Pacquiao taken to limit by Marquez LAS VEGAS, NV (BDCi) – It wasn’t the dominating victory that boxing fans are accustomed to seeing from the 7-time champion, but in the end Manny Pacquiao regained his welterweight title with a 12-round majority decision over 3rd-time contender Juan Manuel Marquez. The 38-year-old Marquez’ “counterpunching” boxing style performed exceptionally well once again against the kinetic, aggressive power-punching Pacquiao. Even though Marquez was a 9-1 underdog, he nearly beat the Filipino champion on the judges’ scorecards. One judge scored the bout a tie 114-114, while the other two held narrow advantages for Pacquiao, 115-113 and 116-112. Even though Pacquiao landed more punches per Compubox, the effectiveness of Marquez’ hard-hitting counterpunches kept the fight very close on points. There were no knockdowns, in this the 3rd fight, between the boxers, but Pacquiao did sustain a cut over his right eye as a result of a head butt that happened after an exchange of punches in the 10th round. All attention now is on a rumored showdown with undefeated 5-time champion Floyd Mayweather, some time in May 2012. When asked by commentator Max Kellerman after the fight about the “dream” fight, Pacquiao said “Bring it on. Let’s do it…make a fight happen.” Pacquiao would likely be the underdog in a Mayweather battle as Mayweather had a much easier time against common opponents like Marquez. In September 2009, Mayweather won a unanimous decision over Marquez, winning most rounds and coming out unscratched.
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By Don Weinstein Photo courtesy of Getty Images via Bleacher Report 13 November 2011
10:45a.m. P.S.T.