18.06.08 – by James Slater: It is interesting that following their terrific fight at super-featherweight back in March, both the winner, Manny Pacquiao and the very close loser, Juan Manuel Marquez, chose to make the move up to lightweight. “Pac-Man” takes on David Diaz for the WBC 135 pound title on June 28th, while Marquez takes on Joel Casamayor in a battle that will decide the WBO interim championship at lightweight on September 13th..
Could it be, that should both greats win their respective bouts, there will be a Pacquiao-Marquez III? Maybe that’s what the Mexican, who boxed a draw with the Filipino before losing a split decision to him in fight two, is hoping will be the case. It’s likely a number of fight fans will be hoping for the very same thing. A third Pacquiao-Marquez clash, at any weight, would result in a great fight.
Sadly, however, this doesn’t seem to be the route Pacquiao will be taking. Talks are already afoot for Manny to make yet another move north after he gets past Diaz (if he gets past him). The light-welterweight ranks, as amazing as it may seem, are where “Pac-Man” intends on going after having had a quick tenure at lightweight. Still nothing is set in concrete, and should both Manny and Juan Manuel win their fights at lightweight the two could meet again at 135. Money, as is almost always the case, will talk. Should it be that Pacquiao is offered an amount of cash he will not be able to turn down, he would certainly box Marquez for a third and final time. It sure would be great if things turned out this way.
But first Marquez has to get past the tough old veteran that is Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor on September the 13th in Las Vegas. This will be no easy fight for the 34-year-old Mexican. Two years the younger man he may be, but “Dinamita” will be moving up to Joel’s natural weight class. It’s unlikely Casamayor’s southpaw stance will trouble Marquez – after all, Pacquiao is a lefty and Marquez almost beat him twice. But Marquez may have problems with the Cuban’s reach advantage, craftiness, ability to sometimes fight a little dirty and his underrated punching power. The sharp punching Marquez has more KO’s than does Casamayor, but the southpaw is capable of catching his opponents with sneaky and hurtful shots from both sides. Indeed, both men are superb counter punchers – two of the very best in the sport.
And although many felt his career was winding down after his truly awful showing against another Mexican in Jose Armando Santa Cruz last November, “El Cepillo” proved the doubters wrong in his last fight when he ruined Michael Katsidis’ perfect record. The 36-year-old looked great once again in that fight, which took place one week after Pacquiao-Marquez II. If he’s as good again in September, it will be a long night for Marquez as he makes his lightweight debut.
In what will probably be a distance fight, and a very engrossing one at that, I see a fight that really could go either way. A draw would not surprise me, either.
Have Pacquiao and Marquez made the right decision in moving up to lightweight? We will soon see!