Sometimes two boxers are so great that it’s hard to determine the better fighter. Not only does this make for exciting head-to-head bouts but it’s also great for discussions and rivalries.
Not many boxing fights are as enthralling as those between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez. This pairing has certainly been one of the best rivalries to capture the imagination of boxing fans in recent years. Let’s take a look at why this rivalry exists so prominently.
Who were Pacquiao and Márquez ?
Manny Pacquiao, nicknamed Pac-Man, was a Filipino boxer who fought in Southpaw style. Juan Manuel Márquez, a Mexican nicknamed ‘Dinamita’ or Dynamite, was an orthodox-style boxer.
After his boxing career, Pacquiao served as a senator of the Philippines for six years. His boxing career saw him take part in 72 fights, of which he won 62.
Márquez, on the other hand, fought 64 fights and won 56 of them. He fought in four weight classes, being the third Mexican boxer to do so.
Complementary styles
The reason these two made the betting news so often is because their boxing styles complemented one another. Both had an aggressive approach and aimed for one thing only: to get the other one down onto the canvas.
For Pacquiao, his non-stop movement and continual aggression highlighted his love for the sport. He was an explosive fighter who had a wide (and deadly) left hook. Márquez, on the other hand, showcased the fighting spirit of his native Mexico. He was a counterpuncher who knew how to mix things up. With brutal punches, he brushed many opponents to one side.
Their first fight
When Pacquiao and Márquez first met, Márquez was knocked to the ground three times during the first round. Pacquiao’s feisty style meant he was relentless in his attempts to knock Márquez out, but Márquez recovered well and the fight resulted in a draw. Many of Márquez’s fans weren’t pleased.
The second fight and the start of the rivalry
2008 saw Pacquiao and Márquez meet for a second time in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. Pacquiao later declared that it had been his most difficult fight since their first meeting four years earlier. There was a split decision that was edged by Pacquiao. However, one judge scored Márquez 115-112. This meant the boxer felt robbed simply because he wasn’t as popular and wasn’t as interesting to watch in the ring. Many fans also agreed. This marked the start of the rivalry between the pair.
Márquez felt he was the underdog who needed to overcome the underlying bias, while Pacquiao felt determined to prove he was the better fighter.
The third fight
By their third meeting in the ring, Pacquiao had proved himself as a free-flowing, action-packed sensation. He was one of the most popular boxers of his time. However, Márquez was unfazed. The fight that ensued was one of the closest titles matches ever. Pacquiao was strong to start and demonstrated excellent movement and fast feet with consistency. Márquez, on the other hand, fought with aggressive strikes.
The middle rounds saw Márquez begin to edge into the lead, aided by a huge right during the fifth round. This was followed immediately by an upper cut then a right cross, which were timed perfectly. The ninth round saw both fighters trading blows, though most people had Márquez to win. However, Pacquiao took the majority decision, which was booed loudly by the crowd in Las Vegas. This set the scene for their fourth and final fight as rivals.
Fight four of four
When Márquez and Pacquiao met for the final bout of their careers, it was not disappointing. The news before the fight was full of predictions for the heavily-anticipated fight. This bout became the round, knockout and fight of the year, with were more than one million buys on pay-per-view. The fight was incredible, and it matched their previous meetings in lots of ways.
The first rounds saw Pacquiao grow in confidence and become more aggressive. But Márquez responded with grace and used his counter-punching strengths to claw back. He managed to drop Pacquiao for the first time by landing some aggressive body punches.
At the start of the sixth round, Pacquiao was controlling the fight. Márquez had a broken and bleeding nose and Pacquiao aimed for the knockout. As the round entered its final 10 seconds, Márquez saw an opportunity and landed a clean blow, flooring the champion. This stunning, sixth-round knockout saw him take the coveted WBO Champion of the Decade belt, putting their rivalry to bed forever.
