Pacquiao Wins By A Point Against Marquez

Here's a facial!
Photo by German Villasensor at MaxBoxing.com

Philippine boxing hero Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao braved the onslaught that was Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez of Mexico during last
Sunday's "Unfinished Business" championship fight for the WBC super featherweight title, to come out the victor by a lone brow-raising point.

The bout lasted 12 rounds filled with blood, sweat, spit and pure guts from today's most evenly matched, 130-pounder champions of the square ring. Their last go for glory against each other back in 2004 ended in an unsatisfying draw. This Pacquiao-Marquez II slugfest was just as confusing as the first, with both fighters holding their own versus the other's determined force - toe-to-toe, pound-for-pound, blow-by-blow.

It was boxing history being carved-out, albeit live on pay-per-view.

There were rounds taken by Marquez, while other rounds showed clearly Pacquiao making his mark. Marquez even hit the canvass on the third round. For the totality of the fight however, both Marquez and Pacquiao were even - Marquez showed impeccable skills; Pacquiao branded speed and power; and both bore the hearts of lions.

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Nonethless, at the end of the 12th, the judges had to make a decision. It was an inconceivable decision that could never measure nor quantify the battle that was waged inside that boxing ring. After that fight, the injustice was watching 3 judges subjectively score the very souls of the greatest warriors on earth that very night.

And as the scores were being announced, the Filipino pugilist, beaming with utmost respect toward his battered foe seemingly conceded his pride with outstretched congratulatory arms for Marquez. The Mexican though didn't seem to welcome his foe's gentlemanly gesture. Then Pacquiao grimaced - not with pain from Marquez's blows to his body nor the cut on his right eye. His face pained knowing that he must now bear the consequence of his efforts that night. Manny Pacquiao wrested the championship from Marquez by but a sliver of a point.

I'm proud that Pacquiao won. Nevertheless, I cannot say that Marquez was in any way a loser. He was strong to the very end and was just as deserving for that single point as were Pacquiao.

Nothing short of a convincing victory would really settle the score between Pacquiao and Marquez. Will there be a third meeting? If so, may the 12th round never come.

The Will To Win - Pacquiao Overcomes Barrera

"Who wants to play next?"
They first met in 2003, a virtually unknown Filipino challenger against a great Mexican warrior. Marco Antonio Barrera was the heavy favorite over Manny Pacquiao, a then fledgling southpaw in the featherweight division - A "David" against a "Goliath".

During the first round Pacquiao suffered a well expected knockdown. He picked himself up and went on with the match. In the third round, both fighters have suffered tremendous blows, but one surprise hit stunned the entire arena - Barrera went down to the canvass with a stinging hit from Pacquiao.

As the fight continued the Filipino slugger sent punch after punch of pure power against the famed fighter. By the 11th round, the smoke had cleared - Barrera suffered another knockdown. Manny Pacquiao had won.

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For the past four years both fighters fought their separate battles. The younger fighter, Manny Pacquiao consistently ascended up the boxing ranks. In 2004 he managed a draw against Juan Miguel Marquez. He then suffered an unpopular unanimous decision loss versus Erik Morales in 2005 that began the celebrated rivalry between Pacquiao and Morales.

Later that year, the "Pacman" won by technical knockout over Hector Velasquez to capture the vacant WBC International Super Featherweight title. He then went on to defend the title 4 consecutive times, once against Oscar Larios and twice against Erik Morales which were all memorable rematch bouts. Pacquiao's latest title defense was against Jorge Solis in April of this year, which he decisively won by knockout in the 8th round.

As for Marco Antonio Barrera, also known as the "Baby Faced Assasin", he came back from his loss to Pacquiao in 2003 to win 6 successive fights against Paulie Ayala, Erik Morales, Mzonke Fana, Robbie Peden, and twice against Rocky Juarez. Earlier this year, he lost the WBC Super Featherweight Title to Juan Miguel Marquez.

October 6, 2007 (October 7 in Manila) - At 28 years old, Manny Pacquiao overcomes Marco Antonio Barrera with a unanimous decision win (109-118, 109-118, 112-115) to remain as the WBC International Super Featherweight Champion. Pacquiao recovered from an alleged illegal shot by Barrera to Pacquiao's head in the 11th round.

The 33-year veteran Barrera, a boxing Hall of Fame nominee, have indicated that this may be his "farewell fight". Pacquiao is obliged by WBC rules to face title-holder Juan Miguel Marquez next, but neither camps have confirmed plans for future fights.

It was a valiant last stand for a legendary fighter. Nevertheless, Manny Pacquiao is effortlessly at his top form and remains the best and most exciting fighter in boxing today.

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Gerry Peñalosa, Other Filipino Boxers win 5-1 vs. Mexicans in Boxing World Cup

Five of the six Filipino pugilists who entered the ring at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California won their respective fights to come out victorious in their campaign for the 2nd Boxing World Cup. The Philippine Boxing Team defeated their Mexican counterparts leading to the capture of two coveted world titles.

Z "The Dream" Gorres took the IBF Junior Bantamweight Intercontinental Title via an eighth round TKO over Mexico's Eric Ortiz. This is the 27th win (15th by knockout) by the 25 year old southpaw from Cebu, Philippines.

In another celebrated victory, former WBC Super Flyweight Champion Gerardo Penalosa (a.k.a. Gerry "Fearless" Peñalosa) stripped the WBO Bantamweight Title belt off defending champion Jhonny Gonzalez. Peñalosa, the 35 year old boxing veteran, let all hell break lose in the seventh round with a furious left-hand body blow that painfully drew the wind from Gonzalez who was unable to recover within the mandatory 10 counts. The jubilant Gerry Penalosa, said to be hinting at retirement, is sure to nix such options now that he is at top of his game in the bantamweight class.

Formerly undefeated 20 year old Filipino prodigy Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista fell to the hands of reigning WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon during the main event of the 2007 Boxing World Cup. De Leon entered the boxing ring all fired up obviously eager to avenge his five fallen comrades. Boom Boom Bautista on the other hand seemed off being in the defensive. Minutes into the first round, a right to the face knocked down Bautista once, and then after barely overcoming the 10 counts, Bautista never again had breathing room from De Leon's follow up punches forcing the young boxer down a second time to the canvass. Referee Jon Schorle quickly intervened and called an end to the fight to the favor of the defending champion.

Despite Bautista's defeat, the Philippines still emerged triumphant over Mexico with additional wins from A.J. Banal's third round knock down off Jorge Cardenas, Michael Domingo's win over Miguel "Mickey Mouse" Roman, and Diosdado Gabi's unanimous decision victory against Jose Angel Beranza.

The August 11, 2007 Boxing World Cup was the second staging of this event by Oscar Dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. The top-prize which includes a $500,000 pot is scheduled to be awarded by Dela Hoya himself in ceremonies in the Philippines.