Pacquiao vs. Marquez: A Brief Breakdown of Their Already Storied Trilogy

It's a big weekend for fight fans. But perhaps one of the more unique things about it is that for once, boxing and MMA fans can kiss and make up. The critics can no longer refer to MMA as an underground sport for degenerates: being on FOX forces them to take notice. But for MMA fans, perhaps this is a good time to get them acquainted with boxing too. 

When Manny Pacquiao entered the boxing world of the elite, he did so during a crucial period: a period spawned by two great Mexican Bantamweight boxers. Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales. They put on an absolute classic in 2000 at Mandalay Bay (highlights and videos after the jump). Morales won, though not without controversy: it was a nip tuck battle all the way, and when Barrera scored a knockdown in the 12th, fans and media thought for sure that would seal the fight for MAB. It didn't, and Morales would leave from Bantanweight to Featherweight.

However, it was Barrera who would score the biggest win that put FW on the map: a map outlined first by the real king of FW - a brash, British boxer named Naseem 'Prince' Hamed. He was undefeated, had unreal power, and with a crowed pleasing style is sometimes credited as the boxer that paved the way for the lighter weights to make money. But that power was attached to a boxer with little consideration for defense, relying more on head movement and reflexes than fundamentals. He'd fight with his hands down, and against one of his toughest opponents in Kevin Kelley, he'd pay for those habits: several times. But he was too loud to be deterred, and he ended up putting Kelley down in brutal fashion. Despite flashes of humanity, he was still a boxing deity to many.

So here comes Barrera, the underdog. While the fight is, I think, unfairly characterized as lopsided, it was still comfortably Barrera's. It was a picture perfect example of how a fight can be completely engrossing, and yet be completely technical at the same time. There wasn't drama: just mechanics. And it was just as glorious. With Hamed dethroned (much to the delight of HBO's commentary booth, who all but poured champagne over MAB's head), Barrera became the new face of Featherweight.

With the Barrera/Morales trilogy still ongoing, a one, Manny Pacquiao would makes his way to the division. His first high profile fight was against Barrera, and cut a path down the middle, stem to sternum. While much was made of the wildfires of California that disrupted his training camp, and a metal plate in his head, it didn't change the fact that Manny had arrived, and was here to stay.

His next fight would be against Juan Manuel Marquez: a Mexican fighter distanced from the spotlight, though well respected. At this point, you guys can take it from here. Marquez was battered in the first round. He was knocked down three times. But watch the round again: Marquez displayed supernatural toughness. Yes, he got caught, but in the seconds that remained after the 3rd knockdown, he took left hands that were considerably worse. For many fighters, that 3rd knockdown could have been an excuse not to get back up. Nobody would have thought of him any less either. But he did, and won so many rounds after that, the fight was scored a draw (the caveat being that any round containing 3 knockdowns should be ruled a 10-6, which the judge who scored the fight a draw failed to do, instead scoring it 10-7).

It was a great fight that should have put Marquez in the same territory as MAB, Morales, and even Pacman. But it didn't. His career stalled after that. Pricing himself out of big name fights (having turned down the immediate rematch with Pacquaio), he'd go on to take questionable fights (and for less money: though to be fair, I don't know Marquez' reasons). Orlando Salcido had no business being in the ring with him. Chris John did, but it was a strange fight to take: Marquez traveled all the way to Indonesia to capture the WBA Featherweight title. It was a big risk, low reward fight made all the more embarrassing by the fact that Marquez lost. 

Juan continued his string of strange fights, and none more symbolic than his bout with the Filipino sensation Jim...rex...Jaca? Jimrex, like Pacman, was a southpaw. Lederman had Jaca winning two rounds to one going into the 3rd, emphasizing the problems Marquez was having. Juan would win in the 9th, but it prompted the question, "what for?"

Marquez would finally start getting big name fights following the bout with Jimrex. And eventually, he got his rematch with Manny. Though not as dramatic as the first, it was another brilliant technical affair by both men.

I'm pleased that Marquez is entrenched into boxing lore alongside guys like MAB, and Morales. And while arguments are often made that he won both Pacquiao fights, I think Manny will win this one comfortably. Manny has continued to improve while Marquez has plateaued.

In a way, I think it will look like Manny's rematch with Morales. Marquez has always relied on timing. He's the consummate counter puncher. But as that timing declines, so to will his ability to scout fighters like Manny. Manny by TKO, round 10. 

For highlights of their first two encounters, and a few other goodies, hit the jump:

HBO Boxing: Fights of the Decade - Marquez vs. Pacquiao I (HBO) (via HBO)

HBO Boxing: Marquez vs Pacquiao II Highlights (HBO) (via HBO)

HBO Boxing: Fights of the Decade - Morales vs. Barrera I (HBO) (via HBO)

HBO Boxing: Fights of the Decade - Morales vs. Pacquiao II (HBO) (via HBO)