Petinju Meksiko, Juan Manuel Marquez akhirnya berhasil memenangkan pertarungan melawan petinju Filipina, Manny Pacquiao di MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Amerika Serikat, Minggu, 9 Desember 2012. Dalam pertarungan ini, Marquez dinyatakan menang KO pada ronde keenam.
Kalah dalam dua dari tiga pertemuan sebelumnya, Marquez tampak lebih berhati-hati saat menghadapi Pacquiao siang ini WIB. Petinju yang pernah berhadapan dengan Chris John itu tak ingin terpancing untuk masuk dalam ruang pukul Pacquiao.
Pada ronde kedua, Marquez berhasil menjatuhkan Pacman. Hook kerasnya memaksa Pacquiao mencium kanvas meski berhasil bangkit sebelum wasit menyelesaikan hitungannya.
Di ronde kelima, giliran Pacquiao yang berbalik menjatuhkan Marquez. Tak hanya itu, Pacquiao juga berhasil mematahkan hidung Marquez.
Pacquiao mulai terlihat mendominasi pertarungan. Namun hanya beberapa detik sebelum bel tanda berakhirnya ronde berbunyi, Marquez berhasil melepaskan jab kerasnya ke arah wajah Pacquiao. Pacquiao langsung roboh dan wasit Kenny Bayless menyatakan Marquez menang KO. Ini merupakan kemenangan pertama Marquez dari 4 pertemuan dengan Pacquiao. (eh)
LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao seeks to definitively affirm Saturday night the judging that gave him two decisions and a draw in his three tight fights against rival Juan Manuel Marquez at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Marquez (54-6-1, 39 knockouts) is desperate to end the torment he’s suffered through, the narrow margins dividing him further from the mythical worldwide status Pacquiao (54-4-2) has achieved.
Pacquiao has been promised at least $23 million for this fight while Marquez will get a guaranteed $6 million, for instance.
The non-title welterweight bout –- Pacquiao lost his belt in arguably the worst judging episode in a decade when Timothy Bradley claimed a split-decision in June –- is again compelling.
While Pacquiao, 33, spent his entire training camp in Hollywood’s Wild Card Boxing Club to perfect an all-attack method under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, Marquez, 39, has bulked up to become an astonishing muscular figure capable of delivering harder blows and withstanding Pacquiao’s assault.
Round-by-round recap (scoring not official):
Round 1: After a thrilling buildup in a sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena, referee Kenny Bayless gave the fighters their final instructions and the fight begins. Pacquiao's ready to charge. A Marquez counter right lands. A nice Pacquiao left. They move for position. This isn't the three minutes of action Pacquiao promised, but he did press the action, and did enough. Pacquiao wins the round, 10-9.
Round 2: Again, they're waiting each other out. Pacquiao shoots in a right, then misses a left uppercut. Marquez gets in a short right. Pacquiao with a straight left, a nice punch. Marquez content to stand back. He gets in a good right. Again, Pacquiao did more work. Pacquiao win the round, 10-9. Pacquiao leads, 20-18.
Round 3: Marquez throws overhand left. Pacquiao charges with a right that lands. Good left by Pacquiao. Counter left by Marquez. Left uppercut to body by Marquez. Big right and Pacquiao is down at 1:12 mark. Hard right by Marquez, then a big right to body by Marquez. Hard left uppercut by Marquez. Pacquiao fighting buzzed. Hard right by Pacquiao, Ton of passion in this fight at end, both guys swinging. Marquez wins the round, 10-8. Fight is even, 38-38.
Round 4: Marquez lands with a high left. Marquez follows with a straight right. Pacquiao not in huge hurry to engage here. Pacquiao lands a jab, but Marquez makes him eat two hard rights before the bell. Marquez wins the round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 48-47.
Round 5: Pacquiao drops Marquez with hard left. Incredible round. Marquez takes eight count. Pacquiao is at his most dynamic, battering Marquez with set-up lefts. Hard rights. He had Marquez cornered twice and wailed on him. Pacquiao win the round, 10-8. Pacquiao leads, 57-56.
Round 6: Big left snaps Marquez head back. Marquez missing now. Marquez's nose is bleeding and appears it might be broken. He's breathing with mouth wide open. Hard right by Marquez. Jab by Marquez. Pacquiao lands a right. Marquez follows with wicked hard right as Pacquiao was moving forward. Pacquiao's out, not moving, fight is over. Marquez wins. He runs to a corner and stands. Pacquiao down on canvas with his cornermen over him. He's now sitting up. Marquez wins by knockout at 2:59.
All three judges had Pacquiao leading the fight, 47-46 after five rounds.
SUMBER
