Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III Fight Preview and Pick to Win
When: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV:PPV at 9:00 p.m. EST
Weight Class: WBO Welterweight Title (Catchweight: 144 pounds): 12 Rounds
By Scotty L, Boxing Handicapper, Predictem.com
Manny Pacquiao, 53-3-2 (38 KOs), General Santos City, Philippines, WBO Welterweight Champion VS. Juan Manuel Marquez, 53-5-1 (39 KOs), Mexico City, Mexico, World Lightweight Champion
Betting Odds:Manny Pacquiao (-800), Juan Manuel Marquez (+500)
Over/Under:Over 10.5 (+105), Under 10.5 (-145)
Fight Analysis:On November 12, boxings top superstar Manny Pacquiao takes on the only man who has been competitive with him in recent yearsthe great Juan Manuel Marquez. The Mexican is the only fighter who has been competitive with Pacquiao recently. A look at the odds suggests most people do not think Marquez can duplicate his performances from their first two encounters.
Their first fight saw Pacman drop Marquez 3 times in the first round. He was a hair from making this rivalry a non-issue, before Marquez stormed back to salvage a draw. Their second fight was another close one, with a knockdown providing Pacquiao an edge in a split decision win. Those fights were in 2004 and 2008 and many things have changed, namely, the physical stature of Manny Pacquiao.
Their first fight was at featherweight, with their 2008 encounter taking place at 130 pounds. We now know that between the two, Pacquiao is a little better at carrying the extra weight. While he is further establishing his legend at welterweight poundage, Marquez has been left behind. Nothing against Marquez, as not every fighter can hop divisions as well as Pacquiao.
This fight will be held at 144 pounds, which should suit Pacquiao. Marquez has been a top featherweight/lightweight for a long time and at 38, is still the top 135-pounder in the world. At 18 years at those weights, he has never been conclusively beaten, His only clear-cut loss was another 144-pound catchweight boutagainst Floyd Mayweather. In that fight, Marquez was out of his depth and didnt seem to win a single round.
There lies the reason why a fighter who still appears to have it would be such a big underdog to a man he fought twice before on nearly even terms. One has to figure that Marquez still has the ability and style that gives Pacquiao problems, but can he make it work at this weight? Marquez was 35 when he made the jump to 135. You could even say hes a slightly blown-up featherweight. Now hes being asked to go to welterweight to take on the best fighter in the worldquite a tall order.
Another facet working against Marquez in a big way is the late-career improvement of Pacquiao. He is a drastically improved manifestation of the fighter Marquez met in 2004 and significantly better than even the 2008 version. Whereas Marquez has admirably retained his greatness, Pacquiao took it to another level. His defense is better, he uses both hands to greater affect, and he has somehow managed to carry his power into the higher weight classes.
Underdog players inclined to back Marquez are not without justification. From a value standpoint, you cant scoff at a 5-1 underdog who many feel deserved one, if not both, of the decisions from their first two fights. Can 10-15 pounds difference really cancel out the stylistic problems Marquez presents to Pacquiao? Sure, Marquez is 38 and looked terrible in his only other welterweight appearance, but that was the only fight where he really showed his age and Mayweather is a very different fighter than Pacquiao. Its not such a bad case, actually.
The feeling here, though, is that the weight issue and Pacquiaos development into a more complete fighting force will allow Manny to create a little more distance from Marquez this time around. The Mexican legend will always give Pacman problems with his cerebral boxing style, but the explosiveness of Pacquiao will be more pronounced than in their first two fightsenabling him to catch the attention of judges with the more compelling work.
Scotty’s Prediction to Win the Fight:Pacquiao should win, but there is only so much we can do with a 800 line. For value, taking a stab with Marquez isnt such a bad idea. Maybe we should look at the over/under. At this weight, Pacquiao still hits very hard, but his last 4 fights all went into the 12thround. Marquez has never shown anything but great durability in his career. One could suppose that if there is a time for Marquez chin to betray him, it would be at welterweight poundage against a guy who has already dropped him 4 times in 2 fights.
With Marquez being such a surgical counterpuncher who greatly troubled Pacman with that style in 2 previous fights, maybe Manny will opt for a more measured approach. In any event, I see this fight going late.Take +105 on this fight going over 10.5 rounds.
