Writing on the wall for Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao retained his world welterweight title in Las Vegas with a paper-thin majority decision in points after two of three judges ruled him the winner over Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez. The decision proved to be a disappointment to  Pacquiao and a frustration to Marquez.   Pacquiao climbed into the ring determined to end decisively the question of who is the better fighter after he had defeated Marquez in two  encounters in the past—a split victory he scored in 2008 and a draw in 2004. Marquez, a 9-1 underdog in pre-fight betting, set his sights on an upset and knockout victory.

The judges in the third fight scored the match as follows: Glenn Townbridge, 116-112 for Pacquiao; Dave Moretti had it 115-113 for Pacquiao, while Robert Hoyle had it 114-114.  When the decision was announced, a groundswell of boos shook the arena, coming mainly from Mexicans inside a stadium where half of the crowd were Mexicans and half were Filipinos. It was the scores of the two judges that saved the title for Pacquiao. As he left the ring, Pacquiao did not show the triumphant air  that characterized his several previous fights, in which he blasted most of his opponents with explosive knockouts. He didn’t look happy or fulfilled. He merely told his fans drily: “It was clear I won the fight….(But) that’s boxing.”

Most sportswriters all over the world, including Filipinos, didn’t share the judges’ decision.  Their dispatches and blogs on the social media indicated the consensus that Marquez dominated most of the rounds and set the pace of the fight.  Most Filipinos across the islands thought  Marquez won and said that, while they wanted Pacquiao to win, they would have been relieved if the judges had decided it was a draw.

The BBC news, which has no reason to be partisan, reported that Pacquiao was a “relieved man” after two of three judges ruled in his favor. They ultimately decided that a strong finish from Marquez “was a case of too little, too late.”

BBC reported that in the early exchanges, Pacquiao’s punches were “unusually cagey, and (he stepped up with a two-punch combo to the head in round four).” But Marquez “hit back with a crashing straight right in the fifth and Pacquiao’s corner had to give him a pep talk.”   Marquez  “drew blood from his opponent’s mouth and landed two good body shots in round eight, but Pacquiao responded in an explosive ninth round. A slip by Marquez and a Pacquiao claim of a headbutt followed and, despite the late flurry from the Mexican, Pacquiao managed to hang on.” By most accounts from several sources, Marquez dominated most of the rounds, and it was the aggressive fight of Pacquiao in the last two rounds that turned the tide for him.  Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it “was the closest they ever fought, and I thought it would end in a draw.”

According to Roach, “Marquez had Manny’s number.” But Pacquiao had no answer for Marquez’s style. Pacquiao admitted he struggled against Marquez, looking overly cautious of his opponent’s reputation for accurate counters. “It’s hard to fight Marquez because he always waits for me to create the action,” Pacquiao said. “He’s a good counter puncher.”

Roach pointed to other factors that led to a less-smashing victory. He blamed cramps which attacked Pacquiao in the middle of the fight. Pacquiao admitted he lost balance on his punches. He had no such issues in his previous bouts.

There was also the head butts in the 10th, when a cut opened above Pacquiao’s right eye. He needed 28 stitches to sew up the cut. These excuses were never heard in previous fights, raising questions that Pacquiao is now showing vulnerabilities that affect his fitness. Roach said, “Marquez fought a great fight. The fight was his for the taking but he did not grab it.”

He was referring to the final two rounds that he said enabled Pacquiao to escape with the majority decision. Filipinos across the country were split over the close decision. Reports of reactions polled by provincial press correspondents expressed doubts saying that the close fight with Marquez appeared to show Pacquiao has reached the limits of his power to defend his world title.  Many Filipinos who watched the fight on TV walked out immediately after the 12th round, not bothering to wait for the results, assuming Pacquiao had lost.  Filipinos have been accustomed to Pacquiao’s decisive victories in previous fights. In General Santos City, Pacquiao’s home region, one spectator said he waited until the 12th round, but Manny showed vulnerability in his fight. The result was not exciting. “Many Filipinos expected either a draw or a Marquez victory.” Among the international sportswriters, Newsday sportswriter Marcus Henry, posed a thought-provoking question:  “After that performance you have to wonder about Pacquiao. How many more great fights does he have in him?  This is not the same Pacquiao who beat Cotto, Margarito, Clottey, Hatton and De la Hoya.”

A TV news producer tweeted: “Pacquiao fought well. But for the first time in a long time, he looked…Mortal. Beatable. I think that’s what scared all of us.”

But some disturbing questions have been raised among members of Congress, where Pacquiao is representing Sarangani, over his political ambitions. It’s time for Pacquiao to ponder the narrow victory. One congressman counseled:  “He should focus on boxing in these five years (of his career) because everything he’s got—position, money and future possibilities—all depend on his boxing skills.”

He is doing too many things at the same time. He is also a media entertainer, an actor, a band leader and crooner.