ShareThisMANILA — Filipino eight division champion and still the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer as a World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, said during the November 13 post-fight interview that he is the clear winner over another Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico at the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao said that his triumph was beyond cavil — “He is a counterpuncher and I caught his punches. I have no doubt about winning over him.”
President Aquino, Senate and House of Representatives leaders immediately hailed Pacquiao for his victory and honor for the country.
Pacquiao is right, after all, the three judges Robert Hoyle scored it 114-114 (draw), while David Moretti had it 115-113 and Glenn Trowbridge 116-112 in his favor to merit a unanimous decision.
The judges were closest to the ring action and called it fair and square even if other people disagreed with their judgment.
The 32-year old Sarangani Congressman’s claim is backed up by a computer box score that says the world boxing icon threw 578 punches and landed 117 while connecting more with 304 jabs. The 38-year old Marquez, on the other hand, threw 254 punches with a paltry hit of 100 and 182 jabs landing with 38.
Marquez bitterly stormed out of the venue when ring announcer Michael Buffer declared that Pacquiao is the title winner, saying that he was robbed the second time around and does not know anymore what to do to win the judges’ nod.
Sure, the Mexican was in the fight most of the time but he was also too cautious and let Pacquiao carry the fight for both of them. Since he is the challenger, he should have been the aggressor in the trilogy but he kept waiting for the Filipino champion to come to him.
The verdict did not sit well with the crowd that roundly booed the announcement. Some Mexican fans shouted, that Pacquiao is a loser and threw bottles and cans toward the ringside in the belief that their countryman is the real victor.
Blame all the confusion and controversy to the reams of pre-fight hype for both fighters and high expectation on Pacquiao’s ability to knock down or knockout his opponent within six or seven rounds as predicted by Freddie Roach days before the face off.
Bettors and bookmakers knew that Pacquiao would win, hence, they placed their money on what round Marquez would fall to the canvass.
Unfortunately, many bets costing hundreds to thousands or millions of dollars went down the drain — causing much bitterness and anger over the idea that Pacman did not land his killer punches; instead, it was Marquez who seemed to have outperformed himself.
Pacquiao admitted over GMA 7 that he had a tough time against Marquez since their 2002 and 2008 meetings. Of course, Mexico’s Dinamita studied the Filipino icon well and formed a strategy that would save him from getting hurt.
Though both fighters have grown older, Pacquiao’s camp may have underestimated the changes and style which his enemy molded to counterpunch him, something which he has learned after encountering and losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
If it’s true that Marquez said that boxing is just a matter of style, then he was successful in some ways versus the world’s most popular boxer.
Call it bad luck for Marquez but he has met his nemesis in Pacman. They have fought closely for three times and he lost them all, although he claims he was “robbed.”
Many people also don’t understand why Pacquiao had an easy time beating bigger, taller, talented, skilled and popular boxers like Ricky Hatton and Oscar dela Hoya, yet he was never able to make Marquez, who is about his size kiss the canvass.
Someway, somewhere in time, there comes a person’s nemesis whom he can’t beat because it’s a part of one’s karma. The two souls could have been in the same situation before and they’re facing each other for closure.
Some people said they could see the ruse — Pacman’s inability to land killer punches, bit of slowing down and seeming lack of pep should lure out Mayweather in May 2012 to battle the embattled Filipino boxing hero.
That could be a sign for shrewd promoter Bob Arum to prepare for the battle of the century which might as well be the biggest earner at the tills if ever the undefeated Mayweather risks his clean slate against Pacman.
At least, Marquez should be happy that he has a guaranteed prize of US$ 5 million in the trilogy — the biggest paychek in his career. Had he won, would he be able to attract fans the way Pacman does? For sure, Arum would not be happy with him as the champion.
Pacquiao stands to earn somewhere between US$ 22-30 million, excluding his share in the fight pay-per-view. As long as the well-liked and crowd-drawer Pacman is around, boxing would have a reason to keep on growing global.
The Senate is set to hand a commendation Pacquiao.
Senate committee on youth sports chairman Senator Manuel Lapid filed a resolution commending Pacquiao’s retention of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against his archrival from Mexico.
Senator Panfilo Lacson promised to sign the resolution while appealing to the boxing fans not to put Pacquiao down over what others believed as questionable victory for the Filipino fighter.
”Yes I will sign. Though it’s controversial, he is still our countryman. He won by majority decision and we should support him. This might not be a convincing win, but we should not put him down,” Lacson said.
Lacson said many have questioned the judges’ verdict and the performance of Pacquiao because of too high expectation that Pacquiao would knockout Marquez in the early rounds.
”We’re disappointed because Pacquiao failed to meet our expectation. But be that as it may, I think the three judges did not commit mistake,” Lacson said.
Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto agreed with Lacson that too many people were not happy with the result because of “too much media hype.”
”The camp of Pacquiao predicted that there will be knockout in the first up to sixth round but after three rounds the opponent seems leading and that’s why there was controversy,” Sotto said.
Sotto admitted that Marquez was tough opponent, showing huge improvement when he fought Pacquiao for the third time.
”Marquez was not sluggish, he is counter-puncher, fast and can absorb Pacquiao’s punches. The only problem was the press release that Pacquiao will score knockout,” Sotto said.
Despite the questionable result, Senate majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Pacquiao “is still one of the greatest fighters in boxing history.”
”We should remember that every fight there is varied opinion and this time Marquez was able to study well Pacquiao’s style but it does not make him less of a fighter. Even the statistics show that Pacquiao is the real winner,” Cayetano said.
”The problem is that we had raised our expectations so high in the last few days since almost all of the analysts said that it would be easy for Marquez and that is why most got disappointed with the result,” Cayetano said.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, on the other hand, believed that Marquez won the fight.
Marquez claimed he was robbed with victory, considering hanging his gloves.
Members of the House of Representatives congratulated their colleague Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said the rematch proved Pacquiao is indeed stronger and better than the Mexican boxer.
“His (Pacquiao) power punches that had devastating effect on Marquez showed he is the real winner. The judges saw this and convinced them to vote for Pacquiao. Congratulations Manny for another victory,” he said.
Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado said the victory of the “Pambansang Kamao” was based on the majority decision of the judges which every one must accept and respect.
“We are truly glad and proud of Manny’s latest victory. He delivered strong punches and showed great speed and stamina that outclassed Marquez. Critics should realize it was the judges who ruled in favor of Manny. Pacquiao tunay na Pilipino. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” said Mercado, chairman of the House committee on transportation.
For his part, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, said that once again Pacquiao gave honor and pride to the country by beating his long-time rival Marquez.
“Manny trained hard for the rematch, and his victory showed how well-prepared he was. We shall await his homecoming in Congress where proper recognition shall be given him,” he said.
Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said Pacquiao’s victory proved he remains the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the number one fighter in the welterweight division.
“Manny successfully defended his welterweight belt from Marquez. He may not have knocked out Marquez, but Manny was able to outperform and beat him. We salute you Manny for another great victory,” said Romualdo, vice chairman of the House committee on justice.
On the other hand, Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus said Pacquiao emerged the winner after delivering a more solid performance than Marquez which the judges acknowledged in their crucial decision.
Boxing enthusiasts from around the globe, including Filipinos, have expressed doubts over Pacquiao’s victory, saying it was Marquez who performed better.
Scoreboards, however, favored Pacquiao, who retained his WBO title via majority decision.
“Manny won through the help of our prayers, and of course through his own effort and determination. The judges were keen enough to see that his power punches had more intensity and impact than those delivered by Marquez,” said Lapus, vice chairman of the House committee on accounts.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier said that Pacquiao’s third fight against Marquez proved the Pambansang Kamao “is indeed the better boxer in this WBO Welterweight title match.”
“Everyone saw it was a tough battle, but again, Manny prevailed by majority decision. Congratulations to Manny, his family and the Filipino people for another victory,” he said.