Pacquiao-Marquez bout draws split opinions

Monday, November 14, 2011
MANILA — Boxing personalities and fans all over the Philippines were split on their opinion of Manny Pacquiao’s close majority decision win over archenemy Juan Manuel Marquez Sunday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unlike in Pacquiao’s past 14 straight victories, many watching his fight fell silent at the end of his bout. Some erupted in cheers of relief when the Pacman’s arms were raised in triumph, while others were disappointed of the outcome.
In Cebu, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, who saw the action live in Las Vegas, felt that the third encounter was too close to call like the first two meetings between two of the best pugilists of their era. He, however, was convinced that the judges’ decision was fair.
“It was a close fight from where I sat at the MGM. It could go either way. Marquez threw clean shots but Pacquiao was the aggressor and threw more combinations. Marquez just waited to counter. It was Manny that took the fight to Marquez and being the champion, he deserves the win. In boxing, if you are the challenger, you have to be the aggressor. To me, it was a close fight. If you put the marbles together, Manny deserved the win. It was the noisiest boxing crowd I’ve ever watched more than (Floyd) Mayweather vs (Oscar) de la Hoya. The atmosphere was tremendous,” the Cebuano promoter told Sun.Star Cebu.
Renowned ALA Gym trainers, the Villamor brothers, Edito and Edmund, were convinced that Pacquiao deserved the victory because he was more aggressive and threw more punches, while Marquez, who landed the clearer blows, was satisfied with counterpunching.
“Pacquiao won in a very close fight. Marquez was waiting all the time. I think the judges saw it for Pacquiao because he was throwing more punches, while Marquez was just contented in landing single shots,” said Edito, who watched the fight live with the marquee boxers of ALA Promotions at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City.
“Manny clearly won it. In the first 10 rounds, it was even but Manny got the 11th and 12th rounds because he was more aggressive. Marquez’s style was ugly. Manny should face Mayweather next because that is the fight that the people want,” said Edmund.
World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, world-rated AJ Banal and undefeated Genesis Servania also believe that Pacquiao clearly won the fight and should face Mayweather Jr. next.
“Pacquiao won that fight. The decision of the judges was okay. If I was Pacquiao, I won’t give Marquez a rematch. Marquez kept on running. Pacquiao should face Mayweather,” said Nietes.
“I believe Manny won that fight. Marquez was just counterpunching unlike their previous fights, wherein he was aggressive. He just countered and didn’t follow it up. There shouldn’t be a rematch and Manny should face Mayweather,” said Banal.
“For me, Pacquiao really won the fight. Marquez always ran and made it boring. I believe there shouldn’t be a rematch,” said Servania.
On the other hand, highly ranked flyweight Milan Melindo and retired former ALA star Z Gorres thought that Marquez did enough to deserve a close victory over the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world, while former world title challenger Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista saw the mega fight even.
“It was hard to decide. If you based it on aggressiveness, Pacquiao won because he was more aggressive. However, people didn’t see that Marquez was landing the clearer shots. For me I think Marquez won,” Melindo said.
“I think Marquez won but it was a very close fight. There should be a rematch so that there would be closure on who really won,” said Gorres.
“I’m confused. Marquez had the solid punches. I think it was a draw. It was too close to call. I think there should be a rematch,” said Bautista.
Lawmakers in Manila also have different opinions regarding the fight.
For House Speaker Belmonte, “everyone saw it was a tough battle, but again, Manny prevailed by majority decision.”
The House leader said the victory was a win not just for Pacquiao and his family, but also for the Filipino people.
Pacquiao retained his WBO Welterweight crown in his third fight with Marquez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The three judges scored the fight 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 in favor of him.
Pacquiao improved his record to 54 wins, with three losses, two draws and 38 knockouts. Marquez, meanwhile, dropped to 53-6-1 with 39 KOs.
Belmonte, who commended Pacquiao for his victory, said, “In his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, our colleague Manny Pacquiao has proven he is indeed the better boxer in this WBO Welterweight title match.”
President Benigno Aquino III, who is currently in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader’s Summit, shared the same view, as he congratulated and praised the Pacman for his determination.
“Congratulations @Manny Pacquiao! Ipinagmamalaki ka ng buong Pilipinas!” the President said in his Twitter account.
“Kaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino, malugod kong binabati si Congressman Manny Pacquiao sa kanyang matagumpay na pagdepensa sa WBO Welterweight belt laban kay Juan Manuel Marquez sa Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,” he said.
“Sa kanilang ikatlong paghaharap ni Marquez, muling ipinamalas ni Manny ang tatag at lakas ng Pinoy sa buong mundo. Taos-puso tayong nagpapasalamat kay Manny sa walang-humpay niyang paghahatid ng karangalan para sa bayan,” he added.
The President hoped for the immediate recovery of Pacquiao. He also wished that the lawmaker would continue to inspire Filipinos not only in boxing but also in public service.
The country’s military chief General Eduardo Oban also praised the 32-year-old Pacquiao, but said he expected a better ending.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for his part, said the match between Pacquiao and Marquez left “no clear winner.”
Marcos, on his Twitter account, said statistics of the fight — as well as a majority decision — showed Pacquiao was the better boxer, but that as a spectator, “I thought we lost it.”
“Had it been Marquez defending the title and with the same stature as Pacquiao, the fight could have gone his way,” he said. “As much as we love Manny, it was far from convincing.”
For Senator Pia Cayetano, “Manny will always be the People’s Hero. But like any athlete, we always want a decisive win.”
Local showbiz names also congratulated Pacquiao for the win.
“@iamsuperbianca: We all love #pacman and happy he won. Marquez did great in that fight,” tweeted television host Bianca Gonzales.
Actor Luis Manzano also posted: “@luckymanzano: manny fought his heart out, he did not know how the judges scored… After all the opinions have been said, our flag is still raised, be proud.”
Several celebrities cheered with Pacquiao in Las Vegas Sunday, with Eddie Gutierrez, Annabelle Rama and daughter Ruffa Gutierrez spotted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Also spotted at the venue are celebrity doctor Vicky Belo and daughter Cristalle Henares, Hayden Kho and comedian Benjie Paras.
Kapuso stars and real life couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes also flew to Las Vegas to watch the much-anticipated fight.
Azkals players Neil Etheridge, Anton del Rosario, Rob Gier, Jason Sabio and Nate Burkey also witness the boxing match live.
But while Pacquiao failed to impress some of his Filipino fans, his townmates think he deserves a grand hero’s welcome.
Officials in Sarangani province and General Santos City, where streets were largely deserted as people stayed in their homes to watch the fight, have prepared this early a hero’s welcome for the Pacman.
Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said the hero’s welcome is set on November 25, in time for the opening of the province’s Munato Festival.
Dominguez lauded Pacquiao for his performance in what he deemed as a close fight.
“Manny won a very close decision bringing pride once again to all Filipinos,” the governor said. “Two great fighters proved themselves and Manny prevailed.”
Avel Manansala, General Santos government media liaison officer, said a grand hero’s welcome will also be feted by the City Government for Pacquiao, who owns mansions and several businesses in the locality.
Manansala said they will arrange with the camp of the boxing champion the details of the grand welcome.
Pacquiao, with his victory Sunday, kept his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown. He earned $22 million for the fight, while Marquez got $5 million, the biggest paycheck in his boxing career.
In an interview after the fight, Pacquiao said his fans are happy “because they thought I won.”
Asked if he will face Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year, Pacquiao said: “Let’s get it on. Let’s make this fight happen.”
However, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said next year is still far. “We might bring this fight (against Marquez) again for the fourth time.”
Pacquiao, for his part, said: “Anytime. I’m a fighter. My job is to fight.”
The Pacman had to finish strong in earning the nod of the two judges after Marquez mounted a serious challenge right from the opening bell.
Just like in the previous two fights, Marquez was effective with his counter punching and had Pacquiao’s numbers several times in the fight.
Ringside punch stats showed just how evenly matched they were in this contest: Pacquiao was credited with landing 176 of 578 punches, while Marquez landed 138 of 436.
The power punches were even closer, with Pacquiao connecting on 117 and 100 for Marquez — though the Mexican seemed to land the harder punches. Still, the Filipino boxer defeated Marquez in the end.
“This was the second robbery and this one was the worst,” Marquez said. “We won with cleaner punches.”
Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in their first fight back in 2004. In the second encounter three years ago, Pacquiao escaped with a split decision win. (EKA of Sun.Star Cebu/CRAM and BSS of Sun.Star Davao/Jonathan de Santos/Jill Beltran/Glaiza Jarloc/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/14/pacquiao-marquez-bout-draws-split-opinions-190432

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