By Jimmy Ayash

PAC / Marquez – Four Historic Fights

Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez is by far my favorite Trilogy. All four of their fights were not only historic and action packed and amazing to watch, but all four were there own special events. Both of these gladiators trained and trained and gave everything they had.

Pacquiao Marquez l, May 8, 2004

Marquez came out in the first round and walked forward, naturally the bigger man, he came ready for War. He got some very good hard punches in early as he tried to set the tone. But Pacquiao’s speed and straight left hand caught Marquez by surprise and knocked him down. Marquez not only got knocked down three times in the first round but he took some very vicious hard shots in the last 45 seconds of the 1st round and surprised many he survived the first round.

Referee Joel Cortez did a terrific job of officiating. The fight was amazing with boxing eyes seeing different things transpired during the fight. The first fight ended in a draw but many people don’t know that It was actually by accident as judge Clements accidentally scored the fight a draw because he recorded a 10-7 round for Pacquiao instead of a 10-6 round in the first round, he apologized and admitted he made the mistake the next day.

Remembering that there was three knock downs in the first round this is how the scorecard’s read, 115-110 pac (Judge Stewart gave Pac 7 rounds & Marquez 5), 113-113 (Judge Clements gave Marquez 7 rounds & PAC 5 rounds), 110-115 (Judge Jutras has Márquez winning 10 rounds and PAC only 2). So there are many different perspectives on the fight. I thought that Marquez outboxed Pacquiao and beat him but a draw was fair. If anyone ever asks why they call boxing the Sweet Science, have them watch PAC/Marquez l.

Pacquiao Marquez ll, March 15, 2008

Almost 4 years after there first fight, these two warriors fought again in Vegas with Kenny Bayless as the third man in the ring.

In their second fight after watching video and making adjustments they both went to war again (just like in the NBA championships after one team loses they go back to the tape and make adjustments and come back and win the second game).

Both fighters vowed after the first fight, that the second fight would be clear cut and they would win. It was another great fight with some believing Marquez outboxing Manny. The 10th round changed all that when Pacquiao caught Marquez with a very powerful left hand punch (great power). Marquez somehow someway got back up and finish the round.

Both fighters landed big in the Championship rounds as we put another great fight in the books. Pacquiao won by split decision 115-112, 112-115, 114-113.

Pacquiao Marquez lll, November 12, 2011

Three years and eight months after the second fight they fought a third time and again both vowed that this would be the fight to end all the unanswered questions of who really is better. And boy were those fights legendary and edge of your seat.

What an amazing time to be a boxing fan. Watching Manny Pacquiao in his prime be as quick and explosive and powerful as any boxer in history (quickest straight left hand in boxing) against maybe the smartest boxer of our generation, Juan Manuel Marquez the astonishing counterpuncher (Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker was arguably the smartest boxer, but Marquez’s counterattack went to a new level).

Both fighters taking the best the other dished out. Tony Weeks refereed the third fight and Pacquiao won this time by Majority Decision, much to the crowds dismay, you heard almost the whole arena Boo. Scores were 115-113, 114-114 & 116-112.

After three spectacular fights that will go down in history as some of the greatest. It seemed like we had no answer to who the better man was, Half the fans believe Marquez’s counterpunching and pinpoint accuracy scored more and the other half thought Pacquiao’s power punching and stay busy aggressiveness was better.

Pacquiao Marquez lV, December 8, 2012

Eight years and 7 months to the day they started there epic trilogy these two warriors that will be forever linked (even though on there own they still go down as one of the best ever) fought a 4th time. Pacquiao showed his youth by being very aggressive and showing a lot of energy. Marquez landed a strong over the top right that send Pacquiao down in the third round (first time Pacquiao went down in the trilogy).

The fifth round was One of the greatest boxing rounds you’ll ever see. Pacquiao landed a straight left hand that floored Marquez, Marquez got up and continued to fight and landed some good shots of his own, towards the end of the round, Pacquiao landed a right hook that staggered Marquez and broke his nose.

In the 6th round Pacquiao went after a bloodied Marquez and actually had Marquez in some very serious trouble. It was the moment that Pacquiao had been waiting for (for a long long time), he had Marquez right where he wanted him and he went in relentless for the kill. The weary Marquez was able to take the punishment as he has showed a chin of steel throughout his career, and then out of nowhere quicker than the eye can blink, A counter right hand punch by Marquez that knocked Manny Pacquiao out cold. After referee Kenny Bayless made sure Marquez went to a corner, he didn’t even count.

Manny Pacquiao was out cold for over two minutes and there was a lot of concerned until he finally awoke. And just like that Marquez shocked all the fans watching with a very clear ending to an amazing trilogy.

It is funny because even though I believe Marquez had out-boxed Manny Pacquiao in the trilogy, fans who thought Pacquiao won the earlier fights make some excellent points. For example, one fan was telling me that PAC was just being too careless and too aggressive in fight number four and if he just was a little bit more patient he would never have eaten that huge counter punch, and quite honestly that does make sense, as you can tell in his later fights, he was more careful not to get caught going in to wild. Pacquiao has tried multiple times to lure Marquez into the ring for a fifth fight. Marquez has insisted that the trilogy was over and that fight would be his legacy, but I believe truthfully that he may have out priced himself out of a 5th fight. He had earned the right to ask for what he thought he deserved, but rumor has it, he might have asked for $20 million to fight PAC again. Bob Arum (Manny Pacquiao’s promoter) wasn’t going to pay that.

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will forever be linked for the Remarkable Trilogy they had.

The Trilogy may perhaps be argued for generations to come on who the better man was. Pacquiao vs Marquez is nothing short of extraordinary and you can make the argument that their first fight was the greatest fight of all time.