Marquez robbed of career defining victory

 Pacquiao versus Marquez part three was billed as the deciding fight of their trilogy. 

It would finally put to bed which fighter was superior after two very even previous encounters.

But the controversial outcome of Saturday night’s fight means that Pacquiao versus Marquez part four is almost a certainty.

The three judges awarded the fight to Pacquiao on a majority decision after scoring the bout 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 in the Filipino’s favour.

Tragically for Marquez they were probably the only three people in the 16,000 capacity crowd that saw the fight this way.

The widespread boos that rang round the MGM Grand when Pacquaio celebrated his 54^th career win said it all, especially considering the popularity of the man who is the only fighter in history to be a world champion in eight weight divisions.

Yet on Saturday night it was Marquez that fought like the champion.

He kept Pacquiao at a distance where the Filipino’s hand speed was less effective while counter-attacking him with clean, precise shots. TV highlights showed Marquez landing the cleaner shots and Pacquiao becoming more and more frustrated leading to him fighting wildly in the final round in a bid to knock his Mexican counterpart out.

The reaction of both fighters after the 12^th round spoke volumes.

Pacquiao was subdued and headed straight back to his corner, while Marquez celebrated with his trainers who raised him aloft in front of the Las Vegas crowd.

However, those celebrations were quickly muted when the judges decision was announced with Marquez immediately leaving the ring.

“Everyone knows what happened,” the 38-year-old said. “I won this fight. It is a robbery and of the two robberies I have had against him, this one is the more terrible. I was the one with the clearer punches and I won again.

“Maybe I will retire. It is difficult after this.”

The reaction of the fans in Vegas and indeed all over the world on social networking sites would suggest that Marquez had a point.

However, despite talk of retirement, Marquez would surely not turn down the opportunity to fight Pacquaio again but may feel that he would need to knock him out in order to win. After all, he could not have done anymore to gain a points win than his did at the weekend.

Furthermore, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach admitted that Marquez had Pacquiao in real trouble during the fight.

“I think Marquez has Manny’s number. He knows how to fight him.

“It was a very close fight. It could have gone either way,” Roach said in the post-fight press conference.

Roach may as well of admitted that he was surprised his fighter won. After all, television coverage revealed the trainer telling Pacquiao after the seventh round, “you’re falling behind.”

Conspiracy theories of corruption have been widespread since the fight. Maybe there are a lot of people that needed Pacquiao to win in order to set up the mega money fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr that would undoubtedly make a lot of people on both sides a lot of money.   Proving such notions true is another matter entirely though.

What is not difficult to prove is that Marquez fought brilliantly and should today be sat at home as the new WBA Welterweight Champion.   But he may yet get another chance. Bring on Part Four.   Images from Action Images.com