By Michele Emrick
This time, there was no doubt. In their previous three encounters, Juan Manuel Marquez left it to the judges, only to find disappointment with the results. This time, however, the tough as leather Mexican left Manny Pacquiao face down on the canvas at the end of the sixth.
Face covered in a mask of blood, Marquez destroyed Pacquiao with a huge right with just one second remaining in the sixth round, giving the 39-year-old a decisive and emphatic knockout that sent the arena into chaos. It was the first time in four attempts Marquez was able to vanquish his legendary Filipino foe.
Manny ran right into the counterpuncher’s “shot heard around the world,” falling face first along the ropes, laying motionless for several seconds. The crowd erupted as a site many never thought would happen unfolded right before their eyes.
“That’s boxing,” said Pacquiao, who also said he plans to continue with his career. “I started to get confident, but I never expected that punch.”
Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports
Juan Manuel Marquez knocks out Manny Pacquiao in the 6th round in Las Vegas
Marquez said, “I knew after the last three rounds that he was going for the knockout and I could be knocked out at any time. I hit him with the perfect punch.”
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s hall of fame trainer added, “Manny came back and he was in charge. He just got a little too careless, but he was hurting Marquez.”
Marquez was behind at the time of the finish on all three of the judges scorecards. But this time, there was no need to leave it to them. Marquez improves his record to 55-6-1 (40 KO’s). As in the previous fights, the scoring for this one saw a wide difference of opinion among those chiming in on the net. The former four-division champ, along with many spectators, felt he had won the previous three encounters, so it was fortunate this one came to a clear conclusion.
It was feared that Marquez may have broken his nose in the fight, but it turned out to be just a bruise. Meanwhile, Pacquiao missed the post fight press conference as he was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
Obviously the result of this fight led to immediate talk of a fifth fight between the two. And to almost nobody’s surprise, Bob Arum was all for it. “Why not? We haven’t seen such an exciting fight in years,” he said.
The lost dropped Pacquiao to 54-5-2 (38 KO’s), and was the first time in his storied career that he tasted defeat in consecutive bouts. Having captured titles in weights ranging from 112-154 pounds, he was defeated by Tim Bradley Jr. by a controversial split decision in June. That loss snapped a winning streak that spanned seven years.
Pacquiao was leading the punch stats at the time of the stoppage having landed 94 total punches to just 42 for the victorious Marquez, and held an edge in power shots of 68-41.
Prior to this fight, the previous three fights had all been just about even. Although Pacquiao got the decision twice and a draw in the other, a case could be made for Marquez winning any of those fights. This time there will be no controversy. This time Marquez left the ring full of pride, knowing he had finally put the demon to rest.
