Boxing promoters and matchmakers are speculating who among the top three ring gladiators in the super featherweight to lightweight divisions has the ultimate class, superiority and dominance in the boxing ring.
Yes, I’m talking about Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz. These are the three top-rated boxers in the super featherweight and lightweight divisions today.
Looking back at the recently concluded rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, anyone could easily say that the win could go either way without much doubt from the spectators. Manny did not really win that convincingly as he looked outpunched by Marquez whose boxing style really stood out during the fight. Had Marquez not been overly cautious of the tremendous power that Pacquiao could unleash anytime to put him out, Marquez could have pummeled Pacquiao by standing on his ground and fighting him toe to toe.
Marquez is a very scientific counter-puncher with his hands, body and footwork well coordinated, but he just cannot simply put away Pacquiao because Pacquiao is not a standing target; Pacquiao moves and he has great hand speed and power. It even caught Marquez down in the third round.
Marquez is stressing in the sidelines that he won the fight and he wants to get a third fight to prove his point. If this happens, I think Marquez has the chance; that is if Pacquiao will not put him out to sleep in the first three rounds. And Manny can do this if he will make himself the aggressor right after the bell rings from the first round onwards. Marquez cannot contain Pacquiao’s power.
Another fight that the promoters are discussing is the match between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz, the brawling WBC lightweight champion of the world at present.
David Diaz is a powerful boxer with a ring record of 34-1-1 and 17 wins by KO. He also won over Eric Morales after 12 rounds.
Diaz moves like a manta ray, always moving forward with no lateral and back pedaling movements. His power emanates from his upper body. This makes him top-heavy, but once he can lean on you in a fight, he is very dangerous.
On the other hand, Pacquiao has the moves, the hand speed and the power to evade and to counter the in-fighting style of Diaz. In order for Manny to win, his firepower should come from the distance, with right jobs to set up the unpredictable left hook, slowly closing in once Diaz falls into the trap, then clinch when Diaz comes close. This technique is proven effective many times by Ali and Hollyfield in defeating slugging knock-out artists like Goerge Foreman and Mike Tyson.
Manny should apply and do this, otherwise he will have no place else to go but hit the canvass…
By the way, I think Marquez should climb to the lightweight ladder (135 lbs.) so that he can be with Pacquiao and Diaz . This will make their rivalry more exciting; and excitement in the boxing world means more promotions and therefore, more money for them…
