Pacquiao-Marquez IV: Who’s More Capable Of Delivering Physically?

Published

12 years ago

December 6, 2012

Well, they’ve fought three times, there’s 36 rounds between them and it still cannot be agreed upon as to who the clear winner was in any one of their three fights. Yes, I’m talking about all-time greats and legends Manny Pacquiao 54-4-2 (38) and Juan Manuel Marquez 54-6-1 (39). And this Saturday they’ll meet for the fourth and probably final time of their Hall of Fame careers. Then again.. maybe not? If Marquez gets a decision in a fight where the winner is not absolutely inarguable, they’ll fight a fifth time. Any win by Pacquiao (no matter how controversial) ends the series.

As for who won their previous three fights, I might as well weigh in on how I saw them in generalities since they were so close. The first fight if forced to pick a winner I’d go with Marquez because other than the first minute and a half of the first round, Marquez exhibited the better ring generalship and diversity. However, I have no issue with the fight ending in a draw. As for the rematch, I think that the knockdown scored by Pacquiao was the deciding factor. I don’t have any problem with the decision but if someone else saw Marquez as the winner by a point I’m fine with that too. In regards to the first two fights I think it’s fair to say that there’s a compelling case on both sides for either fighter as to who deserved the nod.

However, I part ways on the third fight. When Pacquiao and Marquez last met it was Marquez who fought his fight and exhibited the better offense and defense. If there were 15 clean punches landed during that bout, Marquez landed 11 of them. In summary, I think there’s a strong case for either boxer as to who won the first two fights, but not the third. So in essence, it is Marquez who has scored the only clean victory of the trilogy despite trailing 0-2-1 in the series.

What hasn’t been mentioned regarding their first three fights is that they fought them four and three years apart and each one was at a higher weight. Obviously, they both changed in between 2004 and 2011. This time they’re fighting at basically the same weight as they did the last time, just 13 months ago. So it’s doubtful they’ve changed that much physically, at least not enough where one would hold a significant advantage over the other. With that said, I think the last fight is the one that will give us the best indication as to what will happen on December 8th.

When they last met Pacquiao admitted after the fight that he was surprised by Marquez’s strength and wasn’t sure that he was the stronger man. Luckily for Manny he’s the bigger puncher and will always be the bigger puncher, although it must be noted that Marquez is the more accurate puncher.

As for the matchup itself, I’ve heard and read countless opinions as to who has the style advantage. Now, I love styles and think they’re important as to how fights will unfold, but not so much this time. These two greats have seen each other three times and they both have an x for the others’ o and vice-versa. I believe this fight will come down to physicality more than style adjustments and foot placement.

In fighting Marquez, Pacquiao must impose himself physically and force Marquez to rush his shots and try to fight him off instead of getting set and then getting off with quick one-twos thus disrupting Manny’s aggression. Disrupting Pacquiao’s aggression is huge for Marquez and he had a lot of success doing that when they last met. When Marquez took the lead and got off first he forced Pacquiao to have to reset and this gave him time and space to either get away and avoid the impending rush from Pacquiao or reposition himself to go again. As of 2012, Pacquiao isn’t the supernova he once was. Manny is a little troubled and stymied when he gets hit cleanly now and tries to think his way through the fight which is a huge advantage for Marquez. Manny has to fight reactively and be instinctive or while he’s thinking and plotting, Marguez can roll and go and force Pacquiao to start working his way in again.

Marquez must throw straight shots and try to keep Manny off of him as much as he did during their last fight, thus forcing him to lunge and reach. Sure, Marquez can fight inside and even rumble with Pacquiao to a degree, but if he tries to make his living there he’ll open the door for Pacquiao’s left crosses and hooks from both sides. And as we saw in their rematch, a single knockdown can alter the fight in favor of Pacquiao.

This fight is gonna come down to who can force their will on the other guy more along with who’s more motivated and in better condition. They’re both very confident, but I believe based on their last fight, Marquez is probably more confident heading into this fight against Pacquiao than he was in the previous three, simply because of the success he had the last time. It seemed as if he had Manny talking to himself during patches of it and wholeheartedly believes he won it in the ring and on the scorecards. On the other hand, Pacquiao may not be as confident as he was prior to their last fight, and let’s face it, there’s more pressure on Manny because there is so much riding on it after his last fight with Timothy Bradley.

What makes handicapping this one so terribly hard is because of how they match up. They’re so evenly matched that it seems for one to dominate the other it’ll probably take one of them seizing the fight with their physicality. It may be rudimentary but, one of them is going to have to force the other to do what they don’t want to. The problem is they both have the strength and aptitude to neutralize the other but not enough to impose themself on the other, thus separating them in the eyes of the judges.

Going in we know Pacquiao wants to land the bigger shots and force Marquez to fight defensively and more or less make him wait to see what Manny is gonna do. If Pacquiao can do that, he’ll control the fight and Marquez will be left floundering as to what he can do in order to slow Pacquiao without getting too hurt, then hopefully assume command. As for Marquez, he needs to do exactly what he did the last time. That is, get off first and stymie Pacquiao, then move his feet a little before Pacquiao can reload and bring it again.

The one wild card in this fight is a stoppage set up by one big punch. Even though Marquez has a great boxing IQ (higher than Manny’s), he still has a tendency to want to war on the inside when he doesn’t need to. And that’s where he’s vulnerable. And although I realize it might be silly to say this about a guy who’s never been stopped, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that, feeling he’s got to make a real statement this time, Marquez could walk into something that he didn’t see.

It’s actually a simple strategy and breakdown in regards to what Pacquiao and Marquez must do to come out on top. The question is, who at this time has the stronger and better mindset, determination, conditioning and more of their physical tools left in the tank in order to separate one from the other in the eyes of the judges, because we all know how they’re going to try and conduct the fight? Will their bodies be able to perform up to the expectation of each ones’ mind and heart?

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

7 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

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