Was Juan Manuel Marquez stepping on Manny Pacquiao toes consistently during trilogy fight

Was Juan Manuel Marquez deliberately stepping on Manny Pacquiao's toes and feet during their trilogy fight ?

Did it cause him to suffer from cramp ?

Video shows Juan Manuel Marquez stepping on Manny Pacquiao toes consistently during trilogy fight

Pacquiao wants Marquez again before facing Mayweather, Arum says

Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said Monday the Filipino superstar would prefer his next bout to be a fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez rather than a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"That fight [against Mayweather] can still be there for us" a year from now, Arum told The Times.

Pacquiao, the promoter said, feels that his controversial, majority decision over Marquez on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas "did not have the finish he wanted," and justifies a fourth fight between the combatants.

Pacquiao, 32, and Marquez, 38, previously fought to a draw in 2004 and a split decision won by Pacquiao in 2008.

Marquez said he was so frustated by the judging of his impressive showing Saturday that he was pondering retirement.

Arum doesn't believe Marquez will retire with the promise of more riches in addition to his payout from Saturday's fight, which could reach $10 million based on estimates of a large pay-per-view audience.

As for Mayweather, Arum said it's his understanding that the unbeaten world welterweight champion has secured the MGM Grand for a early May date.

So Arum said he would stage Pacquiao-Marquez IV in April or June, either at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas or a specially constructed outdoor venue paid for by "the other casinos" in Las Vegas.

"Like we did in the old days, at Caesars Palace," Arum said. "Awesome."

For his fight, Mayweather would select from a field likely to include Amir Khan, Andre Berto, Sergio Martinez, Robert Guerrero or the unbeaten Tim Bradley.

RELATED:

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Round-by-round recap

Manny Pacquiao doesn't look much like a champion

Marquez an appetizer for fans who want Pacquiao-Mayweather

— Lance Pugmire

Photo: Manny Pacquiao celebrates his majority decision victory against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Controversy ? Check for yourself…Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III official scorecard and punch stats

Here's the official scorecard from Pacquiao-Marquez III. The judges concurred on 6 of the 12 rounds – 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The Telegraph had it as a draw, 114-114. I gave Pacquiao rounds 3,4,6,10,11 and 12; Marquez 1,2,5,7,8 and 9.

Here are the punch statistics:

Pacquiao ————- Marquez

578 TOTAL PUNCHES 436

176 TOTAL PUNCHES CONN 138

304 JABS THROWN 182

58 JABS CONN. 38

274 POWER PUN THROWN 254

117 POWER PUN CONN. 100

AVERAGE PER ROUND: Pacquiao landed 17 per round from 49 thrown, Marquez 11 from 36 thrown.

On final analysis, in a close fight there are always doubts. The judges make a decision based on individual rounds and hand their scores in each round. Over the generality of the fight, Marquez looked the more impressive; Pacquiao came on strong at the end. But all judging is subjective.

Pacquiao-Marquez: Round-by-round recap

The time had come for Manny Pacquiao to act on his desire to convincingly defeat Juan Manuel Marquez, his great rival from Mexico.

With the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on the line, Pacquiao received as well as he gave on Saturday night at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena in winning a majority decision over Marquez, who had twice before taking the Filipino champion to the limit in earning a draw and losing a split decision.

Judges Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle called it a draw, 114-114.

PHOTOS: Pacquiao vs. Marquez fight

Here's a round-by-round recap (scoring is unofficial):

Round 1: Pacquiao jabs. Marquez swings a left. Pacquiao double-jabs. Marquez misses a left counter. Pacquiao lands one. Marquez pounds the body. Pacquiao with a left counter. Pacquiao throws a right-left combination. Marquez goes to body. Another classic close round between two. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9.

Round 2: A lot of jostling early here. Both boxers are looking for openings. Marquez misses with a right. Nice counter by Marquez. Jab by Pacquiao. Marquez right to body and blocked uppercut. Pacquiao surging with lefts. Marquez backs wisely. Marquez right. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Fight is even, 19-19.

Round 3: Pacquiao working jab. Marquez gets in a good right. Marquez jabs to the body. Nice lefts by Marquez, and an uppercut to the chin. Pacquiao jabs. Marquez gets in a right. Pacquiao lands a stronger right. He lands an extra shot, but just after bell. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 29-28.

Round 4: Nice hard left by Pacquiao. Marquez doesn’t land all of his left shot. Marquez with a jab. Nice left by Pacquiao. Heads collide softly. Good left by Pacquiao. They tie up. Pacquiao lands a flush left. Marquez answers to the body. Nice counter right by Pacquiao, but Marquez answers with two sharp rights, and pulls away impressed at bell. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 38-38.

Round 5: Hard left uppercut by Marquez to the face of Pacquiao, who is swinging with ferocity. Chants of “Marquez!” in the arena. Marquez lands a jab. Pacquiao jabs back. Nice right by Marquez backs up Pacquiao. Now a hard left by Marquez. Great right by Marquez. Pacquiao flustered. He’s backing away. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 48-47.

Round 6: Both boxers jab. Pacquiao gets in a left. Marquez lands a left-right combination to the body. Hard right by Pacquiao. Now a good left by Pacquiao. Marquez tries to answer with a stiff right, and then a left to the head. Pacquiao lands a left to the body. Marquez gets in a combination to the body. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 57-57.

Round 7: Marquez to the stomach. Pacquiao tries to jab. Nice shots by Marquez. Pacquiao charging, like he wants to go for the kill. Marquez lands a good right, though. Marquez then gets the best of an inside exchange. Pacquiao lands a left to the face. Marquez nails a sharp left to the body and right to the face. Marquez gets in a strong uppercut at bell. He’s here to win. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 67-66.

Round 8: Marquez landing jabs. Some at ringside have him up five rounds to two. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez pounds Pacquiao with a right as Pacquiao darts in. Marquez lands a left. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Pacquiao with a late combo to the face. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 77-75.

Round 9: Marquez strikes with a left and right. He sends Pacquiao to the ropes with a hard left. Wicked combination to Pacquiao's body and face by Marquez. Marquez works the jab. He keeps his right up to protect his head while beating Pacquiao in exchanges. It’s been an impressive effort by 38-year-old. Nice combo by Pacquiao, but Marquez whacks him with a right. Wow! Great combos by Pacquiao. Marquez backing up. Crowd is exploding. It's crazy in here. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 86-85.

Round 10: Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Hard right flush to the face by Marquez. Marquez slips, but he recovers and belts Pacquiao with rights as he works inside. Pacquiao looks cut on the right side of his head. Marquez's right eye is swelling. Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao connects with a left on a charge. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 96-94.

Round 11: Pacquiao’s cut looks like it came from an accidental butt in the 10th round. It’s not bad. Marquez works to the body. Pacquiao lands a combination. Marquez answers. Pacquiao is thinking now before charging forward. Marquez lands a clean right as he becomes the aggressor. Pacquiao lands a right. Pacquiao then strikes with a left. Marquez finishes with a right. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 105-104.

Round 12: Pacquiao has salve over the cut on top of his right eye. He starts slow, can't find an opening.  Marquez counters. Pacquiao throws a barrage of punches. Pacquiao jabs. No openings for Pacquiao, though. He's waiting, looking. Pacquiao jabs, Marquez answers stronger -– the story of the fight. Pacquiao loses mouthpiece in last minute. Marquez jab and combo. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez raises right fist at bell, stands on corner ropes. Pacquiao kneeling in corner, praying. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez wins fight, 115-113.

The judges have awarded Manny Pacquiao a majority decision. Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle scored it 114-114.

ALSO:

Undercard: Bradley, Burgos and Alvarado win

These bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing

Hearing will be required to clear Antonio Margarito to fight

--Lance Pugmire, reporting from Las Vegas

Photo: Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao square off during their WBO title fight on Saturday  night in Las Vegas. Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Manny Pacquiao defeats Juan Manuel Marquez by majority decision

The time had come for Manny Pacquiao to act on his desire to convincingly defeat Juan Manuel Marquez, his great rival from Mexico.

With the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on the line, Pacquiao received as well as he gave on Saturday night at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena in winning a majority decision over Marquez, who had twice before taking the Filipino champion to the limit in earning a draw and losing a split decision.

Judges Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle called it a draw, 114-114.

PHOTOS: Pacquiao vs. Marquez fight

Here's a round-by-round recap (scoring is unofficial):

Round 1: Pacquiao jabs. Marquez swings a left. Pacquiao double-jabs. Marquez misses a left counter. Pacquiao lands one. Marquez pounds the body. Pacquiao with a left counter. Pacquiao throws a right-left combination. Marquez goes to body. Another classic close round between two. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9.

Round 2: A lot of jostling early here. Both boxers are looking for openings. Marquez misses with a right. Nice counter by Marquez. Jab by Pacquiao. Marquez right to body and blocked uppercut. Pacquiao surging with lefts. Marquez backs wisely. Marquez right. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Fight is even, 19-19.

Round 3: Pacquiao working jab. Marquez gets in a good right. Marquez jabs to the body. Nice lefts by Marquez, and an uppercut to the chin. Pacquiao jabs. Marquez gets in a right. Pacquiao lands a stronger right. He lands an extra shot, but just after bell. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 29-28.

Round 4: Nice hard left by Pacquiao. Marquez doesn’t land all of his left shot. Marquez with a jab. Nice left by Pacquiao. Heads collide softly. Good left by Pacquiao. They tie up. Pacquiao lands a flush left. Marquez answers to the body. Nice counter right by Pacquiao, but Marquez answers with two sharp rights, and pulls away impressed at bell. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 38-38.

Round 5: Hard left uppercut by Marquez to the face of Pacquiao, who is swinging with ferocity. Chants of “Marquez!” in the arena. Marquez lands a jab. Pacquiao jabs back. Nice right by Marquez backs up Pacquiao. Now a hard left by Marquez. Great right by Marquez. Pacquiao flustered. He’s backing away. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 48-47.

Round 6: Both boxers jab. Pacquiao gets in a left. Marquez lands a left-right combination to the body. Hard right by Pacquiao. Now a good left by Pacquiao. Marquez tries to answer with a stiff right, and then a left to the head. Pacquiao lands a left to the body. Marquez gets in a combination to the body. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 57-57.

Round 7: Marquez to the stomach. Pacquiao tries to jab. Nice shots by Marquez. Pacquiao charging, like he wants to go for the kill. Marquez lands a good right, though. Marquez then gets the best of an inside exchange. Pacquiao lands a left to the face. Marquez nails a sharp left to the body and right to the face. Marquez gets in a strong uppercut at bell. He’s here to win. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 67-66.

Round 8: Marquez landing jabs. Some at ringside have him up five rounds to two. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez pounds Pacquiao with a right as Pacquiao darts in. Marquez lands a left. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Pacquiao with a late combo to the face. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 77-75.

Round 9: Marquez strikes with a left and right. He sends Pacquiao to the ropes with a hard left. Wicked combination to Pacquiao's body and face by Marquez. Marquez works the jab. He keeps his right up to protect his head while beating Pacquiao in exchanges. It’s been an impressive effort by 38-year-old. Nice combo by Pacquiao, but Marquez whacks him with a right. Wow! Great combos by Pacquiao. Marquez backing up. Crowd is exploding. It's crazy in here. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 86-85.

Round 10: Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Hard right flush to the face by Marquez. Marquez slips, but he recovers and belts Pacquiao with rights as he works inside. Pacquiao looks cut on the right side of his head. Marquez's right eye is swelling. Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao connects with a left on a charge. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 96-94.

Round 11: Pacquiao’s cut looks like it came from an accidental butt in the 10th round. It’s not bad. Marquez works to the body. Pacquiao lands a combination. Marquez answers. Pacquiao is thinking now before charging forward. Marquez lands a clean right as he becomes the aggressor. Pacquiao lands a right. Pacquiao then strikes with a left. Marquez finishes with a right. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 105-104.

Round 12: Pacquiao has salve over the cut on top of his right eye. He starts slow, can't find an opening.  Marquez counters. Pacquiao throws a barrage of punches. Pacquiao jabs. No openings for Pacquiao, though. He's waiting, looking. Pacquiao jabs, Marquez answers stronger -– the story of the fight. Pacquiao loses mouthpiece in last minute. Marquez jab and combo. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez raises right fist at bell, stands on corner ropes. Pacquiao kneeling in corner, praying. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez wins fight, 115-113.

The judges have awarded Manny Pacquiao a majority decision. Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle scored it 114-114.

ALSO:

Undercard: Bradley, Burgos and Alvarado win

These bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing

Hearing will be required to clear Antonio Margarito to fight

--Lance Pugmire, reporting from Las Vegas

Photo: Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao square off during their WBO title fight on Saturday  night in Las Vegas. Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Live coverage of WBO welterweight title fight

The time has come for Manny Pacquiao to act on his desire to convincingly defeat Juan Manuel Marquez, his great rival from Mexico.

With the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on the line, Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) will cap his trilogy tonight against Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Seats have been sold out for months for the pay-per-view bout.

Pacquiao, 32, and Marquez, 38, fought to a compelling draw in 2004, when the Filipino southpaw knocked down Marquez three times in the first round, but the gritty Mexico City counterpuncher rallied impressively, winning nearly every round afterward.

In 2008, Pacquiao knocked Marquez down once more and edged him by one point on the decisive judge’s scorecard to win a split decision.

Pacquiao has since proceeded to fantastic riches, beating Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito to routinely collect in excess of $20 million purses while claiming world titles in eight weight divisions.

Marquez, meanwhile, has stayed in pursuit of this third fight against Pacquiao by winning the world lightweight title, and he’s associated with controversial strength coach Angel “Memo” Heredia in preparation for this bout.

Marquez trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain is counting on what he perceives to be his fighter’s “technical” advantage to carry the night, but all involved acknowledge the massive strides Pacquiao has made since the 2008 bout in footwork, use of his right hand and maximizing his power.

It’s why Pacquiao is a 10-to-1 favorite to win the fight, according to Las Vegas sports books, and why his camp is projecting a knockout by the end of the seventh round.

The Times’ round-by-round coverage of the bout here at the Fabulous Forum will begin when the fight does, likely after 8:30 p.m. Pacific time.

ALSO:

Pacquiao vs. Marquez preview

These bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing

Hearing will be required to clear Antonio Margarito to fight

--Lance Pugmire

Photo: Manny Pacquiao, left, and Juan Manuel Marquez face off during their weigh-in on Friday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Credit: Steve Marcus / Reuters

Previewing the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez fight

 

HBO Boxing commentators Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward preview the upcoming HBO pay-per-view event, Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, which happens Saturday.

The widely anticipated bout is the third between the two men.

"There are personal feelings here," Pacquiao told The Times' Lance Pugmire recently after 15 rounds of sparring at a Hollywood gym. "I'm not saying I'm angry, or that I hate him, but those feelings give me more motivation in training, and they'll inspire me to fight as hard as I can, because I'm expecting him to be at his strongest."

The 32-year-old Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) has risen to become boxing's top pound-for-pound fighter with 14 consecutive victories that included knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales and Ricky Hatton.

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) has been the gritty counterpuncher who seems to have Pacquiao's number. Sure, Pacquiao knocked him down three times in the first round of their 2004 bout, but Marquez won nearly every round after and their first bout was called a draw.

In 2008, Pacquiao scored another knockdown of Marquez, but he was left bloodied in a back-and-forth 12-round battle. Pacquiao won the split decision by one point on the deciding judge's scorecard.

"They were wars," Marquez said. "You know you're not going to be short-changed watching us fight.

ALSO:

Manny Pacquiao video

These bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing

Hearing will be required to clear Antonio Margarito to fight

--Houston Mitchell and Lance Pugmire

 

 

Manny Pacquiao painted as icon through the inspired eyes of David Drebin photography

David Dreben fell in love with boxing because of Manny Pacquiao. And with his genius eye, boxing loves Dreben.

If you don't know Drebin's work, spend five minutes surfing through his website.

See ? He's full of joy. The way he plays with light, his eye for beauty, and tenacity to experiment with the world according to DD. He's created a book of images of Manny Pacquiao which are set to become iconic.

It all happened by chance. "I took this photograph the moment after Manny knocked out Ricky Hatton – I was on assignment for ESPN Magazine but I was so enamoured with the fight, so into it, I forgot to take pictures…so I was up in the raised platform because there were not enough seats at ringside. When the fight was ending I thought 'Oh my God, I've got no photographs…'

I took one frame. This was the only frame I took of the fight. And I looked at this photograph – I'm not a boxing photographer, I'm more of an art photographer, so I looked at this picture and I had goosebumps instantly. The world has to see this picture. I took the picture, I made it 60 x 80 inches I put it up with one of my dealers, people in boxing will see this picture and I will become the boxing photographer for all the big fights. I just knew…"

"It's crazy. One of dealers sends Todd Deboeuf, who loves the picture. I didn't know he was, but we started exchanging emails and he was like, I've got to have that picture. He's in the picture. Then, he was like who the hell are you ? He came to New York, we bonded, and since then I do all the ad pictures."

"This is my fifth book, but I think the world needs this book. There's a version for the fans, I had access to him, the photos are for his fans. The light is amazing in the Wild Card Gym…I'm obsessed with boxing.

Pacquiao-Marquez: Trainers discuss fight strategy

Las Vegas bookmakers have installed Manny Pacquiao as a near 10-1 favorite to defeat Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, but Marquez trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain exuded confidence Thursday in projecting a strong showing by his 38-year-old fighter.

"Juan's always been a great technical fighter. He's perfected that and learned to control the combat zone," Beristain said. "He now knows how to handle left-handers."

Beristain embraced the fact that if Marquez had been able to avoid knockdowns -- three in their first bout (a draw) in 2004 and another in Pacquiao's split-decision triumph in 2008 -- the Mexican fighter has outboxed Pacquiao.

Beristain says Marquez can do it again as he flashes speed to complement a training camp dedicated to strength training.

"Obviously, Pacquiao has a great punch. Every minute of every round is danger," Beristrain said through an interpreter. "But no matter anyone says, we won that second fight. I'll go to my death saying that."

Beristain said he's spent dozens of hours reviewing replays of Pacquiao's fights since the March 2008 Pacquiao bout.

"You can lose a lot of sleep thinking how to beat Pacquiao," Beristain said. "That's what happens."

For Pacquiao, his training discipline is far superior to the way it was in 2008, when he struggled to make the 130-pound limit, then "ballooned to 149 [pounds] on fight day," according to Gary Poole book "PacMan," which was released in paperback this week.

Sipping from a holiday-red Starbucks cup Thursday morning, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach listed the improvements his fighter has made since that narrow escape in the second part of this trilogy.

"Manny's a compassionate guy and he's let the last couple of guys [Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito] off the hook," Roach said. "Manny will never predict a knockout, but I know the way he's trained and prepared for this fight. I've seen how he's meaner to his sparring partners. He wants this fight badly. He has a fire in him."

Boxing needs a brilliant Manny Pacquiao now

Boxing's greatest hits of the last three months.

Aug. 13, Las Vegas: Abner Mares punches Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko square in the groin in the 12th round of their world bantamweight title tournament final -- an unquestionable low blow worthy of a point deduction.

Referee Russell Mora instead awards Mares a knockdown, inciting outrage among fans inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and Mares wins a decision. A sanctioning body is so flabbergasted by the horrific call that it orders a rematch Dec. 3 at Honda Center in Anaheim.

Sept. 17, Las Vegas: World welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, failing to establish a plan to penetrate Floyd Mayweather's defense, head butts the unbeaten fighter. Mayweather, visibly angered, waits for referee Joe Cortez's first indication that fighting can resume and unloads two punches to a distracted Ortiz that knock him out and end the fight in the fourth round.

Oct. 15, Staples Center: Chad Dawson lifts Bernard Hopkins off the canvas, and Hopkins slams backward, suffering a separated shoulder that ends the world light-heavyweight championship fight in the second round, sparking massive jeering in the arena. The WBC later refuses to install Dawson as the new champion, even though he was named the winner in the ring.

This leaves boxing's top performer, Manny Pacquiao, to end the carnage of bad big fights Saturday when he and Juan Manuel Marquez renew their rivalry in Las Vegas with their third fight.

Exclusive interview Bob Arum: Two-handed Manny Pacquiao will defeat Juan Manuel Marquez

Bob Arum joins The Telegraph for an interview in Las Vegas ahead of Manny Pacquiao – Juan Manuel Marquez III this weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Arum has seen most things in boxing in the last five decades. How does he see the promotion of Pacquiao vs Marquez III as a contest ?

"Well it's certainly a lot bigger than the last two fights, but essentially what makes this fight unique is that in the two prior fights, there was very little to differentiate the two fighters. The difference now is that Manny fights with two hands. His right hand is as good as his left. But you've got to understand that Marquez and Nacho [Beristein] are brilliant guys and the style of Manny is made for Marquez because he's a counter-puncher."

"The question is – can he fight with that right hand ? Everybody sees these Hispanics like Cotto and Margarito, they don't know about quitting. When Manny fought Clottey and when he fought Moseley, what made these fighters quit is that they were trained to fight the southpaw, then when they got clocked with the right hand, they couldn't believe it."

Arum: Mayweather fears Pacquiao because of right hand development

"They were like – how are we going to defend ourselves ? That's the problem fighting Pacquiao now. That's the problem Mayweather has… that's why Mayweather doesn't do it. Because if Manny, as a one-handed fighter, goes after Mayweather he can throw that lead right and give Manny trouble, but he can't throw the lead right if Manny is attacking him at the same time with the right hand, because then he'll get knocked out."

"That's the problem. So how that plays out in this particular fight we have to see, because everyone else. Half these people don't understand, Moseley didn't understand… Nazeem Richardson didn't understand that you cannot look at Manny Pacquiao as the typical south paw. The typical south paw throws a jab with his right hand and then uses his power hand. So that's for me what's going to be very interesting against Marquez."

Trilogy fights pass into boxing folklore. The most famous of them all, involving Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, was on everyone's lips this week, with the passing of Smokin' Joe, taken too early at 67. May he Rest In Peace. A lion of a heavyweight division.

Can the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy honour that great heavyweight battle this weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas ?

"Yeah, I think so because the first two were fairly equally spaced. I never expected Marquez to be as good as he was in that second fight. A lot of these writers missed the point completely. They talk about how Marquez was dead at the weight when he fought Mayweather. But he wasn't… he looked dead at the weight because he is a great counter-puncher and Mayweather isn't an attack guy, so he couldn't go after Mayweather and make the fight so it was a non-event because of the styles. [Mayweather] he's a great fighter, there isn't any question about the fact he's a great fighter but fighting a guy like Marquez is a no-contest for Mayweather. Not for Manny, but for Mayweather. That style is very tough. I think the right hand is going to make the difference though."

Arum, of course, has been involved in a few trilogies down the decades. "Ali-Frazier, yeah, that was an incredible trilogy and then Morales and Pacquiao, Morales-Barrera, Ali-Norton."

How does Arum see the buy rate on the Pacquiao-Marquez fight ?

Manny Paquiao fights you and he'll sell 500,000-600,000 pay per views. Mayweather fights you, he'll sell 400,000 pay per views. Hopkins fought Dawson and they didn't sell 50,000. Marquez is an easier sell than the Shane Moseley fight, because people said that Moseley was shot. The Mayweather fight [against Victor Ortiz], because of the way it transpired, left such a bad taste in people's mouths that they may, as a reaction, decide not to buy this fight. That's what I'm worried about. I mean I don't give a s*** about the theory that 'in boxing protect yourself at all times'. It's still entertainment. It's still sportsmanship. You don't throw those two punches you do not throw the two punches against a defenceless guy."

"In football it's like the equivalent of taking a cheap shot at the receiver unprotected. When I saw that fight, I was watching it on television, I was outraged. I never focused on whether it was illegal, I was outraged, the referee lost control of that fight, and this kid [Ortiz] is a doofus. That being said, it was not something that would please people who spent 60 dollars to watch it on pay per view."

The November 12 clash will be screened live and exclusive in the UK on Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky) for £14.95 by calling 08712004444, by visiting www.primetimelive.co.uk or Virgin Media customers can purchase using the ‘On Demand’ menu. Customers on Sky must register the first time they use Primetime and once registered can purchase using the ‘Box Office’ menu.

Manny Pacquiao: This will be the fight of the year

Manny Pacquiao is only days away from his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

At a recent media day, the members of Pacquiao's training camp said that he's become more of a complete fighter since their first two bouts. That he's more motivated. And that he has developed a strong disdain for his competitor.

"It's such a personal thing to him that I think he's using that as his motivation," said Alex Ariza, Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach. "He's using this dislike for Marquez as motivation."

Their first fight in 2004 ended in a draw and Pacquiao won their last bout in 2008 by a split decision. Marquez believes he was cheated out of two victories and wore a shirt last November that said, "Marquez beat Pacquiao twice!!"

Pacquiao found that disrespectful.

"The different of this training camp is I'm very motivated," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said that he's become more technically sound since he last fought Marquez.

"I look for Manny to win because of the improvement in his right hand," Arum said. "When he fought Marquez the first two times, he was a one-armed fighter. He attacked him with the left hand. Now you can't just concentrate on Manny's left because he hits you just as hard with the right hand."

When asked how many rounds the fight would last, Arum said he didn't know. Ariza said Pacquiao will deliver a knockout punch within the first three rounds.

Said Pacquiao: "This is our last fight. It's going to be the fight of the year."

Pacquiao has a secret weapon.

She's blond and rivals his speed (her hips may shake faster than he can deliver a punch.)

It's Shakira.

According to Ariza, Pacquiao listens to her music whenever he works out. He knows all of her songs by heart and sings and dances to them while warming up.

"I love the Shakira album," Pacquiao said.

When asked what's his favorite song, Pacquiao said, "All of the songs of Shakira."

Even though Pacquiao is the consummate hard worker, Ariza said that being his coach is anything but easy.

"Manny is a natural litigator by nature," he said. "Everything that you discuss with him or want him to do, it has to be an argument in it. It has to go back and forth for 15 to 20 minutes before he feels satisfied to do it."

Ariza said that when he tells Pacquiao to eat four eggs, the fighter will insist on eating three.

"We're always arguing something with Alex, but it's part of our joke," Pacquiao said with a smile.

One of Pacquiao's greatest challenges is maintaining weight.

"Its hard to do that," Pacquiao said. "I have to eat a lot every day, morning and afternoon."

Ariza said the fighter can burn up to 2,500 calories in a workout and can consume up to 6,000 calories in a day.

"I wish he had more cheat days," Ariza said. "Anything to keep the calories up."

As for his diet, Ariza said Pacquiao eats red meat three to four times a week and consumes a lot of eggs.

MORE:

Manny Pacquiao prepares for Marquez

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three

Bob Arum: I haven't seen Pacquiao train this hard since he fought Oscar De La Hoya

--Melissa Rohlin

Bob Arum: Manny Pacquiao is training hard for Marquez fight

Manny Pacquiao wakes up before the sun rises to run steep hills at Griffith Park.

He ferociously attacks the mitts at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

After two close fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, he's not going to leave the third bout on Nov. 12 to chance. This one is personal.

After all, Pacquiao feels disrespected.

Even though their first fight in 2004 ended in a draw and Pacquiao won their last fight in 2008 by a split decision, Marquez wore a shirt last November that said, "Marquez beat Pacquiao twice!!" 

A photo of Marquez wearing that shirt hangs behind Pacquiao's speed bag.

At a recent media day, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said, "The only time that I saw Manny train as hard for a fight was when he fought De La Hoya."

Arum said Marquez may be the ultimate competition for Pacquiao -- even more challenging than Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is undefeated.

"All of us are much more confident in beating Mayweather than in beating Marquez," Arum said. "Marquez's style is very, very tough for Manny because he's a counter-puncher and so forth. Mayweather, his style is made for Manny because he will get knocked out within three, four rounds.

"Manny is so anxious to prove himself in this fight that he started training early and he's trained at full speed ever since he started."

MORE:

Q & A: Manny Pacquiao is ready to settle things

Manny Pacquiao prepares for his next fight [Video]

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three

-- Melissa Rohlin

Manny Pacquiao prepares for his next fight [video]

Two professional boxers anxiously waited their turn to spar against Manny Pacquiao last week at Wild Card Boxing Club. More than just pride was at stake.

If they could knock him down, they would win $1,000.

It's an offer that Pacquiao's camp has made to every fighter who has entered the ring against him at his gym in Hollywood. So far, no one has won the prize.

After fighting a few rounds with Pacquiao, Ray Beltran (25-5, 17 knockouts) left the ring drenched in sweat.

"He's really, really hard," Beltran said.

When asked what are Pacquiao's strengths, Beltran replied, "Everything."

The boxing world is holding its breath that a superfight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will happen in the near future.

There may be a lot of people turning blue. Pacquiao isn't one of them.

"I don't need him in my boxing career," he said. "I'm already satisfied with what I've achieved in boxing. I think I accomplished all of my dreams."

Though Pacquiao declined to comment on Mayweather's recent controversial victory against Victor Ortiz, his trainer, Freddy Roach, was quick to call Mayweather's knockout punch a sucker punch.

"Not a bit of a sucker punch, definitely a sucker punch," Roach said.

When asked if Pacquiao, who is notorious for showing his competitors mercy, could be vulnerable to receiving that type of a punch if a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happened, Roach said that Pacquiao "would have no problem" knocking him out.

Both Pacquiao and Roach said that when they first met, they knew they would be a great fit.

"My first impression when we do meet?" Pacquiao said. "I liked him."

Said Roach: "I never really met anybody that had the explosion that he has in his punches. . . . For a little guy, he weighed 122 pounds back then, it was just amazing."

Roach said that Pacquiao had only one good hand when he first started training him. After he lost to Erik Morales, Roach decided that needed to change.

"I told myself it was my job to make his right hand as good as his left."

Roach seems to have kept his word.

Pacquiao hasn't lost a fight since then.

MORE:

Q & A: Manny Pacquiao is ready to settle things

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three

--Melissa Rohlin

Timothy Bradley in fold, but what about Pacquiao-Mayweather?

Timothy Bradley said he signed with his new promoter Top Rank to increase his name recognition, but there's a great hazard in that plan should he instead be just the latest replacement foe of Manny Pacquiao who further delays a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. megafight.

The unbeaten Bradley will fight veteran Joel Casamayor on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas in the main feature under that night's Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III main event.

By signing with Top Rank, Bradley admitted Wednesday at the Beverly Hills Hotel he left more than a $1.4-million offer to fight Amir Khan in July on the table. Why do such a thing unless you strongly believe a super-fight against Pacquiao is in your immediate future?

While Bradley said he was not promised or guaranteed any such deal, Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said should Pacquiao beat Marquez and a bout against Mayweather remain unavailable, "It's an open book. If the stars are aligned, that's the fight [with Bradley], we'd be inclined to make."

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao: Who would win? [Poll]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao: It's the fight everybody wants, but who knows if the planets will ever align just right and we will actually get to see it?

If the main event to end all main events ever happens, who would win, Pacquiao or Mayweather?

Writers from around Tribune Co. will discuss the topic. Check back throughout the day for their opinions.

And we want your opinion too -- weigh in by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.

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Photos: Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Victor Ortiz

Bill Dwyre: Jeers for outcome of Mayweather-Ortiz are justified

Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing's age-old issue

Floyd Mayweather Jr. basks in aftermath of knockout of Victor Ortiz

Left photo: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Credit: Isaac Brekken / Associated Press

Right photo: Manny Pacquiao. Credit: Julie Jacobson / Associated Press

The aftermath: Floyd Mayweather will always be the media bad boy…with Manny Pacquiao the media darling

Some things are just meant to be. Floyd Mayweather’s successful ring return after a 16-month absence was

shrouded in controversy and outrage here on Saturday night when he was accused

of "blindsiding" opponent Victor Ortiz with two illegal blows in a

widely contentious fourth-round finish. Mayweather will always be the bad boy. Just as he will always be a marketing genius. And just as Manny Pacquiao will remain a media darling. Just the way it is.

As the great Samuel Johnson, an English journalist of the last century, once wrote: the best journalism follows certain credos. His motto ? Research meticulously. Simplify. Exaggerate. For these principles, read Mayweather and Pacquiao. And those aspects will not change until the pair are long gone from the ring.

The final act of this absorbing World Boxing Council welterweight

title fight will fall into the annals of boxing’s most debated

finishes, yet the bizarre denouement merely masked the deficiencies of

work-in-progress Ortiz, and enhanced the sublime skills which Mayweather possesses.

Mayweather was accused of unsportsmanlike behaviour, yet he claimed

rigourously that he had merely acted within his rights, moments after

he had been headbutted viciously by Ortiz. There was the whiff of

retribution in his action.

Victory saw Mayweather win back the world title and extend his

unbeaten career to 42 contests, yet the manner of victory and his

comportment after the fight will divide opinion across the globe.

Mayweather even found himself drawn into a slanging match live on air

in the immediate aftermath of the contest with the veteran interviewer

Larry Merchant, which ended with the broadcaster telling

the fighter he would have whipped his ***, “if I was 50 years younger”.

The denouement was as dramatic as it was decisive: Mayweather, who was

dominating the contest in that final round, having peppered the man

ten years his junior with his right-hand lead, found himself caught on

the ropes by Ortiz.

As Mayweather covered up in defence, ducking and swaying, the two

fighters' heads came close together and Ortiz headbutted his opponent

like a pogo-ing punk rocker. The action was both inexplicable and

shocking. It was also deliberate beyond any doubt.

Mayweather recoiled away in shock, referee Joe Cortez deducted a

point, while Ortiz went to plant a kiss on Mayweather's cheek, hugged

him and apologised.

Cortez then sent Ortiz to a neutral corner. It was a singular sequence

that was about to get even more bizarre.

Cortez indicated that the point had been deducted. The fighters came

together in the middle of the ring. Mayweather held out his hands, to

touch, and Ortiz went to embrace his rival, again apologetic.

As they moved apart, Ortiz did not have his hands up. Mayweather threw

a left hook which wobbled Ortiz, who glanced at Cortez as if seeking

instruction. In that same moment, Mayweather threw a hard straight

right.

Ortiz went down. Cortez counted him out. There was outrage and uproar

from many of the 14,687 witnesses in attendance in the MGM Grand

Garden Arena.

Ortiz claimed: "He blindsided me. I'm not a dirty fighter. I

apologised for the headbutt. I took the break and obeyed exactly what

I was told [by the referee].”

“In a sense he caught me as a payback. I spaced out. I didn’t see the

punches coming. I went blank. I woke up afterwards. I didn’t hear Joe

Cortez say ‘box’.”

However, Cortez explained his decision to count out the 24-year old

American: “Time was ‘in’ again, and the fighter has to have his guard

up. Mayweather did nothing wrong.”

It was a contest in which Mayweather looked dominant, aggressive,

measured and the consummate fighter. He was dominant from the opening

round. Calls for a contest between Mayweather, and his greatest rival,

the Filipino Manny Pacquiao, will again gather momentum, although

Britain's Amir Khan is desperately seeking his moment in the spotlight

against the fighter whose career earnings could reach the $150 million

mark before he retires.

Mayweather said: "In the end, you have to protect yourself at all

times. His trainer accused me of being dirty, and yet he [Ortiz]

headbutted me. What goes around, comes around in this sport. When I'm

in the square circle, I'm in my home."

The debate over the end to this fight will continue, yet the bottom

line here was that Ortiz took his eye off the ball, while Mayweather

kept his eye on the prize, fairly or unfairly. The longer-term

argument is whether Pacquiao – or anyone in this generation including

young pretenders like Khan – have the ring skills to dethrone the

controversial American fighter.

Manny Pacquiao on Floyd Mayweather and more

It would easily be considered the fight of the decade.

In one corner, Manny Pacquiao, widely considered by boxing websites to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

In the other corner, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is undefeated in his 15-year career.

"If that fight happens, I will fight like there's no tomorrow," Pacquiao said, while at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday to promote his Nov. 12 bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.

When reporters asked him if he thinks Mayweather is ducking the fight, Pacquiao said, "I don't have an idea why the fight has not happened, but we will pray."

Yes, we will.

While surrounded by scores of reporters shouting "Manny" as soon as he finished a sentence, Pacquiao alluded to his desire to retire soon. That means the window for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could be slowly narrowing.

"I'm starting thinking to quitting, getting away from boxing," he said. "The problem is, who else can be Manny Pacquiao."

When Oscar De La Hoya retired, Pacquiao became the main man in the boxing scene. When asked who would replace him, Pacquiao mentioned Victor Ortiz.

"He have a big potential," Pacquiao said. "He strong enough and he have a style of boxing. What he needs is focus on speed, develop his speed."

On the other hand, when asked about Brandon Rios, Pacquiao said, "Who's that?"

 

Pacquiao has become much more than a world-class boxer in recent years.

He released a hit single "Sometimes When We Touch," which has hundreds of thousands views on YouTube, and he is a congressman in the Philippines.

Yet Pacquiao didn't hesitate when he was asked what is his ultimate passion.

"Boxing," he said.

--Melissa Rohlin

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three

 Even though Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have fought twice before, their score remains unsettled.

The fighters' 2004 featherweight title bout resulted in a draw. When they met again in 2008, Pacquiao won a super-featherweight title by split decision, thanks to judge Tom Miller's 114-113 score in favor of Pacquiao.

Marquez thinks he was robbed.

The fighters and their posses gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel  on Wednesday to promote their third fight which will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 12.

"This is the answer of all the doubts of the past two fights with Marquez," Pacquiao said.

That is perhaps the one thing the fighters agree upon.

"I don't like the decision for the last two fights," Marquez said. "The Mexican people around the world tell me, 'You won the fight.'"

Marquez said his speed and strength have improved and he feels confident he will win.

 Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach weighed in on the debate.

"Manny is a completely different fighter, a more complete fighter than he was back then," Roach said.

Roach said Pacquiao's strategy will be to avoid Marquez's counter-punches by not being overly aggressive.

"This fight is a little more personal because Marquez did come to the Philippines in a press tour with T-shirts that said, 'We got robbed.'

"It was a slap in the face to Manny and he will get payback for that," Roach said.

 Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum called Marquez the "greatest counter-puncher that I've seen."

"It probably is the one thing in boxing that takes the most skill," Arum said.  "You have to allow your opponent to throw a punch at you and hit him in such a way and at such an angle with the counter that it reaches the opponent before his punch reaches you. That is hard and it takes nerves of steel."

On the other hand, Arum that Pacquiao is "all aggression."

"He's a fighter that takes his fight to the opponent," he said. "He is the antithesis of a defensive fighter."

 -- Melissa Rohlin

Allowing professional boxers into Olympics will not draw likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao

It was suggested this week that some of the world’s leading professional boxers – Floyd Junior, Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan among them – could return to the Olympics under new moves by the world amateur governing body for boxing to allow professionals to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But unfortunately it is flawed. Some may return, but not boxing’s big earners.

The radical new plans were proposed this week by International Boxing Association (AIBA) President C K Wu, a powerful and at times controversial figure. Tennis and golf, along with rugby union, all have professional exponents competing in the Olympics.

Yet amateur boxing and professional boxing are two distinct sports. Headguards, differing in rounds, a completely diverse set of criteria.

The new programme, entitled AIBA Professional Boxing (APB), to be launched in 2013, will allow competitors to retain their Olympic eligibility despite boxing professionally. However, the truth of the concept lies in the small print.

A spokesperson for the Amateur Boxing Association of England said: “The announcement by AIBA represents another step in attempting to provide a duty of care and support to boxers throughout the whole of their careers. The welfare of boxers is our number one priority and we would expect everyone connected with the sport to support this principle.

“Like all major changes it creates a number of significant challenges for us as an organisation and I am forming a Commission to examine the proposals in more detail in our role as the governing body for amateur boxing in England. We will provide a further update after the Commission has arrived at its initial conclusions.

A feature of the competition is that current professional boxers can have their Olympic eligibility restored if they compete in the first season of the APB and the AIBA President, who is also and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, is confident some of the sport’s biggest stars will be tempted to compete in the event because of the lure of Olympic glory. However, boxing’s biggest earners are unlikely to take the bait.

Tony Jeffries, the GB Beijing Games bronze medallist, told The Telegraph that he believes some boxers will take the move. Jeffries, who has been a professional for three years, has moved to California in a bid to enhance his career. “But I would love the opportunity to compete again in the Olympics. I think quite a few guys will consider it.” Jeffries told The Telegraph.

Audley Harrison, who won gold in Sydney in 2000, ruled it out. “I’d go to Rio,” Harrison told The Telegraph this week. “But probably only as an official within the British Olympic Association.”

President Wu has said: “I hope we can attract the very best professionals out there. I don’t know definitely if they will compete in AIBA Professional Boxing but I am hopeful they will because the Olympics is something very special and there is no greater prize in sport than the Olympic gold medal. The door is open to them.”

The likelihood is that few of the biggest names in boxing will walk through that door.