Manny Pacquiao Escapes With a Decision

Manny Pacquiao was taken to the limit Saturday night before escaping with a majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their welterweight title fight.

Pacquiao won on two scorecards, while the third ringside judge had it a draw. It was a narrow escape for the Filipino congressman, who took as much punishment as he got over 12 rounds.

The third fight between the two was as close as the previous two, and by the time they finished 12 arounds the outcome was still in doubt. Pacquiao won some rounds with sheer agression, while Marquez won others with brilliant counterpunching, keeping Pacquiao from getting inside.

Marquez was a 7-1 underdog, but it was clear early he would be in this fight. He picked Pacquiao apart with right hands almost every time he tried to get inside, and landed good hard flurries throughout the fight.

Pacquiao was the aggressor throughout, and landed some sharp punches of his own. But when the decision was announced, the crowd booed roundly and, once again Marquez had lost a close fight.

One ringside judge had it a 114-114 draw, while two others favored Pacquiao by 115-113 and 116-112. The Associated Press had it 114-114.

The sellout crowd at the MGM Grand arena threw bottles and cans toward ringside after the decision was announced, with one full can hitting a ringside writer. Marquez, who had been bitter about the scoring in the first two fights, stormed out of the ring.

Pacquiao continued his remarkable run with the win, but it didn't come easy. He had trouble all night finding his range and, when he did get inside, Marquez often moved to the side and landed a counter right hand.

It was the third close fight between the two men, though this one was fought at 144 pounds instead of 125 as was their first fight seven years ago. That fight was a draw, while Pacquiao won a split decision in the second bout in 2008 at 130 pounds.

"My fans are very happy because they thought I won," Pacquiao said when asked about the crowd reaction.

Marquez fought going backward all night, and that might have been his undoing. While he landed well at times, Pacquiao was in his face most of the night.

"I got robbed," Marquez said. "I don't know what else I can do to win."

Pacquiao earned a minimum $22 million for the fight, while Marquez got $5 million.

Source: abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/manny-pacquiao-escapes-decision-14941921#.Tr_mrlZkT0k

Pacquiao beats Marquez again by majority decision

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao was taken to the limit last night before escaping with a majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their welterweight title fight.

Pacquiao won on two scorecards, while the third ringside judge had it a draw. It was a narrow escape for the Filipino congressman, who took as much punishment as he gave over 12 rounds.

Bradley, mentioned as a possible future opponent for Pacquiao, was in charge from the opening bell against the 40-year-old Casamayor. Bradley scored his 12th stoppage in running his record to 28-0. Casamayor fell to 38-6-1. Bradley kept a version of the junior welterweight title.

Source: www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/articles/2011/11/13/pacquiao_beats_marquez_again_by_majority_decision/

Marquez misery extended with yet another 'robbery'

LAS VEGAS - A third gut-wrenching result for Juan Manuel Marquez against Filipino star Manny Pacquiao on judges' scorecards has the Mexican fighter screaming "robbery" and considering retirement.

Pacquiao stretched his win streak to 15 fights with a majority decision over Marquez on Saturday, two judges handing him victory by margins of 116-112 and 115-113 while the third scored the welterweight showdown a 114-114 draw.

"This fight was the biggest of my career," Marquez said. "We wanted them to score this fight the way it happened, not how they scored it."

Marquez had taunted Pacquiao before the fight with claims that he was the true winner of their first two fights, a 2004 draw and a 2008 rematch that went to Pacquiao by a single point on a single scorecard.

But the latest near-miss was almost more than Marquez could stand.

"It was a robbery," Marquez said. "They robbed me again."

Three days after saying he had not thought about retirement, Marquez was pondering hanging up his gloves after the frustration of another defeat that felt like victory until the judges' verdict was announced.

"It's the result of the fight that makes me think about retirement," he said. "I need to sit down with my family and my camp and make a decision about retiring or continuing in the sport.

"I'm happy with my performance. I don't know what I needed to do to change the minds of the judges.

"It's hard when you're fighting your rival and three judges too."

Marquez is likely to be offered a fourth fight against Pacquiao after making at least $5 million and more likely near $10 million for Saturday's fight, with Pacquiao taking home anywhere from $22 million to $30 million.

But at this point, Marquez figures even if he knocks out Pacquiao, it might not be enough.

"I believe I need to drop him and if I drop him they are going to pick him up and have him fight again," Marquez said. "I'm frustrated. I'm really, really frustrated."

Marquez said he would not protest the verdict but "I don't think it's correct."

"I thought I won the fight clearly," he said. "I felt like I connected with a lot of solid punches in the fight. I felt so good. I never felt his punches."

As in their first two encounters, toe-to-toe exchanges and flurries where both men connected on punishing blows kept tension at a fever pitch, rousing the crowds into standing ovations in several rounds.

"For me the best judge is the audience. They responded sensationally," said Marquez. "Only three people there, the judges, didn't see the same thing."

Marquez toured the Philippines wearing a shirt that said "I beat Manny Pacquiao twice" in order to entice "PacMan" into a third fight. Look for a new one that says "I beat Manny Pacquiao three times".

"I was already thinking of making that shirt," Marquez said.

by Jim Slater, Agence France Presse

Source:  www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/13/11/marquez-misery-extended-yet-another-robbery