both men maintain that they are doing this to cement once and for all who the better boxer is, but that’s a relatively miniscule concern given what is actually on the line. Whether these guys realize it or not, whether it gets mentioned at some point or remains unspoken of, Pacquiao and Marquez will be fighting for something far more significant than one additional victory in the wins column on their next go-round.

They’re going to be fighting to keep their careers alive.

Marquez is 39 years old. His run, particularly over the past few years when everyone thought he was washed up, has been remarkable. His fighting style lends itself perfectly to an elongated career because it doesn’t rely too heavily on speed and athleticism, and in a lot of ways it is the perfect antithesis to the way Pacquiao likes to fight his matches.

And yet, despite the fact that he could probably stay in boxing and fight scrubs for moderately handsome paydays over the next few years regardless of how this fight ends, it’s hard to imagine him doing so. He views this fourth and final showdown against his arch rival, the man he feels as though he should have beaten at least once by now, as his final shot at redemption. If he doesn’t get that redemption, it’s hard to envision him coming back for more.

Interestingly enough, during a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Marquez indicated that he may retire if he beats Pacquiao. That, for obvious reasons, it would be the ideal way to go out.

"I want to knock him out. I know I can do it, although I know that it won't be easy. I want to have my hand raised to prove which of us is the better fighter. I've already beaten him three times and had those victories taken from me. A knockout is the only way to take [the decision] from the judges' hands,” he said.

“If that [knockout] happens, it could be the perfect moment [to retire] but we will see what happens.”

It’s impossible to say right now whether Marquez would really quit or not following a Pacquiao win, but it pretty easy to predict what Pacquiao would do in the event of a loss to Marquez – he would hang up his gloves for good. After getting robbed by a couple of inept judges last June, the Filipino champion has very little patience left for the Sweet Science. His focus on politics and various other aspects of his non-fighting career (and his pretty apparent disinterest in training for his matches) have made it abundantly clear that he is looking towards the future.

As it stands, Pacquiao only has two boxing-related items left on his agenda: Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. That’s it. And if he falls to Marquez this December, a showdown versus Mayweather would be effectively dead. There is no way Manny would stick around to fight nobodies if that were to happen – he has better things to do with his time.

And so, while a lot of people weren't and aren’t particularly enthralled with the prospect of seeing Pacquiao and Marquez fight again, the match-up becomes a little more interesting when you understand the stakes. One way or another, once this bout ends, there is a good chance you won’t ever see one of these fighters ever again.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV Odds are Very Telling

Manny Pacquiao beat Timothy Bradley in the pair’s June 9 bout. There is no disputing that. Despite what two inept judges ultimately decided, Pacquiao was and is the rightful winner of that match. That shouldn’t even be debatable at this point.

What does remain debatable, however, is how we should view the Filipino champ after that fight. On one hand, he absolutely dominated Bradley for about 95 percent of the proceedings. He landed more punches (253-159) at a higher percentage (34-19). He landed more power punches (190-108) at a higher percentage (39-28). He landed more punches in more rounds (10-2). By any reasonable measure – Pacquiao fought the better fight.

That said, despite the fact that was clearly the superior boxer throughout, Pacquiao was unable to knock Bradley out. Even when the latter fighter was hobbled and could barely stand, for whatever reason, Pacquiao couldn’t put him away. The Filipino champ hasn’t recorded a knockout since 2009, but it wasn’t until that fateful night three and a half months ago that it really came back to bite him.

And it’s likely that inability to put his overmatched, inferior opponent away that explains why Pacquiao isn’t as heavy a favorite for his upcoming Dec. 8 bout versus Juan Manuel Marquez as he was for their showdown last November.

As noted by  ABS-CBN, Pacquiao is -400 heading into his next match, and Marquez is +300. That’s a far cry from the -700 and +500 they were at, respectively, on their last go-round. Now, obviously the heart that Marquez showed in the pair’s third match has a lot do with that, but Pacquiao’s inability to put Bradley away likely played a part, too.

Pacquiao addressed the need to knock Marquez out at a recent press conference.

"My focus this time is to go for the knockout," Pacquiao said (via Jackson Sun). "I am a good counter-puncher, too. But that makes for a boring fight. I want to make the fight exciting. I don't want the fans to be bored."

But more important than fan attentiveness is the message that Pacquiao sends with a win – if he can get it.

"I need to be more aggressive in this fight," Pacquiao said. "I want a win that isn't close like the last three. It has to be a decisive victory."

The less-than-stellar odds in this one reflect a growing sentiment that Pacquiao is losing whatever it was that made him who he was. He can either dispel that theory in December with a strong showing, or prove it to be true with a weak one.

We’ll find out what’s what soon enough.

(Kudos ABS-CBN)

Manny Pacquiao is Lying About Why He Picked Juan Manuel Marquez over Timothy Bradley

Manny Pacquiao made the right decision when he selected Juan Manuel Marquez over Timothy Bradley as his next opponent. Even though some people initially cringed at the prospect of seeing the same fight for a fourth time, there should be no question that, ultimately, Manny did the best he could with the hand he was dealt.

A quick review of Pacquiao’s last two fights tells you everything you need to know about who the better option was. This past June, against Bradley, Pacquiao landed more total punches and more power punches – and he did both at a greater efficiency. Last November, against Marquez, Pacquiao landed more total punches at a lower efficiency, and more jabs at a lower efficiency.

Whereas you could legitimately make the case for Marquez maybe, possibly having defeated his Filipino counterpart on their last go-round (you could also easily make the case that he didn’t), there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Pacquiao was the rightful winner of his showdown versus Bradley.

And because of that, because he dominated Bradley so handily, Pacquiao made the right call when he chose to fight Marquez for a fourth time this December. There is no denying that – he made the correct decision. He opted for what will undoubtedly be a better fight than Pacquiao versus Bradley part deux would have been.

What is interesting, however, is the reason Pacquiao is offering for his decision. Why is it interesting? Because it’s not true. Here is what his advisor, Michael Koncz, put out there when Bradley’s co-manager (his wife) demanded to know why he didn’t get the nod for Dec. 8.“I’m not sure exactly how she got my number but I just told her, ‘nothing personal. Its business,’” Koncz told the Asian Journal. “I wished for her husband, Tim, to have a safe next fight and there’s always a possibility of a rematch next year.”

That was as close as Koncz got to the truth – the “it’s business” portion. But then he went somewhere entirely different with his answer:

“It’s all about the fans,” said Koncz. “Styles make fights. Manny felt there’s more entertainment value for his fans fighting Marquez rather than Bradley.”

Yeah, that sounds great, but it’s a lie. In the aftermath of their horrendous June bout, Pacquiao came out for at least the first few weeks and said that he wanted a rematch. He knew at that time how awful their fight had been stylistically, he heard his fans complaining about how it wasn’t entertaining at all – and yet he wanted a rematch anyway.

When did he change his tune? Right around the time the official numbers emerged. You know, the numbers that said the difference between fighting Bradley and fighting Marquez is about 500K in PPV intake. That’s why he picked Marquez – money. Marquez is guaranteed to be a far superior PPV draw than Bradley would have been, and everyone knows it.

Look, it’s great that Pacquiao ultimately decided on Marquez. That was the right decision, and it showed that the Filipino champ had some serious guts. Regardless of his motivation, picking the tougher opponent says a lot. That said, boxing fans aren’t stupid. Everyone knows what’s what. There is really no need to be cute when asked why this fight got made – just be honest.It got made because it will make all involved the most amount of money possible.

We know it. They know it. You know it.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV: The Timothy Bradley Effect

Manny Pacquiao’s recent loss to Timothy Bradley wasn’t especially important to fans. They saw it happen, obviously, but nobody actually put much stock into it because they knew the final judgment was a total farce.

Pacquiao landed more punches at a higher efficiency than his counterpart. He was never really thrown off balance at any point during the bout. He absolutely dominated in the final minute of all but two rounds. By any measure you want to use, statistical or otherwise, he was the rightful winner of that match. So when Bradley ultimately got the nod from two inept judges, again, it wasn’t a game-changer in terms of the way that fans viewed Pacquiao.


Fans don’t decide who wins and who loses matches, though.

Pacquiao’s most recent defeat may prove to be a game-changer in the way judges view him. Last November, when he and Juan Manuel Marquez met for the third time, there was a very reasonable case to be made that the latter fighter was the rightful winner. You could argue it either way, obviously, but if what Bradley did could be considered a win – what Marquez diddefinitely should have counted as a win.

The reason Marquez didn’t actually upset Pacquiao is because there is a general underyling theory in boxing that judges usually abide by – you have to beat the champ. You can’t fight just as well as him. It can’t be a tie. If you want his belt, you have to take it from him. Marquez fought reasonably well last November, but he didn’t rip the victory away from Pacquiao. That’s why everyone besides the most diehard of Marquez supporters was okay with the way the bout ended.

Now that someone has actually ruled against Pacquiao, though, everything is different. That little benefit of the doubt that the Filipino champ rode to his last win versus Marquez – that benefit of the doubt is gone now. If Pacquiao wants to avoid a second straight defeat, he has to definitively beat down Marquez. And seeing as he hasn’t recorded a knockout since 2009, that may prove to be sort of difficult.

The most interesting thing to watch for this December will be the sort stamina Pacquiao displays from start to finish. Against Bradley, you couldn’t help but feel as though he wasn’t trying until the final minute of all his rounds because he wasn’t sure he had the energy to go 100 percent throughout. That can’t happen this time around.

Pacquiao can’t leave any room for doubt in this one. To beat Marquez for the third straight time, he needs to account for the Timothy Bradley Effect. He has to go into this one almost expecting the judges to rule against him.

And if this past June was any indication – maybe that expectation isn’t as farfetched as it sounds.

Pacquiao-Marquez IV sells 13,000 tickets on opening weekend

Are people tired of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez? Apparently not, as Top Rank Promotions announced Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) that over 13,000 tickets for the fight had been sold on opening weekend.



Such sales would make the fourth fight between these two boxers "the biggest seller" of their quadrilogy, according to a press release by Top Rank.

"We are ecstatic with the response," said CEO Bob Arum, who also noted that less than 3,000 tickets remain for the fight that will be held on December 8 (December 9, PHL time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Filipino congressman and his Mexican opponent have fought three times over nine years. After a draw during their first bout, the two fought again in 2008, with Pacquiao winning via split decision. In their third bout, Pacman escaped with a controversial majority decision win.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 4: Why Another Rematch Is The Last Thing We Want To Watch

It is being widely reported in the Philippines and in Mexico that Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum will are close to announcing a fourth rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. The fourth fight between the two future boxing hall …

Pacquiao vs Marquez IV Reportedly 'Close' For December

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are reportedly close to making a fourth fight in December. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are in "serious ongoing negotiations," according to a report at BoxingScene.com/ NotiFight.com, with Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions saying that the fight is "close to materializing" for a December date.



The fight would take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on either December 1 or December 8 (it appears November 10 is out for Manny, but will be a Top Rank date anyway), and would be the fourth meeting between the two Hall of Fame-bound living legends. Pacquiao is 2-0-1 officially against Marquez, but each fight has been so razor-thin that it's almost as if neither man has ever had any serious advantage over his rival.

Pacquiao-Marquez IV has seemingly been the fight preferred by Top Rank's Bob Arum, and it just doesn't appear as though there's been much serious thought given to a rematch between Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley. Miguel Cotto's name has also floated around, but I don't see any way that happens at the moment.

Marquez himself says he thinks the fourth fight is going to happen, and also says that he could face Tim Bradley in November if he does not face Pacquiao, but I don't believe that's really likely. After all, if Pacquiao doesn't face Marquez, he'd probably face Tim Bradley.

Pacquiao-Marquez IV is probably a good bit bigger in terms of money than Pacquiao-Bradley II, and that's the main concern for the promoters. If Manny put his foot down and demanded "revenge" against Bradley, I'm sure he'd get that fight, but so far it doesn't seem like that's a huge concern for him, either. And anyway, Bradley would be there next year for a rematch, more likely than not.

So for the moment, it looks like this is the fight that you could bet on happening, and not the Bradley rematch. That could all totally change by tomorrow, as these things often do. Personally, I'm betting on an official announcement during the Chavez Jr vs Martinez fight week in Vegas.