Super Featherweight

Juan Manuel Marquez tired to put to rest the battle between himself and Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round on Saturday night, knocking Pac-Man out cold in the fourth bout between the two.

As promoters and fans salivate over the possibility of either one of these fighters getting into the ring against Floyd Mayweather, let's take a look at what each fighter did well and what each fighter struggled with last night in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao was up on all three scorecards, 47-46, at the time of his KO. We can only play the what-if game after watching Pacquiao get knocked out for the first time in his career, but both fighters were clearly trying to make the other pay for taking this fight.

Here's a breakdown of these two great champions and how they performed in Pacquiao-Marquez 4.

Manny Pacquiao

Pac-Man likely recognized he was going to have to put on a show to get a fight with Floyd Mayweather one day. After a feeling-out process in the first two rounds, Marquez was the one that took to the offensive first, knocking down Pacquiao for the first time in this classic rivalry.

The Filipino fighter continues to be susceptible to the right hand of Marquez, and the power behind the Mexican fighter's punches continues to grow with each fight. Pac-Man couldn't afford to take hits like those, and the one in the third round proved to be the precursor to the final outcome.

However, Pacquiao came back strong in the fifth. It was clear he took control of the fight, pushing Marquez back and in a position of weakness.

Pacquiao put Marquez on the canvas in the fifth, and it looked like he was going to take control of the fight from that point on. Not being able to finish was a hallmark of this matchup, and Pac-Man had that in the back of his mind when the bell rang for the telling sixth round.

It wasn't expected or even really in succession with Marquez's moves, but JMM took one final right hand to counter Pacquiao's attacks, and that was it. It was disappointing for Freddie Roach's fighter, specifically after winning the punch stats by a 37 to 21 percent margin and landing 46 percent of his power punches.

Here's what Pacquiao had to say after the match, courtesy of ESPN's Dan Rafael:

"I was careless. He's not an easy opponent," Pacquiao said. "I did my best, but that's boxing. That's sports. I thought I got him in the last couple of rounds, but I got hit by a strong punch. I never expected that punch."

This is a tough one to swallow for the Pacquiao camp, especially after the promise of that fifth round.

Juan Manuel Marquez

The new, clear victor in this series gained that title with one punch.

That's not to put down the rest of his performance; JMM came out on a mission, looked like the more physical of the two fighters and exposed one of Pac-Man's former strengths—speed.

But his performance on Saturday night was predicated on two punches. He knocked Pacquiao to the canvas in the third round to get the party started, and then he landed the deadly punch in the sixth that was the KO we'll likely remember for the rest of our time.

Things weren't looking good in the fifth, as Marquez was knocked down once again by the southpaw's aggressive jabs and strong counters. As evidenced by the 47-46 scorecards, the fourth and fifth rounds clearly went Pacquiao's way.

Marquez clearly wasn't happy with those two rounds, and he made his presence felt by waiting on his shot in the sixth. He traded a few jabs with Pac-Man before countering with a huge right hand that left Pacquiao on the mat, and the rest of the MGM Grand either ecstatic or in shock.

Pacquiao was quoted as saying he "never saw it coming" after the fight, and Marquez's plan to attack in the right spots paid off.

It's also a punch that they work on a lot, as noted by Dan Rafael yet again:

"We always worked on that punch," Marquez said. "We knew he was going to come out aggressive so we had a fight plan that was more technical. We were able to capitalize on it."

Marquez got the job done, but is this the final chapter between the two fighters?

What's Next?

Promoter Bob Arum clearly wasn't impressed with the final outcome (surprise?), and notes that there could definitely be another showdown in the near future.

TJ Manotoc had the news on Twitter:

MP says no problem. its up to Arum for a 5th fight with JMM. Arum notes Sugar Ray Robinson & Jake LaMota fought 6 times

— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) December 9, 2012

Marquez brought the wood, but that fifth round will likely be troubling to purists and fans of the Pac-Man. Mayweather is clearly off the table for the loser, but Marquez could defend his title again before facing Pacquiao for a fifth time in 2013.

Will Pac-Man focus on politics after the first-ever two-fight loss streak of his career? Will we ever see Pac-May? So many questions, so few answers after the right hand of Marquez shocked the boxing world on Saturday night.

Ethan Grant is a featured columnist for B/R's Breaking News Team.

Follow @DowntownEG

With one punch, Juan Manuel Marquez managed to scrub one blemish off his resume.

He had long been compared unfavorably to Manny Pacquiao after their three previous fights. After Saturday night's sixth-round knockout, though, Marquez has arguably jumped ahead of the Pac-Man when it comes to their legacies.

None of the previous three meetings between the two had been able to escape skepticism among boxing fans.

The third fight between the two ended in much controversy. Although Pacquiao was judged to have won the fight, many, those in attendance included, believed that Marquez had in fact won. The fourth bout afforded Marquez to get revenge on the perceived slight.

And did he ever avenge it.

Until he was able to beat the Pac-Man, Marquez would always be considered unfavorably to Pacquiao in terms of their careers as a whole. It was Pacquiao who was beloved by the sporting public, and the proposed superfight between he and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the one everybody had clamored to see.

While the public will not take to Marquez as they have to Pacquiao, with the sixth-round knockout of the Filipino superstar, Marquez has shocked almost everyone. In turn he stepped out from the massive shadow that Pacquiao had cast.

From this moment on, Marquez needs to at the very least be thought of in the same breath as Pacquiao. He'll never eclipse Mayweather, but neither will the Pac-Man.

It's even more incredible when you consider that Marquez is 39 years old, six years Pacquiao's senior. He has had a longevity that only the best are able to have. It's one thing to have a short period of dominance, but over an entire career, that dominance turns into a legacy.

Marquez has been able to alter his style enough that he's not the same fighter he was years ago in terms of style, but his ability has failed to drop off.

That is the mark of an all-time great fighter.

Yuriorkis Gamboa already possesses an impressive resume, but with a win over Michael Farenas Saturday night, the undefeated Cuban will catapult himself to stardom.

The 30-year-old has accomplished some great things in his career, winning a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics and disposing of all 21 of his opponents since becoming a professional in 2007. He has won 16 of his fights by knockout, and he's held numerous featherweight and super featherweight titles.

Still, despite those achievements, Gamboa is far from a household name. That will change Saturday night if he can put on an impressive display under the bright lights of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Fighting on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 4, this is by far the most-high profile fight of Gamboa's career. He's never had a fight that received as much attention as he will get Saturday night, even during his gold-medal run at the Olympics.

Gamboa certainly seems aware of his opportunity, as he's enlisted the help of the unmistakable 50 Cent. The rapper-turned-actor-turned-boxing promoter will be in Gamboa's corner Saturday night, and you can bet that the Twitterverse will take notice.

50 Cent has been a part of Floyd "Money" Mayweather's entourage for the last few years, and by giving his seal of approval to Gamboa, he's opening up the door to fame for his undefeated fighter.

The stars have aligned for Gamboa, who must capitalize on his chance Saturday night. If he can take out the more-experienced Farenas, and preferably exhibit some style while doing so, he will earn the fame and recognition that a fighter of his caliber deserves.

When Manny Pacquiao takes on Juan Manuel Marquez tonight, he will not just be fighting one of the toughest boxers on the planet. He will be fighting the decline of his own career. Expect him to be able to overcome this greatest of opponents, pulling out yet another close decision.

What Gives Pacquiao the Edge

Everything that gives Pacquiao the edge will be on full display in the first several rounds, which Pacquiao has historically dominated in this rivalry. It has always been his strategy to come out with his fists on fire. This strategy has worked. In this rivalry, Pacquiao averages 16 more punches per round in the first three rounds.

Expect more of the same in this fight, with the same result. Pacquiao will outpunch Marquez in a big way early.

Eventually, this will give way to a more even fight. Pacquiao lacks the stamina he once had, and Marquez is one of the toughest boxers on the planet. Losing the early rounds won't be enough to keep Marquez down.

This is where Pacquiao's superior power and constant pressure will put Marquez away. Pacquiao remains one of the most brutal boxers on the planet, capable of dropping any boxer in his way. 

Marquez has the ability to stick around, though. He has always taken a beating in this series, coming back to pick smart, powerful punches. Marquez's ability to counter Pacquiao's onslaught with a few well-timed blows will keep him around in this match. 

Another factor working in Marquez's favor is the fact that he can neutralize one of Pacquiao's best weapons: his left-handedness. Many boxers are unprepared to face the ferocity from Pacquiao's dominant left hand, which has worked in Pacquiao's favor many times in his career. In their fourth matchup, though, Marquez will know exactly what to do to handle this.

An examination of previous scorecards shows that Pacquiao generally dominates early, with Marquez scraping his way back in the middle rounds. The final few rounds have been even.

Expect more of the same in this bout. Pacquiao will jump out to an early lead. Marquez will scrape his way back, but it won't be enough to overcome the younger Pacquiao.

Score Projection

This match will come down to some close scoring. No fighter has ever dominated in this series, and that won't change tonight. 

Final Scorecard: Pacquiao 115, Marquez 112

Manny Pacquiao’s performances in his last couple of fights have been very subpar. He has definitely lost something in his ring approach, partially due to his age and the fact that moving up in weight class saps him of his strength. 

On December 8, Pacquiao must remove any doubt about who is the better fighter in the boxing series against Juan Manuel Marquez. His goal in their fourth encounter is to knock Marquez out early in the bout or clearly dominate him enough to impress the judges before the later rounds begin.

To redeem himself, Pacquiao cannot become a predictable boxer. He must challenge Marquez to stand toe-to-toe with him and turn the fight into a slugfest. He cannot allow Marquez to implement his counter-punching style from the opening bell, as he will score judges' points on perfectly executed combinations and flurries of punches.

To tarnish the Pacquiao legacy, a fighter must clearly dominate and defeat him in the squared circle. So far, no opponent has risen up to this challenge, as Pacquiao’s hand speed is too fast, and his punching power is too strong for anyone to last a full 12 rounds with him.

We can argue the outcome of the three prior bouts until we’re blue in the face, but Marquez never stood out as a clear-cut winner in any of the fights. Pacquiao has limited boxing skills, but he has closed the gap over the last decade against good technical fighters like Marquez. Ideally, he wants to lure his opponent into a trap and capitalize on his mistakes with his lethal knockout punching power.

Boxing fans from all over the world flock to see Pacquiao brandish his killer instinct inside of the ring. But now, his biggest fight could be against Father Time, as Pacquiao’s aggressive fighting style has caused him, for the first time, to absorb punches from his opponents.

If Pacquiao can redeem himself against Marquez, then I believe that he will stick around for one more year in the hopes of cornering Floyd Mayweather Jr. into finally agreeing to fight him. 

Both Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have something to prove.

That’s what happens when fights conclude in a controversial manner.

In the record books, Pacquiao is 2-0-1 in three fights with Marquez. To his fans and those who choose to trust the judges’ judgment, Marquez needs to validate that he deserves another shot at PacMan.

In boxing, it’s rare for fighters to fight four times—especially when one side is undefeated—so without any knowledge of their previous bouts other than the final ruling, Round 4 seems like it shouldn’t even be happening.

But for Marquez’s fans as well as those who witnessed the fights, chose to objectively score them on their own and ruled in Dinamita’s favor, Pacquiao has more to validate. The Filipino must validate that Marquez doesn’t own him, which, despite the past the rulings, isn't an uncommon belief.

One of the many who take that stance is Marquez himself (surprise, surprise).

According to ESPN, Marquez claimed that he should’ve been able to raise his gloves in triumph following their first two meetings and said of the third:

I felt I won nine of the 12-rounds and easily won the fight. He never came close to hurting me, and once again my boxing skills were too much for him. But once again the three judges took away my victory.

Pacquiao sees their prior fights in a different light, though.

He believed he’d never have to take on Marquez again—that he had nothing more to prove after their last bout. He said (via ESPN):

Marquez wants to blame others for losing the decision, but he didn't do anything except run the last half of the fight. I brought the fight to him. I made the fight. If I had fought the same style of fight he fought, there wouldn't have been a fight at all. There would have been no action.

This Saturday, each fighter will not only be looking to silence his competitor, but his critics as well.

And as nice as it'd be if Pacquiao-Marquez IV resolved all talk of injustice, after this summer’s Timothy Bradley debacle, for crying out loud, they both may still be swinging for validation after Round 4.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels

On Saturday, December 8, it all goes down. That's right, it's Pacquiao vs. Marquez, Part 4. 

Below is all the essential information you need to know if you plan on finding delight in this now annual event.

Of course, Pacquiao against Marquez is not the sole bout, but it is the prominent one, and the reason so many will tune in on Saturday night. 

When: Saturday, December 8

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas

MGM Grand, boxing's Mecca, again hosts this epic rivalry. What other venue could really have hosted this event? 

Television: HBO PPV 

Contact your local cable provider to order the fight. 

Undercard: Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Michael Farena

This battle is being fought to crown the interim WBA super featherweight title. 50 Cent is making his debut in this fight as Gamboa's promoter. 

In another undercard match, Snooki of Jersey Shore promotes Irishman Patrick Hyland as he takes on Javier Fortuna for the right to claim the interim title in the WBA featherweight division.

The third undercard will feature a battle for the IBF lightweight championship belt between the crowned champion, Miguel Vasquez and Mercito Gesta.  

Weigh-In Live: Starts at 8 p.m. ET on HBO2

Catch the pre-fight show on HBO2 for all the pre-fight analysis you need. 

Live Stream: Pacquiao vs. Marquez

From that site, viewers can click on the link on fight night to be taken to a live stream. The HD stream will require payment, but according to the site, will be affordable. Viewers are encouraged to bookmark the page. 

Follow @BRwillosgood for Saints, Hornets, NFL draft and other sports-related news, info & ramblings. 

Yuriorkis Gamboa is showcasing his world-class skills on December 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez battle to settle the past while the sensational Gamboa will display a seminal performance that will paint the picture for the future landscape of boxing. The flamboyant Cuban will be playing the role of Matador while Michael Farenas has been cast in the supporting role of the bull. At 21-0 with 16 knockouts, the super featherweight extraordinaire is looking to end 2012 in style and make an indelible mark in the sport in 2013.

The discrepancy between Gamboa's talent and fame is massive. His superlative skills should have his name on every pound-for-pound list. However, he has yet to step up and demand that recognition by besting the best. Prior to the new year, the former featherweight world champion will be 33 years old. This is his time to etch out his legacy.

This is the current title picture in the super featherweight (130 pounds) division:

The most highly heralded champion in the division is Japanese WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama. This is the person whom Gamboa should seek out. That should be his first mission of 2013 and the impetus for a new approach to matchmaking. Respectfully, his biggest wins to date have been over credible contenders: Jorge Solis, Daniel Ponce De Leon and potentially Farenas, but he now needs to step up his game and embrace challenges worthy of his pending legacy. A Uchiyama bout would be a watershed moment for his career and, hopefully, the catalyst for only taking subsequent marquee fights.

Another important challenge would be to then battle Salgado for the IBF title. After that, he should make the best fight available in boxing. It is not Pacquiao-Mayweather. In fact, it is Gary Russell Jr. and Yuriorkis Gamboa! How much of a role rapper, and new boxing magnate, 50 Cent plays in the decision making is uncertain, but it behooves him to yield whatever influence he may have over his superstar client.

Gary Russell Jr. is the featherweight sensation with blazing hand speed and immaculate technique. There is no greater fight in the sport of boxing today than a clash of these two undefeated mega talents. Russell displayed a dominance in the amateurs that promised pro glory and has proven himself worthy of the praise.

Despite the accolades, Gamboa's amateur pedigree is even more laudable—although Russell's technique is more refined. Russell's tender age of 24, compared to Gamboa's pending 31st birthday, dictates that this needs to transpire within the next year or so to truly allow their prime years determine the winner. This is an opportunity for a legendary trilogy a la Ali-Frazier and Leonard-Duran.

Gamboa is a weight class above the American Russell for now and the aging pugilist might find making 130 difficult in the future. There is another blockbuster bout awaiting the dynamic Cuban at 135. Nobody would have a problem with witnessing Adrien Broner meet his toughest challenge to date. A Broner-Gamboa clash would delight the boxing universe. Again, Gamboa has an opportunity for an uber-compelling bout to engender fame and fortune. At the behest of boxing history, Gamboa  is called upon to make these meaningful matches come to life.

For now, Gamboa is content on fighting reptable opponents that are low-risk, low-reward contests that undermine his ability. Come 2013, at 31, he will really need to change his pace and begin taking advantage of the mega bouts that are looking him straight in the face. Should he vacillate and resign himself to unworthy challengers, he could be remembered as having the boxing career that mirrored the wasted potential of the phantom Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. As great as he is, Gamboa  should know something that all 30-year-olds learn too late: Potential and promise aren't coming back once they leave.

In today's boxing climate, the Klitschko brothers lament that they have no opposition to motivate them. Andre Ward has no serious competition and neither Floyd Mayweather nor Manny Pacquiao seem interested in fighting one another. Serendipity has graced the life of the 2004 Olympic gold medalist by providing him with an opportunity at true greatness. Will he answer the call or not?

For the last 20 years, boxing has been professional sports’ sore-eye, only making headlines when it embarrasses itself in the public eye. Endless corruption scandals, heartbreaking financial woes to legendary boxers and questionable outcomes in bouts have all contributed to boxing’s image problem.

But the sport has a chance to resurrect itself with the pending bout between two of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing today. On December 8th, Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2) will square off against Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1) for the fourth time in the last eight years.

Each camp could make a valid argument that their fighter could emerge victorious two Saturdays from now. All of the prior fights have been competitive affairs, with Pacquiao winning two of them on points and a controversial draw decision deciding their last bout.

Marquez has been the only boxer in Pacquiao’s career that he hasn’t dominated inside the squared circle. Yes, Pac-man has landed more punches and scored the only knockdown in the series, but in his two wins, Pacquiao turned the bout into a beauty contest by letting the judges decide the outcome.

In their last encounter, Nov. 2011, Marquez clearly outclassed him by executing better punching combinations and using superior footwork to frustrate Pacquiao for 12 rounds. He deserved a decision win, case closed. Marquez must use all of his ring skills and come out aggressively in this fourth bout, but he cannot leave himself open, as Pacquiao can still deliver a knockout punch.

Some detractors will argue that this bout is taking place because Pacquiao has run out of quality opponents to fight and settled on Marquez for another big pay day. Boxing fans have patiently waited three years for a Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. megafight to take place. We all thought an agreement was pending, as Pac-man agreed to all of Mayweather’s ridiculous contract demands (55-45 purse split and blood drug testing), but neither boxer has put his signature on the dotted line.

Pacquiao and Marquez are all-time great fighters who still have plenty of gas in the tank to provide another memorable encounter for boxing fans. No surprises can be expected from either side, as they fought the most rounds against one another for an opponent in their respective careers. Pacquiao and Marquez know each other best, so expect fireworks from the opening bell.

It could be a magical evening that puts boxing back on the front page (in the right way) once again.