By Alan ‘Wozza’ Wass: Before Saturday’s big fight, many believed that Manny Pacquiao had outgrown Juan Manual Marquez in many ways. We might have jumped the gun a little on that one. Although we can’t say that Manny struggled on Saturday night because he did virtually win every round, but his performance wasn’t quite as explosive or impressive as the ones that went before.
Juan Manual Marquez must be licking his lips with what he saw. There have been many opinions on why Pacquiao was so subdued such as the documented leg cramps or maybe over-training, but in actuality it was probably more to do with a combination of those things and Shane’s subtle movements to the left all night, which if true also bodes well for Marquez. The old cliché ‘styles make fights’ is probably close to the mark and more apparent when two of boxing’s elite (or former elites in Mosley’s case) meet in a bout.
I, for one, always thought that Marquez might still give Manny a hernia because of those style differences regardless of how the Filipino has obviously improved since their last encounter in 2008.
One thing that could benefit Marquez, and also cause his downfall, is that he will stand there in front of Pac and try to effectively counter-punch and put him on the back foot, which is Marquez’ forte. This however, will leave him wide open for Pac, but perhaps the only way Marquez can win the fight. Let’s face it, apart from Cotto, Pacquiao’s last few opponents were plodders who came to him straight on, just how he likes it!
Don’t get me wrong, Pacman might just march straight through Marquez and do what he did to him in the first round of their first fight, but finish him off this time. I’m not too sure though, and still believe Juan Manual Marquez has got enough to make this fight interesting and maybe he can still back the Filipino up and move his head out the way of Pac’s straight left like the adjustments he made in their first two encounters.
Marquez still has one last hurrah in him I’m sure, but will he still have enough in the tank to dictate the pace of the fight? This will be the defining question that can only be answered by these two great facing each other for the third and final time. Aside from a fight with Mayweather or Martinez, a bout with Marquez is probably the only interesting and meaningful fight left for the legendary Filipino before he retires. Let’s hope one of those three fights materialize.
For more articles from Alan ‘Wozza’ Wass, please visit my blog at www.wozzasworld.com.