Pacquiao vs Marquez IV
Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have come to symbolize much of this era
in boxing. Two tremendous talents, they have manufactured a rivalry
which showcases all that is good about boxing. Their battles have been
cause for much celebration over the last nine years, and it is to be
deserved. I don't expect any of that to change after their fourth
tussle.
Their first three fights have all been excellent to varying degrees.
Their first, contested at featherweight in the spring of 2004, was an
instant classic. Fresh off his breakthrough demolition of a near-prime
Marco Antonio Barrera, Pacquiao rolled into this fight with more
momentum than James Toney rolling down a hill. Marquez himself was
nearly flattened by it in the first round when he tasted the canvas
three times. Amazingly, Joe "I didn't see a thing" Cortez didn't panic
or stop the fight or anything. He simply let them fight on. And fight on
they did. The next 11 rounds were largely dominated by Marquez's boxing
skills giving a younger, more archaic Pacquiao fits. When the scores
were added up, the bout was declared a draw. Maybe you feel Pacquiao
won. Perhaps you thought Marquez won every round after the first. Either
way, this was a time when I feel a draw wasn't such a terrible call
after the epic battle that occurred in the ring. Regardless, these two
gave us one of the best fights of 2004.
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