By Hans Olson
I have to admit, I’m not at all excited about Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez this weekend.
Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Yes, their first two meetings were thrilling. They were controversial. They were action packed.
They were years ago.
Manny Pacquiao has grown into a full-fledged Welterweight monster; his blazing speed and devastating power accompanying him on his ascent through division after division after division. Juan Manuel Marquez…not so much. In his first fight over the Welterweight limit, a 2009 clash with Floyd Mayweather…Marquez was woefully out of his element. Rated #2 in the world P4P by most experts, Marquez didn’t win a second of the fight against Floyd. Then again, Floyd Mayweather makes everyone look bad…so I suppose we can give Juan Manuel somewhat of a pass on that one.
After a pair of fights back at Lightweight where he still claimed the division’s lineal Championship, he certainly looked better—still, there were moments of struggle. We’ll get to those in a moment.
In his tune-up fight for Pacquiao against Likar Ramos earlier this summer, we learned little more than the fact that Likar Ramos either didn’t have a chin, or didn’t want to fight.
We’ll leave it at that.
That this fight against Manny Pacquiao is even happening is a shock. Harder even, is it to sell. The least Bob Arum could’ve done is book a decent undercard.Timothy Bradley vs Joel Casamayor??? Get the scorecards ready for a technical decision as a result of accidental head-butts! It’s unfortunate that the card is so poor, especially when Arum has one of the best undercards we’ve seen in years ready to go on December 3 for Margarito/Cotto II. You’re killin’ us here Bob!
So in preparation for what we can expect will be a one-sided blowout on Saturday night, let’s take a cue from “Real Time with Bill Maher” and offer some “New Rules.”
New Rule: When you get dropped by Michael Katsidis at Lightweight, it’s not a good idea to fight Manny Pacquiao at Welterweight!
Nothing against Michael Katsidis…but he does not possess the power that Manny Pacquiao does. At Marquez’ advanced age, fighting at a higher weight…how do you think he’ll react to the firepower Manny throws?
New Rule: Just because you’re not drinking your piss any longer…
doesn’t mean Manny Pacquiao’s not going to drink your milkshake!
With or without Marquez and his unique dietary methods one thing is certain…There Will Be Blood.
Finally,
New Rule: When your face looks like this after fighting Juan Diaz last year…
How will your face look after you fight Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night???
It’s not that Juan Manuel Marquez isn’t one of the greatest fighters of this modern era. Heck, he’s still a top-ten fighter, pound for pound. It’s just that he’s not Manny Pacquiao, and his chances of winning are slim to none.
Bob Arum knows it…
The fans know it…
Just about everyone in boxing knows it.
Except perhaps Juan Manuel Marquez, who still clings to the idea that he won both of their previous encounters years ago. I hope I’m wrong. I would love nothing more than another epic shootout between Juan Manuel and Manny. I’m just not so sure I am. In boxing, uncertainty is what engages us. A continuing line of predictable fights enrages us. Let us hope, that afterSaturday night that changes. Win or lose, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will likely not negotiate a deal to fight each other.
Well hey, Sergio Martinez is ready and willing to fight Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather.
Will that happen?
I’m not so certain.
Boxing Insider’s Hans Olson can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @hansolson.
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