Mixed-martial arts greats see early KO win for Pacquiao

Thursday, November 10, 2011

TWO Filipino mixed-martial arts legends see an abbreviated fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, with the Filipino fighter knocking out his Mexican opponent before the first half of the 12-round match.

Alvin Aguilar, founder of Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) and head coach at BAMF Mixed Martial Arts Center in Parañaque City told Sun.Star that he expects Marquez to go down by the third round.

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"Marquez is 38 years old and fighting at a higher weight (and) going against a boxer in his peak," the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belter said of the Mexican’s possible troubles in a text message.

Marquez last fought at 135 pounds, when he successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight crown against Michael Katsidis in November last year.

He will have to gain weight to reach the 144-pound catch weight specified for the WBO welterweight match with Pacquiao at the
posh MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 12 (November 13 in Manila).

Erwin Tagle of Submission Sport Philippines, meanwhile, said in a separate interview that Marquez will probably be knocked out by the fifth round.

He said, however, that unlike in previous encounters that were "one-sided," Marquez may be able to give as much as he gets.

Tagle said both boxers have improved with each fight and that the upcoming match will be interesting.

"What if (Marquez's) punches have gotten stronger?" he said in a telephone interview, adding Pacquiao's face might not be able to withstand direct hits.

On the other hand, he said, history has shown that Pacquiao repeatedly knocked down Marquez with blows to the face.

"But it doesn't matter. Whether you get larger, or smaller, or your punches get stronger. It's all down to technique and style," Tagle, a URCC fighter who coached the Philippine team in the Pacific X-treme Combat international league earlier this year said.

In 2004, Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round and looked like he was headed for a win but the Mexican slugger gallantly fought back to score a controversial draw after the 12-round tiff.

Four years later, the two crossed paths again with both fighters jockeying for supremacy. The judges ruled in favor of Pacquiao, although in a one-point split decision.

The big question that looms over the prized fight is if Marquez can handle the pressure of winning over Pacquiao’s lightning speed and power punches.

Some 16,000 paying fans will troop to the venue for their much anticipated face off while at least two million households are expected to watch the fight in the United States via pay-per-view.

Additional 20,000 tickets will be released for fans that will converge outside the venue to watch the game on giant screens, Top Rank chief executive officer Bob Arum had said.

Even sports analysts joined the fray in rallying for Pacquiao.

"Skill. Training. Talent. Marquez is way behind in every department," former Philippine Daily Inquirer sports editor Al Mendoza said, adding he sees a knockout victory "within five rounds."

Sports analyst and lawyer Ed Tolentino also told Sun.Star that Pacquiao "is really the top pick" and has become a better fighter in the last three years.

"The defense is better, the offense more varied. The right hand is now a weapon," he said.

Although Tolentino also sees a victory by KO, he predicts it to unfold within a more conservative 10 rounds.

It seems the only way for the fight to go the distance is, according to Tagle, if both boxers decide to fight cautiously. (with Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)