Pacquiao-Marquez: Expectations Exceedingly High

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - Four years and four pounds – that's all that changed since Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez last squared off against one another.

Four years ago, the heavyweight title was splintered, with no clear-cut candidate ready to fill the void Lennox Lewis left behind. The junior lightweight division was loaded with talent, but lacked a true leader. There was no definitive answer to the debate of who was the better fighter between Pacquiao and Marquez. Regardless of who won, the greatest expectation anyone had was for their 12-round featherweight bout in Las Vegas to produce a bona fide Fight of the Year candidate.

So here we are four years later. The heavyweight title remains splintered. Despite the emergence of Wladimir Klitschko as the popular choice for the world's best heavyweight, we're still a few fights away from having a true leader to fill the void Lennox Lewis left behind.

The junior lightweight division is loaded with talent – new talent these days. It still lacks a true leader. Even with one fight in the bank, there is still no definitive answer to the debate of who's the better fighter between Pacquiao and Marquez.

Regardless of who wins this weekend, the only expectation anyone has is for their 12-round junior lightweight battle in Las Vegas to produce a bona fide Fight of the Year candidate. [details]

[v.cassiusali@ya]

much has been said about the first fight... that had not for a judge error in his score cards, pacman could have won a split decision... on the other hand, the marquez camp claimed that marquez clearly won the fight... for the fight fans, it was a good fight and hopefully, the rematch would be as exciting as the first. marquez was a good boxer. he even defeated barrera and juarez, unfortunately for marquez, his supposedly easy fight with chris john turned to be a debacle. marquez lost to chris john. on the other hand, pacquiao is getting better. he defeated morales in their last 2 bouts by knockouts, and humbled barrera twice, considered by many as "mexican legends". pacman is now considered by many as the most exciting boxer to date. going into their rematch this sunday, i have pacman the edge... if marquez will show aggressiveness throughout the fight, this could be an exciting fight. but if marquez will get contented with his counterpunching technique, or fight like barrera in a rematch with pac, the fight will not be exciting as expected. if marquez stand toe-to-toe with pacman like morales did in their final bout, the fight will end early, and the fighter with power and speed will stand victorious, and that is... pacquiao!

[Point Blank]

much has been said about the first fight... that had not for a judge error in his score cards, pacman could have won a split decision... on the other hand, the marquez camp claimed that marquez clearly won the fight... for the fight fans, it was a good fight and hopefully, the rematch would be as exciting as the first. marquez was a good boxer. he even defeated barrera and juarez, unfortunately for marquez, his supposedly easy fight with chris john turned to be a debacle. marquez lost to chris john. on the other hand, pacquiao is getting better. he defeated morales in their last 2 bouts by knockouts, and humbled barrera twice, considered by many as "mexican legends". pacman is now considered by many as the most exciting boxer to date. going into their rematch this sunday, i have pacman the edge... if marquez will show aggressiveness throughout the fight, this could be an exciting fight. but if marquez will get contented with his counterpunching technique, or fight like barrera in a rematch with pac, the fight will not be exciting as expected. if marquez stand toe-to-toe with pacman like morales did in their final bout, the fight will end early, and the fighter with power and speed will stand victorious, and that is... pacquiao!

gotta agree. i have seen pacquiao today and damn he is really quick and he punches so hard with his right hand that i forgot he was a left handed fighter.

[wengz2002]

Why's the judging from the fans is unfair towards the PacMan ...

When JMM won unanimous decision over Barrera, the fans were contented and said that he won clearly! But I thought it was a close fight~

While when Pacquiao won a convincing unanimous decision over Barrera recently, the fans was not contended because Manny did not KO Barrera!
It seems that the fans always expect Pacquiao to KO every opponents he fights and expects a lot from the PacMan~~~

This mentallity will surely be adapted by the judges... This means trouble for Manny if the fights reach the distance!!!

Manny's knows this, that's why come saturday he will KO JMM... He will not allow the judges to decide his fate!!!
Pacman by KO atmost 10th rnd...

[kasangga]

The coming rematch between Pacman and Marquez will be even more exciting than the first fight, with both fighters seeking a victory as a fitting ending to their “unfinished business”. It will be close but it will go to the boxer who has learned the most from the first fight.
Marquez underestimated Manny’s power, and Manny was frustrated by JMM’s superb counter-punching.
Judging from their recent fights, I will say Pacman has the edge. He has learned and matured a lot as a boxer since their last encounter. Therefore he can make the necessary adjustments in response to whatever Marquez does. On the other hand, what improvement has Marquez shown in the past four years? Practically nothing.

[Sin City]

Though his 12-round virtual shutout against Rocky Juarez this past November added little to his list of accomplishments, it helped to continually press the issue of a long-overdue rematch with Pacquiao, whose handlers seemed to be looking in any direction but Marquez'

That's right.. there's no avoiding Maruqez now!
Pacquiao, it's time for defeat!

[Gareth Ivanovic]

This is going to be a good fight. Pac has improved since the last fight and has started to use that right hand more and become not a one handed fighter anymore. Then JMM has always been a skilled boxer even though he is a little older. Both looked like they are training their asses off and are determined to win this fight.