Marquez annihilates Pacquiao in 6!
If you’ve been living in a hole for the past 48 hours and didn’t hear “The shot heard around the world”, Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1, 39 KOs) annihilated long-time rival Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) inside six rounds on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
After close decisions in their first three meeting, neither fighter wanted to see the 12th round. During the build up to their fourth fight, both men said they were gunning for a knockout to ensure their was no doubt this time around.
In front of over 16,000 fans, Pacquiao aggressively went after Marquez and outworked him in the opening two rounds. Marquez evened the score in the third when a looping over-hand right sent Pacquiao crashing to the canvas for the first time in ten years. Pac shook off the knockdown and went back to work scoring a knockdown in the fourth and in the fifth he battered Marquez from pillar to post, busting up the nose of the Mexican fighter and leaving him on shaking legs as he made back to his corner at the end of the round. Pac would continue to take the fight to a Marquez in the sixth but with just one second left in the round, a bloodied Marquez timed Pac as he leaped in with a right jab, lowered his head and unleashed a devastating right hand that sent Pacquiao face first into the canvas just as the bell rang signaling the end of the round. Referee Kenny Bayless took a second as Pac laid on the canvas motionless before waiving it off. Official time was 2:59.
“I was overconfident and I thought I got him” said Pacquiao after the fight “I just didn’t expect that punch”
“I feel great that I left no doubt in this fight” said Marquez in the post-fight press conference “he was throwing a lot of punches and when he was missing, I was trying to counter punch. I put this fight as one of my best victories and all I know is, I’m going to rest, I’m going to celebrate with my friends and family in Mexico and i’m thinking of the celebration more than who i’m fighting next.
“Manny just got caught swinging a little wild and… we got caught. it was a great knockout” said trainer Freddy roach “[i’d advise Manny] to let this settle down a little bit, absorb it. Possible retirement, possible rematch, I’m not sure which way we’ll go. It really depends on how he feels”