Tonight at 8 pm CST on HBO pay-per-view as well as other outlets across the globe, including a live streaming PPV option at TopRank.TV, Manny Pacquiao faces Juan Manuel Marquez one more time to settle one of boxing’s greatest rivalries once and for all. Follow us live here at Inside Fights’ Chicago Office as we give you round by round updates and play by play updates.
Round 1: Pacquiao comes out firing out of the gate and Marquez is there with him. No feeling out, no waiting to see what happens. Manny’s head movement is really strong as Manny works the body early and Marquez is finding his groove on the counter. Manny’s movement overall is much better than their fight a year ago; he’s connecting more than he did in their prior fight. This is a fast pace; Manny is the aggressor as Marquez is trying to feel him out more.
Score: 10-9 Pacquiao
Score So far: 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 2: Marquez comes out more active this round as Pacquiao is pushing a hard pace still. Pacquiao is using head movement and Marquez is a little hesitant; he’s letting Manny throw significantly more. The crowd is profoundly pro-Marquez. Manny connects with some great lefts and Marquez isn’t responding. Manny’s movement is causing Marquez to freeze a little bit; he hasn’t found his groove to counter him but he is landing to the body in kind. Marquez ends the round with a nice body shot.
Score: 10-9 Pacquiao
Score So far: 20-18 Pacquiao
Round 3: Manny comes out pumping the jab more, looking to throw big lefts much more. He’s not moving his head as much this ground but Marquez isn’t throwing to counter, either. His upper body movement and feet movement are still there and he’s landing some nice straight lefts in the opening minute. Marquez responds with some nice body shots; he’s throwing hooks to the body and avoiding the head with all this movement. BIG right hand from Marquez at 1:45 in the round Manny goes down. Standing eight count. First time Marquez has been able to do so. After the knockdown he’s much more defensive. Round ends as they are throwing fast and furious.
Score: 10-8 Marquez
Score So far: 28-28 Even
Round 4: Manny isn’t nearly as active throwing even with his movement; Marquez is throwing more and throwing it more confidently, too. Marquez is using straight rights as Pacquiao is more cautious at this point. Marquez is working the body and making Pacquiao come to him, setting up counters to the body. Manny with a nice combination with 30 seconds left; he’s thrown a number of uppercuts as well. Wild exchange to end this round as well. Absolute war so far.
Score: Marquez 10-9
Score So far: Marquez 38-37
Round 5: Manny’s movement isn’t nearly as pronounced as it was in the first four rounds; he’s still moving but not nearly as fast or as often. Pacquiao is throwing much more often now; Marquez is countering less and engaging more. Pacquiao scores a knockdown as Marquez’s glove touches the mat and it’s a standing eight. Big right from Marquez and Manny is wobbled but still standing. Both guys are going toe to toe without any qualms. Manny with a big right and Pacquiao pours it on at the end of the fifth. Manny backs him into the corner and the two are throwing down. Fight ends with Marquez in the corner and Pacquiao landing heavy.
Score: Pacquiao 10-8
Score So far: Pacquiao 47-46
Round 6: Both fighters come out and Marquez still looks wobbled. Manny is pushing the pace and Manny is pushing the pace. Manny lands some powerful left hooks but Marquez with some counters of his own. Manny’s head fakes are setting up a lot of his strikes; Marquez is keeping it close with counters though. Marquez is eating a lot of punches though. At the end of the round Marquez knocks out Pacquiao, who is OUT. Marquez wins by KO as the bell can not save him.
